AVCHD Expands to Two New Models in the Sony DVD Line

Sony HDR-UX7

January 7, 2006 – Sony announced today at the Consumer Electronic Show that the HDR-UX1 will be replaced with two new camcorders, the HDR-UX5 and the HDR-UX7. This adds up to a total of seven consumer high definition camcorders from Sony in 2007, far more than any other manufacturer. The UX5 and UX7 record in the AVCHD high definition standard, the result of a collaboration between Sony and Panasonic, a format that premiered in mid-2006. The HDR-SR1 a hard disk drive camcorder using AVCHD will be carried over unchanged into the new year.

 

There's no doubt that Sony is seeking to making their name synonymous with HD in the home, and their current product line may make that a reality. “Full HD 1080” is the tagline Sony uses to describe their HD strategy, which goes beyond the camcorder market into televisions, Blu-Way, PlayStation 3, and computers. AVCHD was met with some skepticism last year when editing solutions failed to materialize before the camcorders were released. A number of NLE software manufacturers have signed on for licensing, though updates that can work with AVCHD have only begun to trickle into the market. As a result, Sony has been eager to push the AVCHD-compatible products that are available, including Sony-branded Blu-Ray disc players, Vaio computers, and PlayStation 3 consoles, as well as Blu-Ray disc players from Panasonic and other AVCHD licensees. Sony’s own consumer HD camcorder line spans three recording formats: DVD, HDD (both in AVCHD), and tape (in HDV). Several HDV camcorders are also available in the professional video line.

 

Sony HDR-UX5

The HDR-UX5 retails for $999 which has four hundred dollars less than last year’s HDR-UX1. The UX1 was released only four months ago and is now being replaced. UX1 owners may be satisfied to know that little has changed in the UX5. The new camcorder comes equipped with the same 2MP (gross) 1/3” ClearVID CMOS that can capture 4MP stills and 2.3MP stills in Dual Record Mode (stills that are taken while simultaneously recording video). It features Smooth Slow Record that is a feature which captures a 240 frame clip and then plays it back at 4x slower than normal. It's been upgraded this year and can now record an accompanying audio track.The Easy button, a one-touch auto mode found on nearly every Sony camcorder, was noticeably absent from the UX1 and SR1. However, it is included on the UX5 and UX7.

 

The HDR-UX5’s LCD has shrunk from 3.5” to 2.7” since last year’s UX1, but the resolution is the same (211K). The final major change is the inclusion of Sony’s new H series of Stamina batteries that are estimated to last for approximately 5 hours of shooting.

 

Ports on the HDR-UX5 include HDMI, component, composite-out, USB, and a remote control jack. The mic jack and headphone jack have been withheld for the UX7.

 

	Sony HDR-UX7

The Sony HDR-UX7 retails for $1299 and includes a number of upgrades. It features the latest incarnation of the ClearVID CMOS sensor the 3MP (gross) 1/2.9” chip that allows for stills up to 6.1MP in still mode and 4.6MP stills in Dual Record Mode. The other major upgrade, a considerable one for many videographers, is optical image stabilization. This is a feature not seen on a Sony consumer camcorder since the DCR-TRV950 released in 2002. OIS is the preferred stabilization method since electronic image stabilization reduces the effective pixel count while shooting.

 

The HDR-UX7’s additional upgrades include a 3.5” widescreen LCD, microphone and headphone jacks (211K resolution), and an assignable dial similar to the one found on the HDR-HC3. This dial can be set to control exposure, AE shift, white balance shift, and focus. It may be considered somewhat of a downgrade from the UX1 that featured a full-sized multifunction ring around the lens barrel for the same functions.

 

Both the UX5 and UX7 include Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* lenses (37mm filter diameter), 10x optical zoom, a built-in flash for still photos, a hot accessory shoe (in the Sony proprietary fit), 0.27” widescreen EVFs (123K resolution), MemoryStick Duo slots, and the H. series stamina batteries. Applicable DVD disc formats include DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD+R DL (Dual Layer).

 

The recording quality of the AVCHD has not changed from last year. In HD mode, these camcorders will shoot in HQ+ mode at 12Mbps and progressively slower bit rates of 9Mbps, 7 Mbps, and 5 Mbps. These camcorders can also shoot in MPEG-2 standard definition in qualities of 8.5Mbps, 6 Mbps, and 3 Mbps.