Sony Announces Two New High Definition DVD Camcorders: HDR-UX10 and HDR-UX20by David KenderPublished on Jan 6, 2007 2:30 PM |
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Sony HDR-UX20 |
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Like the AVCHD camcorders recording to HDD, these new DVD camcorders have received several internal modifications over last year. Both will use a 1/5-inch CMOS chip, smaller than previous, but employing the Exmor technology and Bionz processor borrowed from camera line. When asked if the smaller chips would weaken low light performance, Sony executives stated that the improved signal-to-noise ratio of the Exmor/Bionz system should offset any losses. CamcorderInfo.com will have an opportunity to test this hypothesis by the end of February, when the camcorders are expected to ship.
Both camcorders will offer the option to record in x.v.Color, the Sony-branded xvYYC color standard that has shown increased popularity at this CES. xvYCC offers a much wider and more accurate color gamut than traditional sRGB.
Both the HDR-UX10 (photo gallery, specs) and the HDR-UX20 (photo gallery, specs) include optical image stabilization. The camcorders can also record high definition video to either a DVD or a removable MemoryStick PRO Duo card. Also new this year is the “Link to Zoom” feature that shifts audio priority to the front channels as the zoom power increases.
All Sony AVCHD models this year will also include a face detection feature, also borrowed from the still camera line. Face detection for camcorders debuted earlier today with the launch of the Panasonic HDC-SD9 and HDC-SD9. Sony’s version, however, reportedly detects up to eight faces, then adjust for focus, exposure, and color balance. The processor will also allocate more pixels to the face for increased sharpness – a process called “bit allocation.”
The HDR-UX10’s 1/5-inch CMOS allows for still capture up to 4-megapixels. In Dual Record mode (stills captures while simultaneously recording video) still capture up to 3-megapixels is possible. The zoom range extends to 15x optical (180x digital), up from 10x on last year’s HDR-UX5 and HDR-UX7.
Sony HDR-UX10
Sony HDR-UX10 Photo Galllery
For an additional $200, the HDR-UX20 offers a single upgrade: 8GB of internal flash memory. While 8GB is not an enormous capacity, it would alleviate the biggest gripe with DVD camcorders, which is the short recording times. A single-sided 1.4GB DVD can hold only 20 minutes of 1440 x 1080, and a shockingly small 11 minutes of 1920 x 1080 video. The internal memory stores 60 minutes and 115 minutes, respectively.
While DVD continues to hold a large market share in the U.S., Sony is clearly putting its best resources into the HDD media, which is expected to eclipse DVD soon. The top-tier HDD models, also announced today, offer the “latest and greatest” of Sony’s technologies not found on the DVD models. For example, both the HDR-UX10 and the HDR-UX20 have a 2.7-inch LCD, while the top-tier HDD camcorders have a 3.2-inch LCD with an incredible 921,000 pixel resolution, along with mic and headphone jacks.
Both the HDR-UX10 and the HDR-UX20 use standard 8cm DVDs (sometimes called miniDVDs) as their primary recording media. Compatible formats include DVD-R/-RW/+RW/ and +R DL. They offer mini-MDMI ports, analog-out, and composite-out, wired remote, and USB ports, along with Active Accessory Shoes, which fits only Sony-branded accessories.
The Sony HDR-UX10 retails for $799 and the HDR-UX20 retails for $999. Both are available in the end of February.
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