Sony unveils four new consumer HD cams

Whether you realize it or not, another format war is on the horizon. No, we're not talking next-gen optical; this time we're talking about consumer level cameras storing HD footage. HDV is the older kid on the block, using MiniDV tapes, but last year Sony, Panasonic and some others started championing the MPEG-4 based AVCHD format for consumers. Now, Sony's hedging it's bets by releasing two new AVCHD cams, and two HDV cams. Sony's UX model HD cams record to DVD and use the AVCHD standard, while the HC series supports HDV and records to MiniDV. The heavyweights, the HDR-UX7and the HDR-HC7, rock out with three megapixel CMOS sensors for vid and take six megapixel stills stored on MemoryStickDuo Pro. They've also got microphone inputs, perfect for you budding Uwe Bolls out there. Meanwhile, the lighter weight HDR-UX5 and HDR-HC5 have a weaker CMOS with two megapixels for vids and a four megapixels for stills, plus they're sans mic-in.

[Akcelik @ Jan 8th 2007 1:15AM]

i believe the AVCHD lacks in the low light performance compared to HC3. lets hope its not the case with the new release.

[Trevor @ Jan 8th 2007 1:24AM]

two megapixels for vids and a four megapixels for stills -->
two megapixels for vids and four megapixels for stills

[Dan @ Jan 8th 2007 1:54AM]

You declared teh HDR-HC7 a heavyweight, and a lightweight. I believe it's a heavyweight and the lightweight you speak of was the typo.

[Dan @ Jan 8th 2007 1:58AM]

No read link?

[Trevor @ Jan 8th 2007 2:29AM]

hedging it's bets -->
hedging its bets

[Trevor @ Jan 8th 2007 3:08PM]

for you budding Uwe Boll's out there -->
for you budding Uwe Bolls out there

[Dan @ Jan 10th 2007 11:12PM]

Honestly, can we get a source? I can't find a single page on these new cameras anywhere else.

[stoph @ Jan 11th 2007 11:22AM]

http://news.sel.sony.com/en/assets/Handycam_2007/index.htm