Sony Europe has announced the launch of the HDR-HC3E, a digital high-definition video camera which promises professional level video quality in an easy to hold compact size.

The HC3E is the latest model following on to the HDR-HC1 digital high definition Handycam which was released in July 2005, along with the growing popularity of high definition televisions. Claiming great improvements including higher image quality, the model is smaller, lighter and easier to use, so should satisfy a wide range of users.

The HDR-HC1 features the ability to record movies with higher sensitivity and higher picture quality, as well as 4-Megapixel still images. This is made possible by a ClearVid CMOS sensor - entirely new and unique to Sony.

The combination of the ClearVid CMOS sensor with the new Enhanced Imaging Processor from Sony facilitates the recording of high quality images with both high resolution and heightened sensitivity. The Enhanced Imaging Processor is capable of processing large amounts of pixel data while capturing bright and dark areas of the image for the most realistic effect and colour reproduction yet, claims Sony.

Other new benefits of these combined technologies include 4-Megapixel still image recording thanks to the CMOS Sensor with Unique Pixel interpolation based on signal correlation, and the ability to capture 2.3-Megapixel still pictures even while you are shooting movie footage by saving them temporarily on the camcorder’s internal memory before they can be transferred to a Sony Memory Stick Duo.

High speed movie recording for special smooth slow-motion effects is now possible with this new feature from Sony. The Enhanced Imaging Processor ensures that images can be captured at very high speed - the normal mode sees recording rates of 50 fields/second, whereas Smooth Slow Rec can see as many as 200 fields captured in this timescale. Three seconds of footage can be captured at a time for a detailed view of a particular moving image.

The camcorder has the added benefit of being HDMI ready, addressing the needs of increasing numbers of HDTV adopters. Now you can easily play back movies and audio through your TV without degradation of the digital image by sending uncompressed high quality HD video and audio signals from the camcorder through a single cable.

The newest HDV camcorder from Sony features an improved wide Clear Photo LCD plus screen measuring 2.7-inch and designed to provide higher image clarity and contrast. The screen also features a new Anti-Reflection Coat to enable improved viewing and reviewing, even in strong sunlight. The HDR-HC1 also features a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens, with a 10x optical zoom capability and a filter diameter of 30mm.

The advanced multi-layer T coating within the Carl Zeiss lenses minimises reflections, reduces flare and increases contrast, claims Sony. This should result in brilliantly vivid images, natural colour saturation and precise renditions of subtle tones.
With regard to the ease of use, the camera has become even more lightweight and smaller; it weighs 500g, which is 26 per cent lighter compared to HC1 (680g), and the cubic volume has been reduced by 26 per cent from 660cc(HC1) to 490cc, so it is a compact size model which can be easily carried around.

Sony’s unique Easy Handycam menu gives one-button access to simplified camera operation and recording settings. It locks out the more advanced features of the menu, giving you a quick and easy selection of basic settings to choose from. These are displayed on the LCD screen in large, easy to read characters. The Sony HDR-HC3E will be available throughout Europe from April 2006.

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BIOS, Feb 23, 06 | Print | Send | Comments (0) | Posted In Camcorder