February 2008 – General Imaging, the worldwide exclusive licensee for GE digital cameras, announced the next generation of GE digital cameras for 2008. Nine all-new models will offer an exciting assortment of additional features, including smile detection, blink detection, upgraded lenses, and LCD screens that adjust to changes in ambient light. One new model, the E1050, makes photography even more fun, adding HDTV, touch-screen and GPS capability.

The 2008 GE models are among the first cameras on the market to offer smile detection and blink detection, two separate functions that allow users to capture their subjects at exactly the right moment.  read more »

January 31, 2008 – A new line of JVC Everio Hard Disk Camcorders features a new, super-slim design that makes them the world’s smallest hard drive camcorders* on the market. The new Everio line also offers new functions that make operation simpler and more intuitive, and models available in four different colors.

For 2008, there will be Everio camcorders available in sapphire blue, ruby red, diamond silver and onyx black, allowing consumers to choose a model based on features, budget and style. Also new is Laser Touch, a touch-sensitive scroll bar that simplifies operation, both 30GB and 60GB models, and a new design that’s some 20 percent smaller than last year’s entry-level model. In addition, a higher-end model offers higher-resolution digital stills by virtue of a 7 Megapixel CCD, making it unnecessary for people to carry both a camcorder and a digital still camera. This model is the first in the world to have an embedded 1.3” hard disk drive (30GB), which allowed JVC to integrate a large 1/2.5” CCD and its accompanying large optical lens section, without getting bulky — thereby providing the quality benefits of a large lens while maintaining a small body and offering large capacity.  read more »

January 31, 2008 – A new JVC MiniDV camcorder line offers portability and shooting flexibility, with two new compact and feature-laden models.

The compact design of the new JVC GR-D870 and GR-D850 belies a rich set of powerful features, such as a KONICA MINOLTA LENS with 35x optical zoom and a 2.7-inch 16:9 widescreen LCD monitor with automatic backlight control for easy viewing, even on a bright, sunny day. For low-light shooting there is also the built-in Auto Illumi-Light LED.  read more »

January 31, 2008 – JVC just announced a pair of new high definition Everio hard disk camcorders that offer industry-leading picture quality in a dramatically reduced size. The new JVC GZ-HD6 and GZ-HD5 HD camcorders are 45 percent smaller than JVC’s previous top-end HD camcorder, the GZ-HD7, without any sacrifice in image quality.

To provide the best possible quality, both new HD camcorders feature a FUJINON HD lens, a progressive scan 3CCD imaging system and JVC’s HD Gigabrid engine that delivers 1920 x 1080 Full HD recording. In addition, they offer 1080p 60 frame per second output via HDMI 1.3 with x.v.Color. Collectively these technologies capture and maintain optimum image quality for videos and stills through every stage, from the lens on through to recording. Both camcorders offer a long recording time in 1920 x 1080 Full HD – 10 hours for the 120GB GZ-HD6 and five hours for the 60GB GZ-HD5. They record up to 24 (GZ-HD6) or 12 (GZ-HD5) hours in the 1440 LP mode. Recordings are stored on either the built-in hard disk drive or on an inserted microSD card (optional). Both models also offer a microphone input and a wide range of manual controls. The black GZ-HD6 also features a lens hood and headphone jack. The smaller silver GZ-HD5 weighs just 1 lb 3.9 oz with battery.  read more »