Sony Launches Entry Level Professional HDV Camcorder

Sony recently announced the introduction of their entry level professional HDV camcorder called, HVR-HD1000U. The HVR-HD1000U has a shoulder mount design and is aimed at the low-end professional market comprising mostly of wedding videographers, freelancers, and educational video creators. Sony stated that the HVR-HD1000U can offer users more opportunities for generating business with a moderately priced camera.

According to Sony, the HVR-HD1000U can support both the HDV and standard DV formats with an easy switch between DV and HDV. The press release posted by Sony on their website said that customers can record up to 60 minutes of HD video on the HVR-HD1000U camcorder using a 6 mm cassette tape.

Bob Ott, vice president of Sony Electronics' marketing for professional video products stated on the company's press release, "Our professional HDV camcorders are designed to offer customers high-definition shooting capability, along with maximum revenue-generating opportunities at a modest investment". Ott goes on to add that with the HVR-HD1000U's shoulder-mount design, the new camera brings affordable HD capabilities to a broader range of pro shooters.

Some specifications of the HVR-HD1000U include a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonner T lens with 10x optical zoom, image stabilizer, Sony's 1/2.9-inch ClearVid CMOS sensor system, HDMI, i.LINK, USB, Memory Stick Duo slot, external stereo microphone (ECM-PS1), multi-language menu, ability to capture still images of up to 6.1 mega pixel or up to 4.1 mega pixels when HD video is being recorded. The HVR-HD1000U can also grab images from an HDV recording of up to 1.2 mega pixels and the camcorder can last up to 10 hours of operation using an optional NP-F970 battery.

According to Sony's press release, special features of the HVR-HD1000U include a "Smooth Slow Rec" function and Super Night shot function. The "Smooth Slow Rec" function allows users to playback videos in slow motion by capturing images at four times faster than the normal field rate but Ott said that this function results in decreased resolution of the camera while the Super Night Shot function allows for night time shots and surveillance using the camera's built-in infrared light emitter.

The HVR-HD1000U also has a different layout; when the camera is mounted on the shoulder, the LCD monitor is in front of the camera operator and it is also attached to the Electronic View Finder level. According to Sony, this new layout allows both traditional EVF monitoring and LCD monitoring for the operator even while the camcorder is held on the shoulder.

Sony plans to sell the HVR-HD1000U camcorder in December at an initial price tag of less than $1,900.

SOURCE:

Martyn Williams, Sony Unveils Shoulder-Mount HDV Camcorder. PCWorld.com. URL: (http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20070825/tc_pcworld/136311;_ylt=AlYgoIZY24vghXlD4Oh6BQMjtBAF)

Sony Press Release, Sony Introduces Entry Level Shoulder-Mount Professional HDV Camcorder. URL: (http://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/b2b/broadcast_production/release/31159.html)