Your memories in high definition with the HP 5560u Camcorder

By JUN VELASCO

HP 5560u Camcorder

MANILA, Philippines -- It is fair to assume that more and more people will be looking to migrate to High Definition camcorders with HDTV becoming more the staple.  Having the choice and flexibility of shifting between still capture and video gives camcorders more advantage than single function devices.  So it becomes a more obvious choice, to capture those important moments and view them with the best choice of camcorder that you can afford.
Just to set a point aside, price can be a clear factor regarding the overall quality delivered by your camcorder.  And as you go higher in the price range, you will get to enjoy more and more functions that is more than just ‘nice to have’.
But for those looking for a ‘no frills’ camcorder that can capture and playback or view in high definition, then the HP 5560u is a definite choice.

Not Created Equal
HP 5560u presents a 1080P High Definition format, which is definitely an eye catcher.  But what does 1080P actually mean?
Current HD camcorders have several formats -- alternatively, there are 720P, 1080i and 1080P.  The number refers to the resolution or detail of the frame.  In the case of 720P, it normally means 1280 columns and 720 rows of pixels.  And “P” refers to Progressive or the refresh rate that is at 25 times per second.
So you can deduce that the higher the numbers, the higher the resolution.  With the 1080i or 1080P, the standard pixel resolution is 1920 x 1080 with a refresh rate of 50 or 25 respectively.
Thus, it is technically ‘higher definition’ when a camcorder displays the numbers 1080. And the HP 5560u still capture resolution is also on the high end, with up to 12 MP still image capture capability.

Three Capture and Playback Options
There is a choice to do still, video and even audio capture.  Shifting from one mode to another is a simple turn of the dial, literally.
The still mode does provide additional functional choices from the standard ‘with flash’ to the equally useful EV setting that is visibly indicated in the LCD screen with their respective icons.
Useful for video capture is the Motion Detection Mode, which can help reduce ‘hand shakes’.  But it will not really replace a very steady hand during recording.
Important to note however, that in order to have a good capture experience, it is still good to set the right conditions for optimal capture like improving lighting conditions particularly during video capture.
Also, it will be a good practice to bring the charger along or an extra charged battery, if you intend to use it on extended periods.
The audio mode seems a bit ‘out of place’, but could be useful with a little more imagination.

Comes Standard
The HP 5560u comes standard with an optical zoom of up to 20X and a three-inch wide touch screen, gives more control in ‘setting up’.  There is a media card slot that can hold up to 16GB and if you happen to forget about it, HP 5560u comes with a 32 MB internal storage for those quick videos and snapshots.
HP did not save up on some essentials, providing all the necessary cables for file transfer or playback.  There is a HDMI cable for video playback with an HDTV, a USB cable for photo viewing and a composite A/V cable for audio listening, that can also double up for video/still playback.
HP5560u is a true high definition camcorder that will fit the bill for capturing those loving moments with family and friends.