New camera takes video in the past

[MichaelJ]

This is pretty cool, and sounds to be very useful for nature videography.

Casio catches video before you shoot it

In pre-record mode, you half-press the shutter button when you’re awaiting an event that’s completely unpredictable: a breaching whale, a geyser’s eruption or a five-year-old batter connecting with the ball. The camera silently, repeatedly records 60 shots a second, immediately discarding the old to make room for the new. When you finally press the button fully, the camera simply preserves the most recent shots, thus effectively photographing an event that, technically speaking, you missed.

 

[Tom Rankin]

This is pretty cool, and sounds to be very useful for nature videography.

Casio catches video before you shoot it

Now if only you could have pre-posted that, it would have been really spooky!

 

[David Metsky]

Actually, that feature has been around on various cameras for 4-5 years. This particular camera has a wicked fast buffer so it allows you to catch more then previous cameras were able to, but it's a not a new concept.

 

[DougPaul]

Seeing that you have to have the camera aimed properly either way and the button at least half-pressed, the difference between just taking the movie and editing after-the-fact and this pre-movie mode is pretty small--just a potentially longer waiting time and some convenience.

IMO, this seems to be a fairly small feature unless you used it frequently.

Doug

 

[MichaelJ]

It could be all the difference in the world if you're on vacation or otherwise somewhere that you don't want to carry (or pay for) umpteen extra memory cards, which would be necessary if you just wanted to edit after-the-fact.

I think a whale watch is an excellent example of a good use for something like this. You don't want to try to video the entire time you're out there, but the moment that whale breaches you press the button and not only do you get everything from that point on, but also the lead-up.

 

[DougPaul]

It could be all the difference in the world if you're on vacation or otherwise somewhere that you don't want to carry (or pay for) umpteen extra memory cards, which would be necessary if you just wanted to edit after-the-fact.

My SD800 can do a simple edit in the camera, such as trim the head and tail.

I think a whale watch is an excellent example of a good use for something like this. You don't want to try to video the entire time you're out there, but the moment that whale breaches you press the button and not only do you get everything from that point on, but also the lead-up.

But only if you have been tracking the whale. (Remember you have to hold a half-press for it to "record the past".) The mode only automates the edit.

What happens if you want more than 60 sec? Does the implementation allow it?

If you like the mode, that is fine. IMO, it is of limited value--I wouldn't pay extra for it.

Doug