Sony Offers a Single HDV Model for 2008 - HDR-HC9

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Click here for complete HDR-HC9 Photo Gallery

Sony has announced that they will release only one model in HDV category, the HDR-HC9, at least for early 2008. This decision only confirms the generally recognized fact that the tape-based HDV format has fallen out of favor compared to DVD, hard disk drive (HDD), and flash memory media using the newer AVCHD recording format.

In 2005 Sony released a single HDV camcorder the winning HDR-HC1, and again with the somewhat lesser-known HDR-HC3 in 2006. This was, however, a time in which consumer HD camcorders were in their infancy, and Sony was one of the few manufacturers in the field. Last year, Sony expanded to two models in the HDV category, while aggressively pushing the AVCHD format in other media categories. The reduction back to a single HDV model suggests that their AVCHD push was successful.

The HDR-HC9 (Photo Gallery, specs) shows a promising handful of improvements over last year’s HDR-HC7. Again, the HC9 will feature a 1/2.9-inch ClearVID CMOS sensor with a gross pixel count of 3,200,000 (able to interpolate for stills up to 6.1MP). New features, however, will be passed down from Sony’s professional line, addressing the needs of the serious hobbyists and budget pros that tend towards HDV. Included in these features are a peaking tool, a center mark, and combined Spot Meter + manual focus control that allows for one-touch infinity focusing. The peaking feature, in particular, will come as a relief to those familiar with the HDR-HC5 and HDR-HC7’s disappointing manual focus control. The peaking function colors the in-focus area with red, yellow, or white noise. Initial in-hand testing showed this feature to work well in bright light, but sub-par in low light.

A number of other features will be carried over from the HDR-HC7, including the Cam Control dial on the left side of the body for focus, exposure, shutter speed (1/4 – 1/1000), AE Shift, and WB Shift. Also, the camcorder will include the sharpness, camera color, zebra patterns, a histogram, X.V. Color, and an optical image stabilization. The optical zoom extends to 10x, and the digital zoom to 20x.

The Sony HDR-HC9 will retail for $1099. It is the earliest of the Sony HD models to ship this year, due out in the end of January.