Sony Retreats from MiniDV Announcing Just 4 Modelsby David KenderPublished on Jan 4, 2006 12:00 PM 
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Las Vegas, CES, January 4, 2006 - Today at a press conference at the Consumer Electronics Show, Sony announced four new MiniDV camcorders for 2006: the DCR-HC26 (Review, Specs, $299.99), DCR-HC36 (Review, Specs, $309), DCR-HC46 (Review, Specs, $419.99), and the DCR-HC96. All models feature a more compact body than Sony MiniDV camcorders of prior years, and all will load MiniDV tapes from the side rather than the bottom. The top two models both ship with HandyCam stations for increased accessibility and data sharing. Retail prices start at $350.The news from this announcement is in what wasn't announced as much as what was. Sony has scaled back their MiniDV line significantly, dropping all vertical, matchbook-style camcorders and simplifying the line as a whole.
Sony's DCR-PC1000 (Review, Specs, $699.97), a 3 CMOS censor model retailing for around $1500, was discontinued and not replaced. The less popular DCR-PC55 (Specs, $549.99) which aimed for the more fashionable audience and came in three colors was also discontinued and not replaced.
The MiniDV retreat is also a clear signal of the direction towards DVD the camcorder industry is taking. While Sony has increased their number of DVD models which have surged in popularity, they've pulled away from MiniDV, a format which Sony was an innovator of from the beginning.
The DCR-HC96 will lead this year’s Sony MiniDV line, retailing at around $800. The HC96 features a 1/3-inch 3000K (2050K effective) Advanced HAD CCD. The imaging system will also use Sony’s Primary Color Filter. The HC96 is the only MiniDV to use this color enhancement feature, also found on their new DVD cams, the DCR-DVD405 (Review, Specs, $649) and DVD505 (Review, Specs, $664), and the new hard disk drive camcorder, the DCR-SR100 (Review, Specs, $999). The HC96 uses a 30mm Carl-Zeiss lens (the largest of the MiniDV models) and has 10x optical / 120x digital zoom. Still captures of up to 2016 x 1512 will be possible in 4:3 aspect ratio, and 2016 x 1134 in 16:9 aspect ratio. Stills have a gross pixel count of 3310K, and 3000K effective.
Other features that distinguish the HC96 from the rest of MiniDV line include an active interface shoe, a built-in flash, and analog to digital conversion. The HC96 is the only MiniDV cam to offer zebra patterning, a feature typically reserved for high-end models. A MemoryStick Duo is supplied, making it the only MiniDV camcorder to ship with one in the box. A HandyCam docking station with analog inputs is also included.
DCR-HC96
The HC96 appears to have the same imager as the model it is replacing, the DCR-HC90 (Review, Specs, $629) (Review, Specs, $629). In fact, the differences are few. The new HC96 has a slimmer body, a HandyCam docking station, and Click-to-DVD compatibility. Despite the lack of changes, Sony's top consumer MiniDV camcorder will likely vie for consumer interest with the top Panasonic 1 CCD camcorder. Canon has made no plans to replace their top MiniDV consumer cams, the Optura 60 (Specs, $649.99) and Optura 600 (Specs, $1099), the two models closest in features and price to the HC96.
| 2005 Model | 2006 Model | What’s New? |
| DCR-HC21 (Review, Specs, $329) | DCR-HC26 | - More compact body design - Color viewfinder - Top side tape loading |
| DCR-HC32 (Review, Specs, $490.7) (Review, Specs, $490.7) | DCR-HC36 | - More compact body design - Color Viewfinder - Top side tape loading |
| DCR-HC42 (Review, Specs, $399.95) | DCR-HC46 | - More compact body design - Top side tape loading - Increase in digital zoom from 480x to 800x - Click-to-DVD compatibility |
| DCR-HC90 | DCR-HC96 | - More compact body design - Click-to-DVD compatibility |
| DCR-PC55 | discontinued | - |
| DCR-PC1000 | discontinued | - |
DCR-HC46
The DCR-HC46, at approximately $500, has a smaller 1000K (690K effective) 1/5.5-inch CCD and only a 25mm lens. The zoom is slightly larger, at 12x optical and 800x digital. The still resolution has a maximum resolution of 1162 x 864 (about 1 megapixel), significantly less than the HC96’s 3 megapixels. The still pixels count is 1070K gross and 1000K effective. It is MemoryStick Duo capable, but a stick does not ship with the cam. The HC46 comes with a HandyCam docking station, but will not have analog inputs for analog to digital pass-through.
The DCR-HC36, selling for around $400, has an even smaller 680K (340K effective) 1/6-inch CCD. The zoom is larger than the HC46's, at 20x optical / 800x digital. It, too, will be MemoryStick Duo compatible, and takes VGA stills at 640 x 480. The effective still pixel count is 340K.
DCR-HC36
At around $350, the least expensive MiniDV model, the DCR-HC26, will feature the same 680K (340K effective) 1/6-inch CCD and the same 20x / 800x zoom. The HC26 will not have any MemoryStick port or remote control. Stills can be captured only to MiniDV tape, at the same 640 x 480 resolution as the video.
DCR-HC26
Both the HC96 and HC46 will have a “Click to DVD” feature, which works in conjunction with Sony Vaio (and only Sony Vaio) computers to automatically set up the camcorders for capturing and recording onto a blank DVD. Both models also have 2.7-inch widescreen LCDs; the HC36 and HC26 will have 2.5-inch non-widescreen LCDs. All camcorders will feature Super NightShot mode, except the HC26, which will have the standard NightShot mode. All camcorders except the HC26 will also have a “3D Memory System,” which makes for easier menu navigation with advanced graphics and customizable settings.
All MiniDV camcorders will feature the Advanced HAD CCD, Carl-Zeiss lenses, touch panel screens with SwivelScreen technology, 123K color viewfinders, Super SteadyShot electronic image stabilization, Spot Focus and Spot Metering, Tele Macro, and one-touch Easy mode.
None of the Sony MiniDV line will include audio input jacks or headphone jacks. All four models have analog output. The HC36 and up have S-Video out. The HC96 is the only model to have S-Video in and out, as well as analog input.
Sony also announced that they will continue selling their high-end MiniDV cam, the DCR-VX2100 (Review, Specs, $1980), which retails for around $3000.
All models will be available in February 2006. The HC26 retails for $350, the HC36 for $400, the HC46 for $500, and the HC96 for $800.