Melville, NY—Canon USA unveiled the Vixia mini compact personal camcorder, designed to enable shooters to record their hobbies, special interests and memorable moments hands-free. The captured video and images can then be shared on social networking sites via built-in Wi-Fi or via the free Canon Movie Uploader app.
“The new Vixia mini compact personal camcorder marks the birth of an innovative video camera designed specifically for the social media savvy user,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Canon USA. “This uniquely styled compact personal camcorder allows users to shoot, view and share videos and photos of themselves enjoying their hobbies or special occasions with family and friends.”
The camcorder offers an ultra-wide-angle Canon f/2.8 fisheye lens (160º movies/170º photos), so users can shoot from unique perspectives while including their surroundings to make their videos and images more interesting. In wide mode, the Vixia provides viewers with a full view of their surroundings, or they can switch to close-up mode to emphasize a particular subject. When in close-up mode, users can record a centered 1,920×1,440-resolution image and toggle from one shooting mode to the other. They can also switch back and forth between video and image mode, by touching the camcorder’s tilting 2.7-inch capacitive touch-panel LCD.
At the heart of the Vixia is a 12.8 megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS sensor that combines with a Canon Digic DV4 image processor to create the Canon HS system. This allows shooters to record Full HD video in the MP4 format as well as JPEG still images to a microSD card.
Canon also incorporated a mechanical shutter for recording moving subjects with less distortion. And a built-in stereo microphone records high-quality audio. By using audio scene select modes, users can choose an audio scene that matches their surroundings, such as music or speech, or suppress road noise.
Other features that help Vixia users become the director of their videos include: mirror image recording/playback, which lets them view the scene they are recording in real time so they can watch as they record; smart mode with auto adjustments; special scene modes such as food & fashion, sports, and macro, that provide presets for shooting in difficult conditions to prevent over/underexposure; and slow motion and fast motion modes that provide imaging effects. Slow motion permits shooting video at a choice of two slow motion speeds—1/4x (VGA) and 1/2x (720p); fast motion shoots at 4x and 2x, ideal for speeding up footage of cooking, makeup, nail art, etc.
In addition, the mini camcorder comes with a built-in, adjustable stand so users can tilt and elevate it up to 60º for recording video hands-free. A tripod socket also allows for flexible positioning of the device.
Plus, when using the Canon Movie Uploader iOS app, users can upload video and photos taken with the camcorder from virtually anywhere. And, the app’s live streaming feature allows users to view and record on their iOS or Android device when they download the free Canon CameraAccess2 app (iOS/Android). This feature also allows control of the camcorder from remote locations.
Canon’s Vixia mini compact personal camcorder will be available in black and white in September for an SRP of $299.99. An optional carrying case and strap will retail for $14.99. usa.canon.com
