Toshiba Enters the Race with Four HD Camcorders by David Kender Published on Sep 25, 2007 8:03 AM

The new Toshiba Gigashot GSC-A100F

September 25, 2007 – Today, Toshiba announced that they will release a series of high definition camcorder. Two models in the Gigashot A Series will record full 1920 x 1080 video onto hard disk drives (HDDs) in the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 format. Two models in the Gigashot K series record in the lower 720p resolution (1290 x 720). The Gigashot GSC-A100F, does not come cheap, expecting to retail in Japan for 188,000¥ (approximately US$1640).

Toshiba has been quietly releasing camcorders for the last several years. In early 2006 they announced their first Gigashot HDD camcorders. This is the first time Toshiba has released high definition models.

The A Series, which includes the GSC-A100F and the GSC-A40F, are equipped with identical imaging specs. They differ only in the recording capacity, with 100GB and 40GB HDDs, respectively. Inside, they pack a 1/3” CMOS sensor with a gross pixel count of 2,360,000 (effective pixel count 1,490,000). Both record full 1920 x 1080 and 1440 x 1080 at 60fps. Toshiba has also decided to muddy the waters of compatibility by employing yet another format for consumer HD. Video is compressed in the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 format, which is different from the AVCHD codec of Sony, Panasonic, and Canon – and different still from the MPEG-2 transport stream of JVC HD camcorders.

Both A Series models include the same lens, a 10x optical zoom with f/1.8 – 2.8 and a focal range of 4.5 – 45mm (35mm equiv: 35.9 – 431mm). The filter diameter measures 43mm. The bodies quite compact, measuring 78.1mm x 135.4mm x 79mm.

Model	HDD Capacity	Approximate Price (Japan)	Approximate Price (US)
Toshiba GSC-A100F	100GB	188,000 ¥	$1,6340
Toshiba GSC-A40F	40GB	158,000 ¥	$1,378
Toshiba GSC-K80H	80GB	128,000¥	$1,116
Toshiba GSC-K40H	40GB	108,000¥	$942

The K Series features a slightly downgraded set of specs. They record a 1280 x 720p video with a similar 1/3 CMOS sensor, but the lens design is different. The GSC-K80H and GSC-K40H (80GB and 40GB, respectively), are equipped with a 10x, f/3.5 lens with a focal range of 6.0 – 60mm (35mm equiv: 46.2 – 503.6mm).

	The GSC-K80H

All four models include a 3-inch TFT LCD screen and an SD/SDHC card slot for recording stills. Outputs include HDMI, component, composite, and USB. The A Series is reported to have 75 minutes and battery life, and the K series to have 90 minutes.

Toshiba has scheduled the A Series camcorders to begin shipping in mid-November. The GSC-A100F retails for approximately US$1640 and the GSC-A40F for US$1378. The K Series will ship in late October. The GSC-K80H retails for approximately US$1116 and GSC-K40H for US$942. None of the camcorders have been announced for the U.S. market at this time. For more information on the products, read the press release (this is a translated page).