CES 2008: Face Detection a New Trend for Camcorders

January 14, 2008 – Face Detection. Face Recognition. Face Chaser. The new trend in camcorders this year at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is face-finding technology. As the name implies, face recognition is geared to better capture people in still photography and more recently, video. With top-tier model launches from Panasonic’s (HDC-SD9 and HDC-HS9) and Sony’s new spring lines (HDR-SR10, HDR-SR11, HDR-SR12, HDR-UX10, HDR-UX20, and the DCR-SR-220), manufacturers are proving that face recognition technology isn’t just for still compact cameras anymore.

History of Face Detection
Although currently few in numbers, camcorder companies are expanding face detection from static photos to moving picture. Face recognition has been a buzz phrase for three years now, premiering in the digital still camera world in February 2005 when Nikon launched its Face Priority mode. The Nikon Coolpix 5900, 7600, and 7900 point-and-shoots debuted as the first official face-finding cameras. 

Although Fujifilm released details about the technology a year earlier at Photokina in September 2004, Fuji wouldn’t actualize the technology until July 2006 with the FinePix S6000fd (the suffix standing for Face Detection).

 

Today, Canon, Casio, Fujifilm, Olympus, Sony, GE, and the last entrant in the bunch –Panasonic - each employ face recognition in its still cameras.  Although Panasonic was a latecomer to still face detection, Panasonic was the first to push that technology on higher end SLR still cameras with the Lumix-DMC L10.

 

FACE DETECTION TIMELINE

Sep. 4, 2004 - Photokina - Fuji announces development of face detection technology. Feb. 5, 2005 - PMA- Nikon announces Coolpix 7600, 5900, and 7900 point-and-shoots with software-based Face Priority mode.  The new feature is credited as an industry first because face recognition is fully realized in a camera. July 7, 2007- Panasonic launches face detection in still cameras, as one of the last of the major manufacturers.  Aug. 7, 2007 – Sanyo launches camcorder hybrids that Xacti HD1000 and Xacti HD700 with face detection for still pictures.  The camcorders are the first camcorders with face detection but employ misleading title; face detection is only engaged for photos, not video. Jan. 08, 2008 - CES – Panasonic debuts its first camcorder face detection on HDC-SD9 and HDC-HS9.  Hours later, Sony launches its first camcorder face detection on HDR-SR10, HDR-SR11, HDR-SR12, HDR-UX10, and HDR-UX20.  Sanyo states video face detection will launch soon.

“Our face detection for digital still cameras is one of the last ones to come into the industry, but the way we look at our functionality is [that it’s] one of the best,” said Yukio Hirose, General Manager, Optical Marketing Department, Overseas Marketing Group at Panasonic. 

 

While Panasonic was a Johnny-come-lately for still camera face detection, it is now one of two pioneers in camcorder face detection with the launch of the HDC-SD9 and HDC-HS9 camcorders.

Just hours after Panasonic’s press conference announcing face detection for their camcorders on January 6, 2008, Sony made its own announcement, unveiling their own version of face detection for six camcorders: the high definition HDR-SR10, HDR-SR11, HDR-SR12, HDR-UX10, HDR-UX20, and the standard definition SR-220.

The Tech Specs

Drawing on features from its distant cousins, the digital still camera line, these new camcorders implement face detection in a slightly different way. Still cameras correct for focus and exposure, but the camcorders’ corrections toolkit varies by manufacturer. Panasonic corrects for exposure for up to five faces, according to company representatives. Sony increases the count to eight faces, and can alter exposure, white balance, and auto focus accordingly.

The Panasonic HDC-SD9 and HDC-HS9 uses its own proprietary face detection technology with a tracking system, exposure control, and flash activation available, according to the company. 

 

Sony’s face detection is possible because of the six camcorders’ ClearVID CMOS sensor and Bionz processor from the Alpha and Cyber-shot still camera products. The face detection is similar to Sony’s still cameras but without the auto flash. It corrects the three common problems of most common problems: color balance, brightness, and focus. As with the Alpha and Cyber-shot camera lines, the camcorder’s subject must be facing the lens for face detection to recognize the facial architecture of two eyes, a nose, and a mouth.

When asked if the moving picture face detection would be as efficient as still face detection, a Sony representative said that it acts similar, but the camcorder adds tracking technology.

“With our Bionz processor that helps with our face detection, it actually allows for faster tracking of motion, especially for video, especially for faces,” said Kevin Brinkman, Senior Content & Training Manager of the Digital Imaging and Audio Division, Digital Imaging at Sony. “It anticipates where the faces are going to be while shooting the video.” 

Even though only two of the major players have tapped into face detection territory so far, the manufacturers agree that face detection is indeed coming this year.  Last fall, Sanyo released the Xacti HD1000 and the HD700, which included face detection but only for still photos. When asked when face detection would be implemented for Sanyo video, company representatives said video face detection will come in 2008. Consumers can expect this face-finding feature more and more in the coming year.