I hope everyone had a great Labor Day!  With the weather cooling off, it’s a better time than ever to go outdoors for some sunshine.  While you are enjoying the outdoors, how about grabbing some snapshots to record the good times?  Enter the new DXG-018 3D digital camera.  Yes, I did say 3D.  How in the world can something be 3D you may ask?  Simple, it has 2 lenses.  I remember the 3D View Master photo reels back when I was in grade school.  Surprisingly, 3D used to be a bigger buzz word – and then it just quietly slipped away…until recently.  Today, you’ll find 3D movies (without the need for blue and red filters), 3D TV, and now we finally have affordable 3D consumer point and shoot cameras!  DXG provided us with the DXG-018 camera.  This lightweight point and shoot camera is small and easy to use.  But how well does it perform?  Read on past the jump and find out!

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I’ve used a couple of digital cameras and only recently started to deal with digital camcorders.  Previously, I used my digital cameras to take video footage.  In the past couple of months after getting some cats as well as video tutorial creation requirement at work, I started using digital camcorders.  I was initially shooting my projects with a Cisco Flip HD until I was given the opportunity to test drive a DXG Pro Gear Series DXG-A85V HD.  This camcorder boasts of 1080p HD recording with a 10MP Image sensor and a 12x optical zoom.  This looked very different from the Flip I was using and initially I felt a bit intimidated.  I soon learned however that using a much higher quality camera does not have to be a scary experience.  So I set forth with my trusty tripod to shoot anything and everything whether it was of my 2 new cats, the white elephant portion of a party, or driving down the road (mom did the driving, I just sat in the passenger side and shot video).  So how well did this camcorder fare?  Read on to find out!

What’s in the Box:  No, you won’t find the camera in there with lump of coal – far from.  Inside in addition to the camera you’ll find a slew of goodies:

• Pouch-Style Case (Sorry, Mr. Peripherals sales person…I already got a bag…I don’t need that attachment).
• Battery and proprietary charger.
• Arcsoft Total Media HDCam 2.0 software for editing and blue ray conversion.
• HDMI cord to connect the camera to the TV or even a monitor!
• RCA cable to connect the camera to the TV
• Manuals and quick start guides.

What’s not included in the box that you better get:

• SD Memory cards – Preferably a nice speedy SDHC as those HD videos gobble up memory faster than you can say “Chubby Chipmunk”.  Be warned that the maximum file size is about 3.75GB.  Which equates to about 30 minutes of shooting per clip.
• Firmware Update (http://www.dxgusa.com/CustomerService/Forms/DXGA85FW.zip) is optional, but I initially ran into some problems getting my Arcsoft Total Media HDCam software to work in which case DXG instructed me to install this update.  The software worked afterwards so I believe this did fix something although there is no formal change log as to what this update does.

Quick Look: Before getting down to the features, let’s take a quick look at the DXG supplied demo unit.  On the side where you can see the flip out portion, you’ll notice the 3 dots for the microphone.  The placement of the microphone is excellent as it will pick up sounds in all directions whether it be of me behind the camera, my subject, or other directions.

Start by rotating the camera to the front part and taking off the lens cover.  The lens is huge in comparison to the other lenses that I’ve seen (such as the DXG-5B1V which only sports a digital zoom) .  That 12x optical zoom lens rocks!  You’ll notice to the bottom is the flash for photography as well as an uber-bright LED light to the right side. This thing is really bright and is sure to light up places that are particularly dark (although your subjects may not be too happy being blinded).

The opposite side of the flip out touch screen LCD is where the hand strap goes.  It took a while to adjust the strap to a comfortable position where it allowed me to easily get at the controls.  There is a learning curve to this camcorder and practice does help to achieve perfection.  So don’t be crestfallen if you don’t get the handling immediately.

The top is where the stereo speakers are placed for on unit playbacks of captured video.  You’ll also see the zoom controls which feel great when the hand strap is properly adjusted.  This zoom control is an easy to use rocker switch that can go left and right.  Unlike other camcorders, there is also a button (covered by the glare in this photo – but is directly about the “bil” of “mobile” in the JAMM watermark) which allows you to be in video mode but still be able to take photos before and during a video clip.

The back of the unit is where all the controls are.  On the top you’ll see the mode “Mode Dial” where you can set it to camcorder, camera, and SET modes.  Switching between modes between taking video and stills is a snap.  You get a D-pad navigation button to navigate through menus as well as going through features quickly like manual and auto focus.  On the left hand side of the D-pad you’ll see the cover that covers the USB and HDMI ports.  The USB is one way to get your photos and videos off the camera without having to keep on removing your SD card.  On the right hand side of the D-pad is the camcorder record button.  The open switch below it is for the battery bay door. 

Here’s a close-up of the battery bay.  There is a little gray latch on the left hand side that keeps the battery seated.

On the bottom, you’ll notice that this little guy has holes for tripod mounting.  I’ve learned that tripods whether small or large are a video maker’s best friend as it keeps things nice and steady for the optimal picture.

The 3 inch touch LCD pops open and reveals a very nice screen.  This screen is also rotatable which is useful for trying to film yourself or to get that perfect shot angle. On the edge of the LCD touch screen is the playback button which allows you to view your recordings as well as photos.  The round power button that is in the center of the control section is seldom used.  The only time I find myself using it is if I left the camcorder on the tripod and needed to turn the camcorder off.  By opening the LCD screen, the unit turns on.  Closing it turns it off.  The lighting controls for flash as well as the super bright LED are the last two, top-right buttons that are above the power button.  Pressing display will toggle the on screen display (OSD) icons on and off.  Near the hinge of the LCD is the SD card slot.

The menu button will take you to the options for a specific mode (camcorder or camera).  In camcorder mode, you’ll be presented with options such as resolution, quality, white balance, and color.  In camera mode, you’ll get a similar array of choices including megapixel, brightness, self timer, and even aspect ratio options.

If the Mode Dial is on SET mode you’ll get options such as “toggle beeps”, auto-off, NTSC/PAL, formatting of the memory card, language, hertz, and date.

Technicals: The DXG-A85V is the flagship of DXG’s Professional Gear series and as such has loads of options.  But what kind of features do professionals need that this camcorder provides? 

• DXG utilizes B frames for smoother video and uses H.264 main profile for efficient video compression. 
• Accurate exposure control for Exposure Value (EV) adjustment on the fly.
• Auto Focus (AF) Accuracy – As auto focus will fail in certain situations, Multi Focus (MF) must be ready on hand.
• 60 frames per second (fps) for fast motion.
• Eye-Fi support – DXG works directly with Eye-Fi to ensure compatibility.
• Fastest way to get AVCHD DVD formatting for any third party non AVCHD members (Canon, JVC, Sony, Panasonic, etc.) is through special licensing which DXG has.  Unless you are a member, you cannot save to a format that is directly playable off of a Bluray player.  By having this special licensing, the encoding can be done in 10-30 minutes in comparison to 17 hours on a 2GHz Dual Core computer.  The advantage of this type of formatting also allows the video to be uploaded to viral video sites such as YouTube.  AVCHD is not directly uploadable and can be considered a disadvantage depending on the circumstances.

Video: Recording is a cinch – no manual is needed to get going (although it is highly advisable to read it).  Open the screen to turn the unit on.  Make sure the Mode dial is set to the correct function and hit the record button.  Voila!  In the settings section for resolution, you’ll see that this camcorder offers a wide variety of formats to shoot with.  Choices include 1080p at 30fps, 720p at 30 or 60fps, WVGA (480p) at 30 or 60fps, and WQXGA (1600p) at 240fps.  I do recommend turning on the stabilizer option as without it, things can become very blurry especially with the oscillations of using the camcorder without a tripod.  I have never shot in anything greater than 720p and having that extra resolution sure makes a difference!  Furthermore, with the 12x optical zoom, I can zoom in very close to objects (like my cat) where I can almost seem to touch him.  The detail of the photo is wonderful as each hair can be seen.  Shown below is a photo taken while in camcorder mode to quickly demonstrate quality.

Without the zoom (about 4.5 feet away)…

With maximum zoom!  You can actually see the individual hairs of my kitty cat.  It is important to note that when using the AF, it does take time to focus. 

Not waiting long enough for it to find the proper parameters for focus will cause ugly pictures like the one I shot below.  Which also goes to show the importance of using the flash and LED lights to properly light your subject.  I personally find it faster to let the AF do most if not all the work before switching to MF to fine tune things (if needed).

Here’s a clip that was taken at a party.  Stabilizer was set to on and it was locked to AF.  The LED light was not used as I’d get a few too many complaints that it was too bright.

Doing some shooting in the car, I was very impressed with this camcorder.  Sure, I got dizzy watching this later, but the fact still remains that there was excellent AF despite constant movement – even in a zoomed-in position where when something shakes the shaking is compounded.  All in all, I am very impressed with this unit for video capture.  One thing I wish it had is a viewfinder which would help in stabilization.  Oh well.  We’ve already seen some photos taken, but let’s look at the photo capture aspect of this unit a bit more.

Photos:  The DXG-A85V can also take some good still photos.  Although I find it harder to take photos with this unit than the standard stand-alone digital camera.  Taking a picture is simple whether the camcorder is set to camcorder or camera mode.  Just use the shutter button labeled “Photo” on the top of the camera near the zoom controls.  Press the “Photo” button lightly for it to focus and harder for it to activate the shutter.  It does take some pressure to press the button so you’ll need to make sure to brace the unit well as the additional pressure needed to press the button may cause the hand to shake more.  It is important to wait until the little box turns from red to green before fully pressing the “Photo” button.

Here’s a shot that my mom took of Ella our cat.  Out of a large number of shots taken, many that mom took turned out blurry.

A large number of my initial photos taken also turned out blurry.  But with a bit more practice, a larger number of my photos started becoming more clear.  Again, it was learning to wait for the autofocus and remembering to use the flash. 

You can easily select what resolution you want your photos to have.  From 20MP to 2MP including 10MB and 2MB bursts.  In other settings you can also choose a self timer of 5 to 10 seconds to delay the shot so you can get into the picture too!

Playback:  This was extremely easy!  After pressing the playback button next to the touchscreen, the on screen controls allow you to cycle and playback your videos and photos.  You can also easily connect your camcorder to a big screen via HDMI or RCA – both cords are included.  Kudos to DXG for this!  As you can see with any touch screen, fingerprints can and do get in the way.

Battery: There are things to be said about trade offs between conventional and proprietary batteries.  DXG goes the proprietary method has a very good battery with a very long life.  I went through a couple of smaller 2GB Micro Center branded memory cards before I even started running low on battery life.  If you need even more power, go buy a battery.  The down side of course is the need to bring yet another charger – a small price for good power, though.  You can only charge the battery with the charger and not with the camcorder.   If you need to charge the battery, do it overnight and you’re good to shoot for the day.  When I did my tutorials for my previous employer, I used this camcorder to record the footage.  Shooting a session usually involves getting much more video than you really need and then whittling everything down during editing (clips used for this review have not been edited and were directly uploaded to YouTube).  The battery will last.

Bundled Software: Just when you thought things couldn’t be any finer, DXG again steps up and proves us wrong.  The DXG-A85V comes bundled with ArcSoft’s TotalMedia HDCam software.  This software allows for video clip and photo management across your entire computer.  What it does add and brings to the table aside from YouTube and Facebook uploading are also the ability to do cuts and merges to video,  the ability to create photo books and album pages, keyword tagging, user ratings, and finally the most important tool of all – Create AVCHD DVDs!  This is where you can create DVDs that will playback your 1080p HD content directly on a Bluray player.  Unfortunately, I don’t own a Bluray player – but a quick trip to the local electronics retailer proved quite rewarding watching mom’s little cat do…whatever cats do!  Please note that YouTube uploading does degrade the quality of the video considerably due to transcoding.

Conclusion: I’m impressed.  This certainly is a camcorder that can rival even more expensive competitors like Canon.   With that being said, it probably won’t be long before DXG becomes known as an elite brand in their craft.  The DXG-A85V HD, is my first personal experience in professional type gear.  I have had friends show me their studio camcorders and in comparison this (not so) little guy comes with loads of professional features.  It ranks close to the Canon HF200 and makes the Cisco Flip look like the Spider Man or Barbie kid camcorder.  Perfect for most occasions whether for photos or video, the DXG-A85V HD can get it done professionally and affordably.  I would recommend keeping this camera for well lit situations as it will struggle in darker situations.  If you want to watch your recordings on Bluray and you don’t want to pay higher prices for a camcorder with native AVCHD, this is hands down the way to go as it will quickly get your video to that format.

I am surprised to see 2 negative reviews by Amazon.com buyers regarding battery life and camcorder performance.  In my extensive testing, I was unable to duplicate such complaints as my sound was crisp and the battery lasted waaaaay longer than an hour.  In addition, all of my videos and still photos were captured at the highest possible resolution using a plain 2GB $6.99 Micro Center SD card.  In response to one buyer’s review, it is the opinion of this recording technologies graduate that the expectations of getting crisp clashing sounds of bowling pins crashing without the use of a boom microphone is absurd.  It appears that some people have unreasonable expectations in performance. 

The DXG-A85V HD  is available from DXG for $319.99

We have spent a lot of time here at JAMM with DXG cameras.  I still remember the first time Thomas and I reviewed their offerings, and came away less than impressed.  A lot has changed since then, and DXG has gone a long way toward putting the “WOW!” into their cameras.  Their latest offering is the Sportster, really intrigued me.  I love water sports.  Whether it is playing in the pool, boating on the lake, or even a fun afternoon at the water park, you will find me there most of the summer.  The problem has always been, however, that there is no easy way to document these activities.  Sure, you can buy a bulky plastic case in order to turn your camera into something fit for a scuba diver, but that is hardly convenient.  I want something I can take into the water without adding all that extra bulk.  And that is exactly what I found with the Sportster.  Although this one appears just like a regular camcorder, the casing is designed to be completely water tight, allowing you to take it on any watery excursion.  I took that claim quite literally, bringing the camera to the swimming pool, two waterparks (including blasting down the water slides), and even boating on the lake.  Want to know how it fared?  Keep reading for a complete look at this latest camcorder from DXG.

What’s In the Box: One thing I can say about DXG, they certainly to pack their boxes fool of goodies and accessories.  Unlike many gadgets, there will be no need to run to the store for that one cable which was left out of the box.  In addition to the camera (of course), you will find:

• a CD ROM with editing software
• a battery, with proprietary charger
• USB-AV cable
• HDMI cable for high definition videos
• a pouch-style case
• about 3 pounds of assorted manuals and guides

What really impressed me here was that other than a memory card, there was really nothing I wanted to do with this camera which could not be accomplished using only the items included in the box, including connecting the camera to an external monitor or camera.

Quick Look: As we do with most gadgets here at JAMM, before we get into the features and functionality, let’s just take a quick look around the device. 

Starting with the front view, you can see the lens…pretty much where you would expect it to be.  What is usual here is the heavy, watertight protective plastic which surrounds the lens.  This ensures that water will not damage the lens or the inside of the camera when you use it while swimming.  I have to say, this worked great!  Beneath the lens is a LED light/flash.

There is not a lot to see on top.  The microphone is located up here, which seemed odd to me.  This means the microphone is never actually facing the area or person you are filming.  While the microphone did a fantastic job of picking up my voice and directions, it did a fairly mediocre job of recording sound coming from the actual subjects of my videos. 

Additionally, you will find the zoom controls.  These are perfectly placed to fit right under your fingers when you hold the camera using the included strap.  You will also notice that the buttons are larger than you might otherwise have expected.  This is to allow for easy access while underwater. 

There is not much to see on the bottom of the camera.  There is a door which opens to reveal the battery and memory card (it uses a standard SD card to store your images).  You will notice the extra secure lock on the door.  This is to ensure that no water will find its way into this compartment.  The only other thing to see here is the tripod mount, which worked pretty much as you would expect.

The back of the camera contains your primary action controls.  Here, you will find a standard D-pad, which can be used to navigate through the menus.  Additionally, while you are in photo or video modes, this D-pad transforms into four quick buttons, which will jump right into the most popular settings. 

The big red button is the record/shutter button, which is used to snap all of your pictures and video.  Finally, the green button beneath the shutter button is the underwater mode button.  Don’t worry, nothing will go terribly wrong if you start filming underwater without using this mode.  It does not have any effect on how water tight the camera will be.  What this button does do is optimize all of the settings for underwater shooting, ensuring you get the best possible pictures and video.

The right side of the device (as you are holding it) does not have much to see, which makes sense since your hand will be covering much of this part.  There is a hand strap on this side, which will secure the camera to your hand. 

The only other thing here is the macro toggle, which will allow you to switch between macro for close shots and regular mode.

The left side pops open to reveal a nice viewscreen, which is how you will stage your photos and videos.  There is no viewfinder on this camera.  Normally, this would not be a really big deal.  I typically shoot from the screen these days anyway.  The problem, though, is that this is an underwater camera, and the natural forces of shooting underwater can force the hinge on the screen shut, which will automatically turn off the camera.  a viewfinder could have solved this problem.

In addition to just opening and closing, that screen can also swivel into just about any position, allowing you a great deal of control over the angle of the shoot.  Inside the screen are a few more buttons, which allow you to control the camera mode.  There is a power button in here, though I rarely needed to use that.  Opening and closing the screen automatically turns the camera off and on.  Display toggles the information on the screen.  The mode button will cycle through the three modes: video (which is the default), still photos, and system menu.  I did find it a bit annoying that there was no way to go from still photos straight to video without going through the menus.  There was plenty of room for separate buttons for each of these modes on this panel.  

Additionally, you will also find the menu button, which will display the appropriate menu for each mode.  Finally, there is the playback button, which is obviously how you will watch the videos and photos stored in your camera’s memory.  Hit playback from video mode to view your stored videos.  Hit playback from picture mode to view your stored photos.

 Video: Recording video could not be easier.  Just open the screen, aim the lens, and hit that red button near your thumb.  That is really all there is to it.  This is just was easy to use as any of the popular one-step cameras, like the Flip brand cameras, but significantly more powerful.

While the camera may not give you all of the advanced settings many cameras, it does offer control over many of the important settings.  From the menus, you can reset the white balance to better account for the light settings in your surrounds…or leave it on auto to automatically account for the light.   You can also control the color effects, night mode, and video quality.

But really, what you want to hear about right now is the video resolution setting.  There are four resolution settings, starting with QVGA, WVGA, and then moving up to 720P and finally true HD with 1080P video resolution.  I have to say shooting video in 1080P was absolutely incredible.  The only problem was that due to the resolution settings, there is no zoom when shooting in HD, which means you will need to get in pretty close to your subject…or shoot in a lower resolution.

I already mentioned that I have been following DXG cameras for some time, and reviewed several of them.  I have really been impressed by how far their cameras have come.  The quality of the HD video is absolutely outstanding on this camera, and the ease of use is just about the best of any camera I have tested.  In short, this camera makes shooting (and later viewing) HD video just about as easy as possible.

Photos: Traditionally, I have had hesitations about cameras which purport to take still photos and video from the same lens.  Typically, the results are mixed at best.  I have to say though, recently, I have been extremely impressed with the improvements in this technology, and DXG has really taken advantage with this camera.  This is one of the first cameras I have used which really does just as well shooting video as well as still photos. 

The only problem I noticed was that there was no steady shot feature, meaning an incidental jostling of the camera could significantly blur the shot, as you can see in the above image.  Most modern day digital cameras have a steadying feature to account for this, and it would be nice to see something similar from DXG.

Like the videos, there are a number of settings you can use to fine tune your experience.  For starters, I was quite impressed to find this processor goes all the way to 16 megapixels.  To be honest, five is really the maximum point at which I tend to notice a significant difference…but still, isn’t it nice to know that you can go that much larger if you wanted/needed to do so?

Otherwise, the settings for the camera are much the same as the video settings: white balance, color effects, white mode, and quality.  Additionally, there is a timer, so you can hop into the pictures yourself.

Underwater: The real main attraction in this camera is the underwater feature.  I tested this extensively, taking the camera to two different waterparks, the lake, and numerous trips to the swimming pool.  And I have to say that it performed admirably through all of these trials, even the waterslide and especially the giant buckets of water being dumped directly onto the lens (see the above video). 

Now, I will say that the camera is only rated for 10 feet of water,which means you should not attempt to take it scuba diving with you.  That being said, it was the perfect camera for the pool or waterpark.  I could even swim with it underwater while filming, which was really pretty cool (as you can see from my son’s face).

The only problem I had here was that there is no viewfinder.  The only way to frame your shot is by using the images on the screen.  This was problematic for two reasons.  First, it can be hard to see the screen underwater, and second because the water is constantly moving and pressing against the screen, causing it to close unexpectedly and turn off the camera.  A viewfinder, which would rest right in front of your eye would clearly solve both of these problem.  Nonetheless, my kids absolutely loved running around filming video in the water, especially on the water slides. 

Playback: I am not sure about your kids, but mine are the type who want to see a photo or video of themselves the second it has been taken.  No sooner have I snapped the shutter or finished the video, they are running toward me begging to see it.  Sometimes, they start to run even before I have taken the picture.  So, it is nice that the DXG Sportster makes it extremely easy to playback everything you just shot in an instant.

All you need to do is hit the playback button.  If you are shooting video, then you will be taken to the video playback.  Photos, and you will head to the photo viewer.  I did think it would have been nice if there was an easy to to switch between watching videos and viewing photos, but I could not find a way to do so.  In order to switch modes, you need to exit the playback viewer, switch from one camera mode to the other, and then reenter playback.  Once you are in the appropriate mode, just use the D-pad to scroll through the stored images.

In addition to watching your stored photos and videos on the built-in screen, you can also connect the camera to your TV using the included cables in order to watch them in full HD playback.  I was really impressed by how easy this was to do, and how well it worked.  Not only that, but DXG may be one of the last companies to actually include all of the necessary cables in the box.  You rarely see that anymore, and I certainly appreciated that final touch. 

Battery: There is nothing worse than whipping out your camera to snap a picture or video, only to find that your battery has run completely dry.  There goes that memory, now lost to the sands of time.  Well…almost nothing.  What is worse is what I did, brought a nearly dead battery and the wrong charger, so I had no way to recharge the battery for the whole vacation.  So much for capturing those memories.

After testing this camera extensively, I have to say that I was extremely impressed by the battery.  It lasts just about forever.  I lugged this camera around with me all summer and almost never had to worry about charging it.  That is absolutely fantastic.

What annoyed me, though, was DXG’s reliance on proprietary rechargeable batteries.  Meaning this is just one more charger (and a pretty bulky one at that) which I must lug around when I travel.  Not only that, but DXG perplexingly uses different batteries in many of their cameras.  As such, the chargers I have received with other DXG cameras will not even work with this one. 

I like to travel light, and that means as few chargers and cables as possible.  It would be really nice if DXG would simply allow this battery to be charged via a standard USB-type connection.

Conclusion: I cannot say enough how impressed I have been with DXG’s latest line of cameras.  They are really making great strides toward becoming an elite brand of camera.  Their latest offering, the Sportster, is exactly the camera I have always wanted: an underwater camera, which can snap both photos and videos, without the need for a bulky outer shell or case.  I had high expectations for this one, and it met every one of them..and offered plenty more.  This is a fantastic camera for all occasions.  Whether you are taking still pictures or video, on land, air, or water, the DXG Sportster is going to have a solution for you.

The DXG Sportster is available from DXG for $169.99

How would you like to see your idea become a reality?  DXG makes history today by calling upon the creative community to help design a new look for its 2011 top-selling Luxe Collection of HD pocket camcorders.  The Luxe Collection of premium camcorders combines high–fashion with high-tech video features.  This one-week contest will be hosted on 99designs.com with a cash prize of $300 to the selected designer.  As of the time of this writing, 6 days and 12 hours remain to the contest.  Currently there are 4 rejected entries as the contestants did not design a camcorder, but tried redesigning the DXG logo.  Remember, this is to design a camcorder – which can easily go from a concept in your head to reality as a premiere product in a prestigious line of digital camcorders.  So get those creative juices going and let’s see what can be made!*

*This contest is not hosted by JAMM but by DXG

If you are one of those people who likes to watch images literally flying off the screen, then DXG has a camera for you.  Now, we have covered DXG quite extensively here at JAMM, and I have been extremely impressed watching how far they have come from some of the early cameras we looked at.  Their latest, however, really goes far beyond anything we have seen before.  This one lets you record video in full 3D.  You can even use the bundled 3D media player to replay all of your exciting vacation videos and immerse your friends in that trip you took to Cancun last month.  Keep reading for the full press release from DXG.

With blockbuster hits like James Cameron’s Avatar opening consumers eyes to an entirely new world of 3D entertainment, it’s no surprise that demand for 3D technology and content is on the rise, with 3DTV sales expected to grow 142% between 2010 and 2011.* Arming consumers with the ability to now create their own 3D content, DXG (www.dxgusa.com) today launched the DXG 3D pocket camcorder and 3D 7-inch media player bundle, allowing for easy filming and playback of 3D video and pictures with no glasses required. The 3D camcorder and media player bundle is available now for pre-sale atwww.hammacher.com for $599.99.

Bring Your Videos and Pictures to Life in Full 3D

For the first time ever, you will be able to create home movies in 3D and relive each moment in lifelike detail thanks to the new DXG 3D pocket camcorder and media player. With the camcorder’s compact pistol-grip design and flexible playback options, you can instantly view, record and playback 3D video or photos directly on the 3.2-inch LCD camcorder display, on the included 3D 7-inch media player, or directly on your 3DTV. Supporting up to 16GB high-capacity SD cards, you can record hours of summertime fun in 3D and take 3D 5-megapixel still images, as well as capture 2D video and pictures.

Enjoying your newly created 3D memories is a cinch with the included DXG 3D media player. Boasting a vivid 7-inch LCD display, glasses are not required to see your video and photos pop out and come to life in full 3D on the player. Convenient touch screen keys and remote control of the media player not only allow you to view your 3D and 2D video and photo masterpieces with ease, but also let you control the built-in MP3 music player, alarm clock and calendar. Also included in the package are HDMI and AV cables for easy playback of your summertime shenanigans directly on your 3DTV.

“DXG is excited to be at the forefront of the 3D digital content revolution and release a product that allows people to easily create their own 3D masterpieces,” said Paul Goldberg,senior vice president of sales and marketing at DXG USA. “We specifically designed our 3D camcorder and media player bundle with the consumer in mind to create an all-in-one, fun and easy way to record and watch life’s adventures in 3D.”

DXG-5D7V 3D Pocket Camcorder Specifications:

v Availability: Pre-sale at www.hammacher.com; Shipment date of August 6, 2010

v Price: 3D Camcorder & Media Player Bundle – $599.99

v Dimensions: 1.63” (W) x 4.88” (H) x 2.93” (D)

v LCD: 3.2-inch 3D TFT Display

v Storage: 128MB Built-in Memory; Supports High-Capacity SD Cards up to 16GB

v Video Resolution & Format: VGA Standard 3D Dual-Lens Technology; H.264 AVI File Format

v Still Photo Resolution & Format: 5-megapixel; JPEG format

v Power Supply: NP-60 Li-ion Battery

v Zoom: 4X Digital Zoom (2D mode only)

v Connections: HDMI interface and cable; USB/AV cable for connecting to the TV or to your PC or Mac

v Software Included:  3D Video Conversion Software

v Other Items Included in Package: 3D Media Player, Camcorder case, HDMI cable, USB/AV cable, NP-60 Li-ion battery, battery charger

DXG 3D Media Player Specifications:

v Dimensions: 8.39” (W) x 5.41” (H) x 0.94” (D)

v LCD: 7” Parallax-Barrier Auto-Stereoscopic (Glasses-Free) TFT Display

v Resolution: 800×480

v Display Effects: Normal, black and white, Sepia, Lens Distortion

v Video Format & Resolution: MPEG4, AVI, 720x480p at 30fps

v Audio & Image Format: MP3; JPEG

v Control Format: Touchable Keys, Remote Control

v Audio & Video Output: AVOUT, Earphone Stereoscopic Output

v Storage: Supports SD/MMC

v Power Supply: 5V DC, 2A

v Output Interface: USB 2.0