Sony Dv / DVD / Digital 8 Year 2005 Models

[Stelios]

Spring 2005 launch for Sony CMOS 3MP DV cams

DCR-PC1000 and HC90 DV models to benefit from Enhanced Imaging Processor and “true” widescreen, 5.1 Surround Sound

March and April sees the launch of Sony’s new DCR-HC90E and DCR-PC1000E respectively as Sony unveils two new 3 Megapixel DV camcorders to head up an extensive list of new models for 2005. The DCR-PC1000E is equipped with three CMOS sensors and Enhanced Imaging Processor, enabling it to capture a wide dynamic range for precise image detail. The DCR-PC1000E is – according to the manufacturer - intended for the more experienced camcorder user who is “eager to shoot the best video picture quality”, with an assignable dial providing access to additional “professional” manual controls. Alongside this, the DCR-HC90E has a 3 Megapixel CCD with Primary colour filter and the Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens system and capable of shooting in “true” 16:9 widescreen thanks to the camcorders' utilisation of the extra pixels available on the array.


Features

The DCR-PC1000E is equipped with three 1/6-inch 790k CMOS Sensors and enhanced imaging processing. It offers a variety of manual functions, including Focus, Exposure, AE Shift, White Balance Shift and Playback volume, all of which can all be controlled manually with the use of the assignable dial. Other features include a Cinematic mode to enable film-like shooting and an AE Shift Function to adjust the intensity of the Auto Exposure. A Histogram function displays luminosity values. Skin tones are adjustable through menu-selectable options, with a guide-frame being providing in the LCD and Viewfinder as a means of aiding composition.
In the DCR-HC90E a unique Sony Primary Colour Filter on the 3 Megapixel CCD is comprised of RGB filters designed to offer “more accurate” colour reproduction, according to Sony. Providing what the company describes as true 16:9 widescreen recording (presumably by allocating additional pixels within the CCD array to allow for a wider image – though precise details haven’t been furnished by Sony). This, claims the company, is ideal for playback on widescreen TV's. For widescreen playback a 2.7-inch widescreen Hybrid LCD monitor is included.


Both models are equipped with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens and a 10x Optical Zoom. The DCR-HC90E and DCR-PC1000E have the ability to record in 5.1 Channel Surround Sound when attaching a Sony microphone to the "Active Interface Shoe". The inclusion of Sony Memory Stick DUO enables both camcorders to be used as digital still cameras, with a built-in flash also being a feature.

Both the above models are provided with a 10x Optical Zoom multi-layer T* coated Carl Zeiss lens, a 2.7-inch 16:9 Hybrid LCD monitor, with the playback mode selectable between 4:3 and 16:9 modes. Also provided on the frame of the LCD screen are a Start/Stop Record button and a secondary Zoom control. An Active Menu featured on the touch screen LCD display provides a logically structured, graphical interpretation of the most common camcorder functions. The full menu is also available in multiple languages.

The DCR-HC90 will be available in March 2005, with the Sony DCR-PC1000 becoming available throughout Europe in April 2005.

 

[Stelios]

World's "smallest cams" from Sony for 2005

Two new tiny MiniDV camcorders and a DVD Camcorder from Sony are small enough to fit into a pocket or bag.

Sony has announced the release of what it claims to be the world's smallest and lightest MiniDV format camcorders, the DCR-PC55E and DCR-PC53E, which will be launched in February 2005. To date, the claim to the world's smallest tape-based digital camcorder has been held by the Sony DCR-IP1 MICROMV camcorder, but with that format now rapidly on the decline Sony has concentrated its design efforts on DV and DVD camcorders. In respect of the latter, Sony has unveiled what the company describes as a “mobile-friendly” DVD Handycam, the DCR-DVD7, which will make its appearance in May 2005. All models are designed to be carried in a pocket or bag when not in use.


DCR-PC55E and DCR-PC53E features

The tiny DCR-PC55E and its sibling DCR-PC53E are scarcely larger than the mini DV cassettes they use. Fully featured, they are packed with innovative technology such as a 3.0-inch Hybrid LCD monitor which simply swivels round to display your high-resolution video. Thanks to breakthroughs in technology, both the DCR-PC55E and its sibling the DCR-PC53E are tiny enough to be kept in a bag or jacket – in much the same way as a mobile phone or slim line digital camera is. Connectivity and battery charging is provided by a separate docking station – which Sony calls a Handycam Station – which allows positioning of the camcorder such that playback can be viewed on the 3.0-inch Hybrid LCD monitor display by several people at the same time. This mains powered cradle facilitates permanent connection to a PC or TV when not being used for recording, and offers a Slide Show Plus function for use as a photo frame when playing out your images stored on the camcorder’s supplied Memory Stick DUO card. The LCD display also has a Touch Screen for use in conjunction with Sony's Active Menu, described by the manufacturer as being “a logically structured graphical user interface for camcorder control”. The built-in Easy Handycam menu gives one-button access to basic camera operation and recording settings. Both camcorders feature a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens, with a 10x Optical Zoom capability


DCR-DVD7E DVD Camcorder

The DCR-DVD7E has been given a “futuristic” design style, and supports DVD-R/-RW/+RW compatible formats for shooting and playing back. The design of the camcorder is claimed to have been redesigned to suit a new style of operation and, in what is a clear departure from accepted camcorder styling, the DCR-DVD7E features a 2.5-inch Hybrid LCD monitor on the rear of its near-circular body shape which also serves as the camcorder’s primary monitoring, framing and playback display. As camcorders go, it's certainly very unusual and designed for the so-called "leisure user" primarily.
This intriguingly-designed camcorder is capable of recording directly to DVD discs, with formats supported being DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW for direct recording and DVD-RW and DVD+RW for rewriting. Sony claims that the 8cm DVD Discs used by the Handycam range can be played back on most consumer DVD players.

Users should take care when viewing images recorded on DVD+RW on DVD players where the finalization session hasn’t been completed, and images need to be recorded for more than 8 minutes in SP recording mode. Sony doesn’t guarantee the playback of such recordings for all DVD+RW compatible devices.

 

[Stelios]

Three more Digital-8 cams announced by Sony

Just when you thought the format was ready for the chop, Sony comes up with three new models, but only the top-end model offers analogue backward compatibility plus AV/DV inputs

Just when you thought that Sony’s Digital-8 tape format was ready to be consigned to the video format graveyard, Sony unveils three more models. Whilst the format itself is great for the user needing to play back and edit Video-8 and Hi-8 recordings, combined with the ability to record DV-spec footage on 8mm tapes, it's also a fact that the format is now old and hanging on by its ageing fingernails. Digital-8 camcorders are larger than their modern DV counterparts, and with only one new model now enabling playback of older recordings there isn’t much of an attraction to buying such a model. Here's what Sony has to say about the new models in the series.


Digital-8 - advantages and disadvantages

Digital-8 camcorders are larger than their modern DV counterparts, and with only one new model now enabling playback of older recordings there isn’t much of an attraction to buying such a model. Sony has therefore announced three new Sony Digital8 Handycam models – the entry-level DCR-TRV270E, DCR-TRV285E and top-of-the-range DCR-TRV480E. All models feature a 20x Optical Zoom, Record and Zoom controls positioned on the side of the LCD screen, USB streaming, a 37mm lens filter diameter and InfoLITHIUM Stamina battery recording. Only the DCR-TRV480E offers DV in/out via FireWire (i.Link) in addition to full backwards compatibility with analogue Video-8 and Hi-8 formats, however.


DCR-TRV480 features

This new model provides full backwards-compatibility with the earlier 8mm (Video-8 and Hi-8) analogue formats, meaning that not only you can these tapes be used to make new recordings, but all recordings can be transferred to computer for editing or direct to a DVD recorder via an optional FireWire (i.Link) cable connection. It also provides an upgrade path for those with a large collection of analogue camcorder tapes who now favour recording to a standard equivalent to MiniDV. Digital-8 offers DV recording on 8mm videocassettes. Additionally those wishing to preserve their video memories on these older formats can take advantage of digital connectivity and ease of use offered by the DCR-TRV480, and to this end Sony’s Picture Package software has been included. This camcorder features both digital DV in/out (i.Link) in addition to an ability to record from other analogue video sources, such as a VHS player or other camcorder. New copies of these sources can be made digitally to Digital-8 tape in the camcorder, from where they can then be edited in a suitably-equipped Windows PC or Apple Mac computer using the FireWire (i.Link) connection. In addition to FireWire, USB provides connectivity to a PC, while Stereo Audio In and Out ports will facilitate copying to and from the tape in addition to enabling all recordings to be viewed on a TV set.

The DCR-TRV480E is fully equipped with the latest technologies. Providing the bright lens (37mm filter) with a 20x optical zoom which, Sony claims, ensures a clear, high quality image throughout zooming in on the subject. The 2.5-inch LCD display also has a Touch Screen, which can be used in conjunction with Sony's Active Menu, a logically structured graphical user interface for camcorder controls. The included Memory Stick makes the shooting and storing of digital stills easy, in addition to saving and sharing small compressed MPEG-1 movies via the USB cable. These small compressed movie clips and still images can be sent as email attachments or are suitable for inclusion in web pages with no additional processing required.


DCR-TRV270E and DCR-TRV285E

The DCR-TRV270E is designed to function as an entry-level Digital-8 camcorder and is equipped with a 20x Optical Zoom lens. In addition to its 540,000 pixel 1/6-inch CCD, the 37mm diameter allows a range of commonly-available standard filters and attachments to be fitted as required. This model offers only AV and DV-out connectivity, meaning that although it’s possible to view recordings on a TV set (or copy to an analogue VCR like VHS) and export digitally via an optional FireWire (i.Link) cable, it’s not possible to re-record to tape in the camcorder from any external source. The DCR-TRV285E, on the other hand, shares the same feature set as the TRV270E but has the added facility of DV-IN connectivity, thus enabling the TRV285E to be used for re-recording back to Digital-8 tape in the camcorder those sequences that have been edited on a computer. It isn't, we understand, backwards compatible with analogue 8mm tape formats when it comes to playback of tapes.

Shared Camcorder Features

All models in this new range feature NightShot Plus – Sony’s low-level light recording technology which enables the recording of more natural colour in low-light environments. The Super NightShot Plus function on the DCR-TRV480E uses a slow shutter speed to allow colour video under very dark conditions. The USB Streaming facility on all three new models allows them to fulfil an additional function as a Webcam, an increasingly popular method of Internet communication. Movies can be enhanced using the supplied Sony Picture Package software. This simple video capture, editing and sharing program enables first-time users to add soundtracks and video effects to footage in a Windows computer, with the results capable of then being copied to disk as Video CD in three easy steps.

 

[Stelios]

Four new DVD camcorders from Sony in 2005

3.31 Megapixel CCD, 16:9 widescreen and 5.1 Channel Surround Sound for top of the range DCR-DVD403 DVD Handycam

Sony’s commitment to DVD Handycams is clear as it announces four new models, the top of which offers what Sony describes as “true” 16:9 widescreen shooting and 5.1 Surround Sound. The DCR-DVD403E (right) can shoot true 16:9 widescreen with 5.1 Channel Surround Sound using a built-in microphone in addition to being used in conjunction with the ECM-HQP1 optional mic, designed to work in conjunction with the camcorder’s "Active Interface Shoe" and enabling the creation of multi-channel DVD disks suitable for home cinema playback.


Features

A 3.31 Megapixel CCD provides very reasonable digital still image resolution in addition to providing the additional pixels required to resolve widescreen 16:9 images, and incorporates the Sony Primary RGB Colour Filter system for improved accuracy. In common with the majority of other digital camcorders in the Sony range, the DCR-DVD403E possesses a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens. The advanced multi-layer T* coating within the Carl Zeiss lenses is claimed to minimise reflections, reduce flare and increase contrast. This results, according to Sony, in brilliantly vivid images, natural colour saturation and precise renditions of subtle tones. A 10x Optical Zoom lens ensures high quality during zooming and close focussing. The camcorder plays back both 16:9 and 4:3 to TVs as well as on the unit’s 2.7-inch wide Hybrid LCD colour monitor.

The other models in the new range all provide the quick and easy means to shoot home video direct to DVD. hese new DVD Handycam models let you simply shoot & playback, all completely on DVD. Like the top of the range model, the DCR-DVD202E and DCR-DVD203E (left) Handycam models are capable of recording “true” 16:9 widescreen and 5.1-channel Surround Sound with optional accessories. Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lenses with 30mm threads provide 12X Optical Zoom on the DCR-DVD202E and DCR-DVD203E, with 20x Optical Zoom on the DCR-DVD92E. All camcorders in the range feature a 2.7-inch Wide Hybrid LCD monitor.

DVD-R / -RW / +RW Recording compatibility

All four camcorders are capable of recording directly to DVD discs. Formats supported by the new Sony DVD Handycams are DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW for direct recording and DVD-RW and DVD+RW for rewriting. The 8cm DVD Discs used by the Handycam range can be played back on most consumer DVD players.


Shared Camcorder Features

Start and stop record controls and a secondary Zoom button are conveniently placed on the Wide LCD frame for quick access when viewing the subject on the display or for difficult shooting situations, even when camcorders are held above users’ heads. Sony's Easy Handycam menu is designed to give one-button access to simplified camera operation and recording settings by locking out the more advanced features of the menu and giving the user a quick and easy selection of basic settings. These are displayed on the LCD screen in large, easy to read characters.



The new DVD Handycams are expected to become available throughout Europe in April 2005.

 

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