Flash-Based Video Cameras Diversify

NEW YORK — The market for flash-memory-based video recorders heated up as AIPTEK, Sanyo and Mustek introduced new models.

AIPTEK said it was shipping the high- definition Go-HD video camera this month. The unit records 720p video at 30 fps to SD memory. According to the company, it uses H.264 format video and can fit roughly four hours of HD video onto an 8GB SDHC card.

The camera features a 3x optical zoom lens, 2.4-inch swivel LCD and a night shot mode for low-light recording. It can snap 5-megapixel still images and features macro focusing to 2 inches.

The unit will retail for a suggested $279 and is being sold online at Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, Circuit City.com, Target.com and Walgreens.com

Mustek will ship the compact DV520T this month. The model records MPEG-4 video at 30 fps in addition to capturing 5-megapixel still images. It also functions as a Web cam, a voice recorder and an MP3 player with included headphones. It will retail for a suggested $129.

Sanyo's new 6-megapixel Xacti E1 is the company's first waterproof model, capable of snapping stills and video in up to 5 feet of water for up to one hour of submersion with no additional housing.

The E1 records MPEG-4 video using the new AVC/H.264 codec, which Sanyo said reduces the video file size by 25 percent while improving video quality vs. traditional MPEG-4 recording. The unit records VGA resolution video at 30 fps to SD or SHDC memory cards. According to Sanyo, an 8GB SDHC card can store 10 hours of video.

The unit features a 5x optical zoom lens, 2.5-inch flip-out LCD screen, low-light video recording capability, simultaneous still and video capture, macro focusing to 1cm and digital red-eye removal.

The model will be Sanyo's first to bundle Adobe Premiere Elements 3.0 software, which supports the H.264 codec. The E1 ships this month in blue, yellow and white for a suggested $499. Optional accessories will include a camera leash and a waterproof camera case, both retailing for a suggested $19.99.