Genius launches HD Camcorder at $150 price

Genius has announced its G-Shot HD520, a pocket-sized HD digital video camera it hopes will break price barriers for the class. The six-ounce camera features a 2.4-inch screen, records 11-megapixel stills and records in 5-megapixel MPEG 4/H.264 video that produces a 720p picture. The HD520 has some features reserved for higher-end cameras, such as facial detection and image stabilization, and its LCD screen rotates through 270 degrees. The new camcorder has a built-in 32MB of memory, obviously requiring use of an additional SD card for any video capture; it supports up to 8GB SDHC cards for the bulk of its footage. The 520 uses a 7.1mm lens and offers a 5x digital zoom. It has an HDMI output for a direct connection to a HDTV. The HD520 is compatible with Mac OS X and Windows 2000/XP/Vista. It retails for $150