Video

The shift from closed-circuit television (CCTV) security systems to network video solutions is nearly complete. Network video surveillance systems offer many benefits over traditional closed-circuit systems, and Axis Communications has been there since the beginning. Axis offers every type of network surveillance equipment imaginable, and B&H carries the full line, with prices much lower than the competition. 

You don't expect motion detection in a battery, but the new Dionic HCX from Anton/Bauer is smart enough to know when to go into a deep sleep, and when moved, to wake up. After a two-week period without a load, the battery automatically goes to sleep, which enables extended storage with almost zero capacity loss. To awaken the battery for normal use, you need simply to move the battery, thus activating the motion-detection feature.

It’s difficult to keep up with technology, and it’s also expensive if you insist on buying the latest gear. While it’s dizzying to keep up with advancements in technology, those same advancements keep making new gadgets more and more affordable. A case in point is this HD camcorder, which costs less than $300. 

James Cameron’s film, Avatar, has helped propel 3D technology into the mainstream. People flocked to theaters to see the 3D attraction and now they’re buying the Blu-ray edition in droves. I read today that US consumers have spent more than $55 million on 3D TVs and Blu-ray players in just a few months, but I'd bet the equipment that James Cameron used to produce Avatar cost even more. The average 3D enthusiast could never afford to use Cameron’s highly refined 3D camera equipment, but fortunately there’s a much more affordable alternative. 

Biking a tough trail can be exhilarating—the wind rushing through your hair (through your helmet vents, of course) as you swerve to avoid obstacles, bombing down hills at speeds that you’ll brag about for months. Thanks to a new line of rugged sportscams and helmet cameras, you can have high-quality HD video to relive every jump and swerve in high definition. Or you can post the videos online so that your friends can live vicariously through your extreme sports exploits. 

HDSLRs shoot great video, but as video cameras, their body shape is not optimal for shooting smooth, steady footage. When shooting video, you often want to press your eye to the viewfinder to see that your shot is in focus and to have better control over the camera's movement, but with HDSLRs, smooshing your face up to the tiny viewfinder can be uncomfortable and can make getting smooth, fluid video difficult.