Cambridge Audio will release its first Blu-Ray/DVD/CD player in early 2009. Designed to be the
perfect partner to the Azur range of AV Receivers the 640BD features full HDMI 1.3 output,
including bitstream output of all the latest HD Dolby and DTS surround-sound systems plus
internal decoding of Dolby Digital EX, DTS ES, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD and DTS HR
surround-sound. A full set of analog video outputs is supported, HDMI 1.3 video/audio, Ethernet,
SPDIF, Toslink and separate dedicated 7.1 and stereo analogue outputs.

Cambridge Audio prides itself on developing products that offer true value for money to discerning
buyers and has embraced Blu-Ray technology with enthusiasm to wring out the best possible
performance from this exciting new format.

Supporting Dolby True HD means the 640BD provides audio that matches the original studio
masters. While natively supporting up to 1080p from Blu-Ray discs the 640BD is also able to
upscale DVD discs to 1080p video resolution taking the viewer to the heart of movie action.
Meanwhile, 24 frames per second (fps) progressive scan True Cinema allows films to be watched
as the director intended at their original frame rate without conversion for the most natural jog free
panning and motion possible.

All this means the 640BD lives up to Cambridge Audio’s philosophy of providing a passion for
performance to get the best out of any movie collection.

[Cambridge Audio]

Here's how.

Film is 24 frames per second. That standard was the approximation of what was defined in the early 20th century by hand crank cameras. And just about every movie disc you can buy is encoded in this format. We're not just talking DVD. We're talking about HD DVD and Blu-ray, too.

The problem is, most TVs run at 30 frames per second. Fitting that 24-frame content onto a 30-frame screen isn't that easy; the math just doesn't compute cleanly. You can't divide 24 by 30 without filling in the gaps with some junk. That junk causes stuttering in the video. This is a jerky-looking phenomenon that's particularly noticeable when the camera pans across a scene. The conversion is better known by film and TV wonks as 2:3 pulldown. It spreads out 24 frames into 30 by placing one frame on the screen three times and the next one after that two times, and repeating this pattern ad infinitum.

How does this relate to an 120Hz HDTV showing frames at 120 frames per second? A bit of simple math tells you that 120 is a multiple of 24, because 24 x 5 = 120. So one of the claims of the purveyors of these sped-up monitors is that they can natively reproduce 24p programming, namely, just about every film has ever been shot.

These new HDTVs avoid this awkward 3:2 pulldown process altogether by changing their frame rate to something that's a multiple of 24 by using either frame doubling or interpolation (also called "tweening"). Then, their playback can be as close to native 24fps playback as you can get. That's why 72Hz (24 x 3 = 72) and 120Hz refresh rates are gaining traction. Native 24p playback: Yeah, sounds good. But how will it be implemented and which manufacturers are involved? And who does it best? – Brian Lam and Charlie White

Next in our series: Which TVs and disc players are in on this nascent 72Hz/120Hz phenomenon, and which method of frame expansion does each use? Is this going to cost a lot? How much better will it look? Here's part 2.

We've actually shot quite a bit of HD footage with this baby, and it's the real deal, with 24p HD recording and more than 20 other ways to turn light into data. It's all solid-state, too, laying down its digital footage on P2-format flash memory cards whose prices are also consistently plummeting. And oh yeah, this one also records onto DV tape at the same time if you wish, so pick your format.

This is one hell of a price, hardly more you'd pay for a high-end DV camcorder. With prices dropping like this, we're figuring this model will probably be replaced at NAB in April. Still, this is an excellent HD camcorder at an unusually low price.

UPDATE: Readers tell us this ExpressCameras is a scam operation, using intense bait and switch tactics. It's being sued by the state of NJ, caveat emptor. It looked too good to be true... sigh. Jump to see the allegations against the company:

The specific allegations include:

* Failing to sell merchandise at the price advertised on the company's web site;

* Charging or attempting to separately charge for accessories or equipment that the Original Equipment Manufacturer included with the merchandise (for example, camera batteries and/or battery chargers);

* Charging consumers inflated shipping and handling fees;

* Failing to provide any price reduction for merchandise which appears to be on sale or reduced;

* Failing to inform consumers at the time of purchase that some or all of the merchandise is out of stock; and

* Refusing to permit consumers to cancel an order or merchandise upgrade prior to shipment.

The company allegedly used terms like "Price Drop", "List Price" and/or "Our Price" on its web sites without providing any price reductions for the advertised merchandise.

Panasonic HVX200 [ExpressCameras]
Comparison: Panasonic HVX200 vs. Sony HVR-Z1U [Digital Producer]