Sony Displays HDV Prototype Cam, Wants User Input, Plans to Eventually Release Blu-ray HD Camcorder by Robin Liss Published on Apr 18, 2004 12:00 AM

Although it was protected by a quarter inch thick Plexiglas case, Sony Broadcast displayed their first prototype of an HDV high definition camcorder at the 2004 National Association of Broadcasters annual convention is Las Vegas Nevada today. Company officials emphasized that it was a very early prototype and they are still studying the camcorder, adding that they are very open to user input for what functionality to incorporate into the product. In a press conference, the company confirmed information which had earlier been released by the Sony Europe Broadcast division at the CeBiT technology Expo in Germany. Sony is being very tight lipped about the new camcorder; however in interviews with various Sony officials more information was revealed, including information that Sony plans to produce a Blu-ray HD consumer camcorder, and will have a consumer and a professional version of the HDV camcorder on display.

Rick Clancy, Sony Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications

The entire Sony presentation at NAB centered around HD and how Sony is providing solutions for production and for end users to continue the transition towards HD, both in acquisition and display. Although the focus of NAB is on high end camcorders, Sony repeatedly mentioned their HDV development projects. Much of the press conference surrounded XDCAM, Sony's newly shipped optical disc based professional recording solution.

While talking about the future of HD for consumers and prosumers, Alex Shapiro, Vice President of Marketing for Sony Broadcast mentioned the possibility of XDCAM making it's way into prosumer camcorders. When asked about the mention of XDCAM for consumers and whether Sony is pursuing a optical disc based strategy or a tape based strategy for consumer and prosumer HD video, Rick Clancy, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications at Sony stated ''XD is more of a higher end professional HD product, what you will see emerge in time is the Blu-ray format for blue laser disc based home and consumer products including further into the future camcorders. That would probably be based on the Blu-ray format which is slightly different than the blue laser based XDCAM lineup that you saw here today.''

In their press conference at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Shaprio confirmed that the prototype Sony HDV camcorder will shoot 1080 interlaced video, have resolution of 1,440 x 1,080 pixels and record video at 25 Megabits per second. His presentation also said that the camcorder would have 3 CCDs, presettable time code, balanced XLR audio, record both HDV and DVCAM video and only accept mini cassettes. Sony officials would not confirm whether or not the camcorder supported 24 frames progressive scan recording or 720 lines progressive scan recording.

Sony first displayed a prototype of their first HDV camcorder at the CeBiT technology show in Germany in March. Based on photos included in Sony Europe’s press release from the first time the HDV camcorder was displayed at CeBiT as well as the prototype on display at NAB, it appears the camcorder has a 12x optical zoom, two lens rings (focus and zoom), manual audio control with XLR inputs on the right side, a flip out LCD on the top of the camera’s handle, two neutral density filters, manual shutter speed control, manual gain, left side tape loading/ejecting mechanism, zoom toggles on the handle and on the right side. Additionally, the HDV camcorder will record 1080 line interlaced HDV standard video, with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Sony officials would not confirm any of these features or their specifications.

Alex Shapiro , Vice President of Marketing for Sony Broadcast

The officials at Sony emphasized that this product is a prototype and still very much under development and that they are looking for user / viewer feedback and input on what features to include in the camcorder. CamcorderInfo.com talked to Alex Shapiro about why Sony has not produced a 24 frames progressive scan prosumer product, he emphasized how the HDV camcorder on display is not final, and that Sony is still looking for user input in it's feature set and design. That includes whether or not to include 24 progressive scan filming. Shapiro stated ''It's under study. The purpose of the exhibit that we have hear at NAB is designed to encourage end user comment. Basically our engineers from Japan are looking to gauge what the users interests are and if the end users express interest in 24P, I'm sure that the engineers will strongly consider that.''

Craig Yanaki , Spokesperson for Sony Broadcast

''Nothing's final on the prototype. This is all concepts, positioning of the features and the functionality. We're basically taking most of the functions of our current products and placing them on the prototype,'' stated Craig Yanagi, spokesperson for Sony Broadcast ''Obliviously Sony is going to consistently go on and take the feedback from the marketplace and see exactly what it is they are looking for in the product and hopefully we'll be able to address the needs and the wants of the marketplace when we come out with the product.''

CamcorderInfo.com also questioned Shapiro on whether they are producing only a prosumer version or both a consumer and prosumer version of an HDV camcorder. ''I'm not really sure what comes first,'' he continued ''I frankly don't know what the time table is of what is coming first. The consumer camcorder or the pro camcorder.'' When asked if that means there will be both a consumer and prosumer version, Shaprio stated ''I think that's probably likely.''

As for pricing information, Shapiro said that CamcorderInfo.com's report that the product would be priced around or under $5,000 was ''In the ballpark.'' As for a ship date, Shapiro said that he is hoping that it will ship in 2005.

Pictures of the HDV prototype are below:

Nathaniel Hansen contributed to this article.