Sony Unveils 3 New Low and Middle-End DVD Cams by David Kender Published on Jan 4, 2006 12:00 PM

Las Vegas, CES, January 4, 2006

The bottom-of-the-line DVD105 will sell for around $500. As expected on an introductory model, the features are sparse. It uses a 1/6-inch Advanced HAD CCD with 680K gross (340K effective) pixels, the smallest of any of the 2006 Sony DVD cams. The LCD is 2.5 inches, and is the only non-widescreen model. It will have the largest zoom – 20x optical; the DVD205 and DVD305 both have only 12x zoom. Stills can be captured only to DVD, and only in a 640 x 480 resolution. There is no MemoryStick port and no shoe.

The DCR-DVD205, retailing at about $600, features a 1.0 megapixel (1070K gross, 690K effective) Advanced HAD 1/5.5-inch CCD. Like the DVD105, it lacks a dedicated media port, but is capable of capturing stills up to 1 MP (effective) at 1152 x 864. It also lacks a accessory shoe. The DVD205 has a 2.7-inch widescreen LCD and 12x optical zoom.

DCR-DVD305

The DCR-DVD305, selling for about $700, has several distinctions from the DVD205. While is uses the same 1/5.5-inch Advanced HAD CCD, the DVD305 can record stills to a MemoryStick Duo. No card comes included. The DVD305 records stills at a maximum of 1152 x 864, but it can also take stills in the 16:9 aspect ratio at a max of 1152 x 648.

DCR-DVD305, with included mic

Old 2005 Models	New 2006 Models	What’s New?
DCR-DVD92 (Review, Specs, $365)	DCR-DVD105	New Features - More compact body design - Color viewfinder - Nero Express 6 Conversion Software
DCR-DVD203 (Review, Specs, $587.65)	DCR-DVD205	New Features - More compact body design - Increase in digital zoom from 480x to 800x - Nero Express 6 Conversion Software
-	DCR-DVD305	Highlights - Dolby Digital 5.1 channel recording with supplied Microphone - Digital Still Memory Mode with MemoryStick Duo Media - Visual Index Screen - Active Interface Shoe - Analog Inputs

DCR-DVD305

Several audio upgrades are found on the DVD305. It features a hot accessory shoe and Sony’s new 5.1 channel Dolby Surround Sound audio system. This new feature can be taken advantage of with the included external microphone, which fits atop the cam in the accessory shoe. This particular microphone is unique to the DVD305 and cannot be purchased separately for any other model. It works in tandem with the internal 4-channel microphone to create the 5.1 channels of sound. The accessory shoe, it should be noted, is a proprietary size created by Sony, and not universally compatible with all accessories.

The DVD305 is also the only model of this group to offer the Visual Index Screen, which creates a thumbnail page of movies and stills, aiding in the search for individual clips and photos. It uses analog inputs (A/V) to allow for analog to digital conversion. This feature, which differs from analog to digital pass-through, can convert older, analog footage directly to DVD, but cannot pass the analog signal onto a computer.

DCR-DVD205

All three models will feature one-touch Easy mode, Carl-Zeiss lenses, fader effects, battery information, Program AE modes (for Beach & Sky, Landscape, Portrait, Spotlight, Sports, and Sunset & Moon), an array of Picture Effects, manual focus, SteadyShot electronic image stabilization, and SwivelScreen touch screen LCDs. They will also feature 3D menu systems, color viewfinders with 123K resolution, the NightShot Plus Infrared system, Spot Focus, and Spot Metering.

All models will accept DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW media. There are three video quality settings available on all three models: HQ, which records 20 minutes of video, SP, which records 30 minutes, and LP, which records 60 minutes.

DCR-DVD105

None of these models have a dedicated audio input jack or headphone jack. The DVD305 accepts external microphones only through its accessory shoe.

All models will be available in February 2006.