Sony Europe Announces DCR-PC55E Smallest MiniDV Camcorder and New DCR-DVD7E Model

Sony Europe today published a press release on their website announcing three new camcorder models. According to the Sony press release, the DCR-PC55E and it's similar sister model the DCR-PC53E "are scarcely larger than the mini DV cassettes they use." The press release also mentions a new DVD camcorder, the DCR-DVD7E - although limited information is available on all three models.

According to Sony Europe's press release, the new DCR-PC55E is the smalest MiniDV camcorder on the market as of November, although the camcorder's exact dimensions were not available in the press release. According to the press release the new European model features a 900K pixel CCD with a 10x optical zoom. The DCR-PC55E also features a 3.0 in. LCD screen and a new slide show plus feature which uses the included Hanycam Station to playback images like a slideshow. Sony also announced a lower model the DCR-PC53E, though the information from the company did not clarify how the model is different than the DCR-PC55E.

Sony also announced a revolutionariy new DVD camcorder, the DCR-DVD7E featuring a brand new and never before seen DVD camcorder body design. "The new design of the DVD Handycam DCR-DVD7E offers a brand new shooting style for camcorders. All the convenience of DVD recording has been combined with modern styling in the futuristic DCR-DVD7E, supporting DVD-R/-RW/+RW compatible formats for shooting and playing back," stated Sony Europe's press release.

The new DCR-DVD7E records to DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW media. The DCR-DVD7E also features a 10x optical zoom, a 2.5 in. LCD screen and weighs about 360 grams.

Information on the pricing of the new models in Europe was not made available in the press release. The DCR-PC55E will be available in Europe in February, and the DCR-DVD7E will be available in May. No information is currently publicly available on whether or not these models will be introduced into the U.S. market.