The Xacti CG9 adopts the MPEG-4 AVC (Advanced Video Coding)/H.264 high compression and recording format, which compresses 60 VGA (640 x 480) frames into each second. The smaller files it generates are easy to handle and enable many hours of high-quality recording at the same quality as earlier DVD (MPEG-2) formats, yet with about half the data size. Additionally, users can enjoy beautiful image quality on big-screen TVs. Audio recording employs the AAC-LC (MPEG-4 Audio) file format, which delivers higher compression rates than MP3 and other earlier formats, resulting in smaller files. Digitally produced high-quality stereo audio is obtained by means of 2-channel, 16-bit recording at 48 kHz. And, thanks to SHDC support, 4 hours of footage can be recorded onto a 4 GB SDHC card (in TV-HQ mode).
Thanks to a new shake-control mechanism for still pictures, rotational blurring that cannot be corrected by optical systems and blurring caused by moving subjects can be canceled out. The Xacti CG9 also incorporates a digital image stabilizer for movies that accurately distinguishes between trembling hands and intentional camera work, such as panning and tilting — a distinction that some systems have difficulty making — so that shaking is corrected without sacrificing the natural look of actual camerawork.
Note (1): The blue-resistant system cannot correct shaking in images taken at shutter speeds of 1/8 sec. or slower, or in images with a high degree of shaking.
Note (2): Turning the Digital Image Stabilizer on or off may change the angle of view slightly.
Note (2): Turning the Digital Image Stabilizer on or off may change the angle of view slightly.
The Xacti CG9 can simultaneously record VGA (640 x 480) movies and 2M stills without interrupting movie shooting. While recording a movie, memories of a special instant can be preserved forever, without missing that golden opportunity to capture it as a still picture image.
Note: The angle of view may change when shooting video clips while using the digital image stabilizer.
Even under insufficient lighting as may occur at sunset, bright, sharp images can be taken with minimal noise in Auto mode. When set to Lamp mode, pictures can be taken with the approximately 4 lux* required minimum lighting, or just by candlelight.
*At 1/15 sec.
The Xacti CG9 incorporates a high-performance F3.5, 5x optical zoom lens. Subjects and far-away people can be captured in beautiful quality. Augmented by the 12x digital zoom, the optical zoom enables zooming up to 60x.
Using the 20-Image Display feature, you can quickly search for a specific image. With the Slideshow feature, meanwhile, images can be played back continuously. What’s more, movies can be edited easily on the camera itself. You can easily splice multiple clips into one movie or cut unwanted footage by visually selecting clips using the time bar. This functionality also helps you to use SD memory card capacity effectively, and can be used to extract still frames from movies.
In Simple mode, only the most basic information is displayed on the LCD monitor. This easy-to-see, easy-to understand graphical user interface is simple enough for even first-time users to operate.
Location: Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, Osaka, Japan http://www.kaiyukan.com/
