Sony Announces 15 New Camcorders at CES, Redoing Most of MiniDV Line and introducing DVD camcorders

by News Editor

Published on Jan 8, 2003 12:00 AM
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Sony announces three new DVD recordable camcorders, a new format for Sony
Because the models were very early versions, Sony was unable to provide many specifics on the new DVD recording camcorders. The models, DCR-DVD100 (Review, Specs, $580.95)
DCR-DVD200 (Review, Specs, $999) and DCR-DVD300, will be available this summer. Each model records on 3 in. DVD-R or DVD-RW discs, the same size discs that other DVD recording camcorders from Panasonic and Hitachi have used in the past. The camcorders offer features which enable the user to edit and delete scenes in the camcorder itself. Sony was not able to provide extensive pricing information on the models, other than that the entry model, the DCR-DVD100 will be priced under $1000.

Sony Announces only two Digital8 camcorders
As we had rumored earlier last year, Sony will only announced two Digital8 camcorders at CES, and apparently does not plan to announce any more Digital8 camcorders in the future.

DCR-TRV250 Has a 20X optical zoom and will be available at the end of January for about $400 however it does and is very similar to previous models. The camcorder contains a 1/4.7 in. CCD with 690K pixels.

DCR-TRV350 (Review, Specs, $360.8) Has the same features as the DCR-TRV250 except it has a Memory Stick slot. The camcorder can record digital stills to memory stick and contains a USB bus for transfering digital still from camcorder to computer. The camcorder also features Sony's USB streaming which allows the user to use the camcorder effectively as a web cam.

Sony Announces Seven New MiniDV camcorders, including new low priced models
An interesting, and possibly bad change in the Sony models is that the jog dial, once used to control exposure, has been removed from all new models. All functions which were once controlled by the jog dial are now controlled by the touch screen or by buttons hidden behind the LCD. All of the models allow for manual exposure, manual white balance, and manual focus however the focus ring has been taken off most of the models.

DCR-TRV19 (Review, Specs, $372) The lowest MiniDV model in the line is DCR-TRV19. It features a 1/4.7 in. CCD. A touch-panel 2.5-inch LCD screen and Steady Shot electronic image stabilization. The camcorder includes NightShot 0 lux filming capability, however it does not include a memory stick. The DCR-TRV19 should be available in March for about $600

DCR-TRV22 (Specs, $999) Includes all the features of the DCR-19 with an added Memory Stick and still shot capability. Still resolution should be limited to 640 x 480 because it includes the same 690K pixel CCD. The camcorder includes an 8 MB Memory Stick. The DCR-TRV22 should be available in February for about $700

DCR-TRV33 The DCR-TRV33 is Sony's lowest priced model that includes a Megapixel 1/4.7 in. CCD and a 2.5 in. LCD screen. The DCR-TRV33 should be available in February for about $800. The camcorder can also record MPEG-2 video using Sony's MPEGX feature.

DCR-TRV38 The next step up model is effectivly the DCR-TRV33 except with a 3.5 in. LCD screen and a focus ring. The DCR-TRV38 should be available in February for about $900

<DCR-TRV39 The DCR-TRV39 includes the same features as the DCR-TRV38 but adds networking capability. It is not the same bluetooth style connectivity that was available in last years models. Rather, connected into the USB port is a ethernet / phone adaptor that allows you to surf the web, email images and video, post images and video to the web, and visit web sites. The DCR-TRV38 will should be available in February for about $1,000

DCR-TRV70 (Review, Specs, $744.99) The DCR-TRV70 is Sony's first two Megapixel CCD camcorder. It includes all the features of the DCR-TRV39, as well as a zoom ring, an will be available in March for about $1,300.

DCR-TRV80 The DCR-TRV80, offers all the features of the DCR-TRV70 execpt it also includes Bluetooth networking technology. Upgrading Bluetooth technoloy of previous Sony camcorders, the DCR-TRV80 alows for peer ro peer data transfer, i.e. printing images with a Bluetooth enabled printer. The DCR-TRV80 will be available in March for about $1,500.

This are just the info from the press release, we will provide further observations about the new camcorders throughout CES.