Sony Updates MiniDV Line, Rounding Edges and Removing Features by Robin Liss Published on Jan 5, 2005 6:00 PM

At a conference at the Las Vegas Convention Center at the International CES Sony Electronics announced five additional MiniDV camcorders outside of the new CMOS, DVD and Digital8 models they introduced. The new camcorders feautre widescreen technology, larger optical zooms, and surprisingly some feature reductions across the board that are difficult to grasp Sony's motivation behind.

The first model is the DCR-HC21 (Review, Specs, $329) which replaces last year's DCR-HC20 (Review, Specs, $255). The DCR-HC21 replaces last year's DCR-HC20. The DCR-HC21 features a 1/6 in. CCD with 680K gross pixels and 340K effective pixels for video. The DCR-HC21 includes a 2.5 in. LCD touch screen and a black and white viewfinder. The DCR-HC21 adds new LCD side buttons for controlling zoom and recording. Sony has upgraded the zoom on last year's DCR-HC20 to a 20x optical zoom on the DCR-HC21.

The next model up is the DCR-HC32 (Review, Specs, $490.7) (Review, Specs, $490.7) which replaces last year's DCR-HC30 (Review, Specs, $399). The DCR-HC32 like the DCR-HC21 features a 20x optical zoom. The camcorder also adds a memory stick duo slot for recording digital stills to, however the camcorder does not include any Memory Sticks. Sony is including the Handycam docking station with the DCR-HC32 to add in ease of use of connecting the camcorder to external video sources. Sony has switched from a color viewfinder on last year's DCR-HC30 to a black and white one on the DCR-HC32. While it is likely a cost savings move, it is also a benefit to consumers because many view black and white viewfinders as easier to focus with. The DCR-HC32 captures still pictures at 640 x 480 pixel resolution.

The sister model moving up from the DCR-HC32 is the DCR-HC42 (Review, Specs, $399.95) which replaces last year's DCR-HC40 (Review, Specs, $539.94). The DCR-HC40 features a 2.7 in. 16:9 aspect ratio widescreen LCD and a smaller 12x optical zoom. The DCR-HC42 also adds Sony's enhanced 16:9 mode which maximizes the available pixels on the CCD that are used in the shooting mode.

Sony's DCR-HC90 (Review, Specs, $629) (Review, Specs, $629) replaces last year's DCR-HC85 (Review, Specs, $593) and includes the same 3 Megapixel CCD with 690K effective pixels for video. The DCR-HC90 also adds a primary color filter to improve video quality. The camcorder's zoom goes down to a 10x optical, however it does feature the same widescreen technology and widescreen LCD that the DCR-HC42 does. The DCR-HC90 also includes a built in flash, and is capable of recording digital stills at a maximum resolution of 2,016 x 1,512 pixel resolution. Sony has hit a quite remarkable price point of $1,000 for 3 Megapixel CCDs, a reduction of $300 from last years DCR-HC85.

The last model which Sony announced is the DCR-PC55 (Specs, $549.99), replacing the DCR-PC109 (Review, Specs, $599.99). The DCR-PC55 includes a 1/6 in. 680K pixel CCD with 340K effective pixels for video. The DCR-PC55 according to Sony is the smallest MiniDV camcorder ever. They are making it available in silver, black, white and red. It is the only Sony camcorder to include a 3 in. LCD screen, and has a 10x optical zoom. Sony has also put a new SlideShow Plus feature on the DCR-PC55 which lets the camcorder function as a photo viewer for playing back digital still pictures.

In a very surprising move Sony has modified the standard accessory shoe located on the top of the camcorder to their own, proprietary style of a smaller shoe. Sony argues that the benefit is because the shoe offers better communication between any accessory and the camcorder plus a smaller form factor, however it is difficult to not see past that marketing line. The accessory shoe, along with the standard tripod mount, have been digital imaging standard features for decades. Although the standard has never been officalized, virtually every camera or camcorder has had the same accessory shoe mount. The reason for a standard like that is so that consumers can buy accessories and be confident that they will be able to attach them to the shoe of any camcorder. Sony's abandoning such a widely accepted standard could benefit for them greatly. By announcing a new shoe size, all prior accessories for Sony camcorders won't work. That means that currently, only new Sony accessories (designed and sold by Sony of course) will work with the camcorders. Since the profit margins on accessories are so much better than the margins on camcorders, it could really boost Sony's bottom line - that is, if consumers do not see past Sony's move. Adding to the problem however is that while they announced new camcorders with a new accessory shoe, Sony did not announce any new accessories, though more are sure to come.

In a very surprising move that will likely disappoint many, Sony has completely removed any microphone inputs or headphone out jacks from all five of the new single chip MiniDV camcorder. Combined with the accessory move, this means that owners of the new 2005 Sony camcorders will not be able to plug an external microphone into their camcorder, other than a proprietary Sony microphone that is designed specifically for the intelligent accessory shoe. Sony has designed a "closed architecture" camcorder which is difficult to add non Sony accessories too.

Sony is also aggressively going after 16:9 widescreen technologies. Two of the new 1-chip MiniDV models include new 2.7 in. widescreen LCDs. Sony is pushing the widescreen feature because they believe that more and more consumers want the functionality because they are buying high definition widescreen televisions.

Sony has broke from their traditional 10x optical zooms on all MiniDV camcorders to put large, 20x optical zooms on some models. It is clear that they are following Panasonic's lead from last year for bigger and bigger zooms on low priced models. In 2004, Panasonic introduced budget camcorders, all with zooms over 20x optical and according to the company, saw double digit growth in their camcorder market share. It is clear that the feautre which budget camcorder users want is optical zooms, and Sony is finally attempting to provide them. However, Sony's optical zooms fall short of the competition. At this year's CES, Panasonic's three entry level MiniDV camcorders featured a 24x, 26x and 30x optical zoom, while all of JVC's models included a 25x optical zoom.

The DCR-HC21 will be available in February for $400. The DCR-HC32 will be available in February for $500. The DCR-HC42 will be available in February for $600. The DCR-PC55 will be available in February for $800 and the DCR-HC90 will be available in February as well for $1,000.