A CAMERA WITH STAMINA
Whether you’re a broadcast journalist, a filmmaker or an adventurous videographer, the Canon XL2 is the most versatile MiniDV around. The new fluorite lens assures sharp resolution and colour contrast and an array of fine-tuning controls bring more flexibility to the unit. It shoots at 24P, 60i and 30P frame rates and ergonomically integrates a comfortable shoulder mount with a lightweight body.
Price: $6,600
www.canon.ca
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BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY
It may not be as compact as your average cell phone, but a satellite phone is built for power, not looks. With Iridium’s 9505, you’re able to make and receive calls anywhere in the world and its water- and shock-resistant body appeals to any rugged adventurer. Travelling businessmen will also love using the 9505 on airplanes — satphones connect directly to orbiting satellites and don’t interfere with a plane’s electronics. For industrial uses, the 9505 can transmit data with an optional adapter. When used locally, it has all the goodies you’d expect from a souped-up cell: vibracall alert, call forwarding, call waiting, one-touch dialling and 100-entry memory storage.
Price: $1,985
www.iridium.com
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IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO
If you’re such an audiophile that speaker features like midrange subtlety and bass response send you into a titter of excitement, look no further then the latest loudspeakers from Montreal-based Totem Acoustic. Small in size but powerful in performance, the Totem Model-1 Signature speakers use 5” Dynaudio woofers and 1” aluminum tweeters, ensuring lifelike reproduction of your favourite tunes. Especially cool is the multilayer damping that prevents the wood from resonating so only the drivers emit clear sound.
Price: $ 2,250
www.totemacoustic.com
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YOUR LIVING ROOM DRIVE-IN
Digital Journal is especially enthusiastic about the Cineform 55-inch plasma TV, which displays a brighter picture at a screen resolution of 1366 x 768. While pricier than its cousins, the latest plasma TVs from Hitachi do give you a big bang for your buck. Pixel-driving technology reduces the amount of electrodes and thus allows more room for light-emitting phosphors. “The industry trend is thin and sleek,” says Brandon Osmond, product manager of Hitachi Canada. And the latest models are shedding the pounds to get skinny. Other highlights include an adjustable colour decoder, four-step black enhancement, photo memory card USB input and screen savers.
Price: $15,000
www.hitachi.ca
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THIN AND BEAUTIFUL
If the LCD/plasma controversy keeps you up at night, a safe bet is to side with BenQ’s 30-inch LCD TV.
Ideal for home entertainment in well-lit rooms, this LCD sports a 16:9 aspect ratio and a 500:1 contrast ratio, displaying more realistic images than regular television when connected to a high-def signal. A 3D filter clears up the moving (as opposed to static) parts of the picture. For optimum performance, use a progressive-scan DVD player to get a more “flicker-free” picture.
Price: $2,620
www.benq.ca
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PROJECT A POWERFUL IMAGE
Projectors are moving from the boardroom to the living room and Hitachi is one of the leading experts in projection technology. With the PJTX100, they offer home theatre enthusiasts a three-panel LCD light engine, 1200:1 contrast ratio and 1280 x 720 resolution. Most impressive is the lens featuring ELD (extra low dispersion), which prevents colour bleeding and aberration — basically, a sharp picture without the hassle. Also noteworthy is the lens-shifting application that allows the horizontal and vertical lenses to perfectly centre on the subject, even if the unit isn’t situated in the middle of the room. The PJTX100 can be mounted on a tabletop or a ceiling.
Price: $4,000
www.hitachi.ca
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RELEASE YOUR INNER SHUTTERBUG
Shutterbugs want a lighter and more efficient digital camera and Olympus is answering their prayers with its 5.5 Megapixel E1 SLR system. The geekily-named Full Frame Transfer Charged Coupled Device (CCD) delivers image resolution as high as 2560 x 1920 pixels and a supersonic wave filter protects your photos from dust and other pesky particles. Digital Journal staff gave the camera a spin and it soon became obvious why the small lens and clever light management system is a favourite for Formula 1 photographers — every shot can be tweaked to adjust for poor shooting conditions.
Price: $1,800 (body only)
www.olympus.com
