Sony recently expanded its camcorder line with seven new models, including a hard disk drive camcorder.
The DCR-DVD105 provides the benefits of recording video directly to -R/-RW/+RW DVD media. It incorporates a 680K-pixel advanced HAD CCD, Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens, 2.5-inch hybrid SwivelScreen touch-panel LCD and color viewfinder. It is priced at about $500.
The DCR-DVD205 includes the features mentioned above and adds a 1-megapixel advanced HAD CCD, 1-megapixel digital still images, 2.7-inch-wide (16:9) touch-panel SwivelScreen LCD, and digital still image capture in 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios. It retails for about $600.
The DCR-DVD305 includes all of those features, but also has Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound capability. It is supplied with a Dolby Digital 5.1 channel surround sound microphone, USB 2.0 and a Memory Stick Duo media slot, and sells for about $700.
In addition to the previously mentioned features, the DCR-DVD405 has built-in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and supports an optional Bluetooth microphone for enhanced center-channel sound. It also incorporates a 3-megapixel advanced HAD CCD, 3-megapixel digital stills, built-in flash and Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens. It is priced at about $900.
The DCR-DVD505 builds on the previous models with the addition of a 2-megapixel ClearVID CMOS sensor, 4-megapixel digital stills, a 3.5-inch-wide (16:9) touch-panel SwivelScreen LCD, a dual-record function to capture video and 3-megapixel stills simultaneously, and a smooth slow-record function for slow-motion video. It is priced at about $1,100.
The new MiniDV camcorder, the DCR-HC96, offers a 680K-pixel advanced HAD CCD, Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens, 2.5-inch hybrid SwivelScreen touch-panel LCD and color viewfinder. It also includes a 3-megapixel advanced HAD CCD, 3-megapixel stills, Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Lens, digital still image capture in 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios, and built-in flash. It sells for about $800.
Sony's new Hard Disk Drive camcorder, the DCR-SR100, has 30GB of hard disk drive storage and built-in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. It supports an optional Bluetooth microphone for enhanced center-channel sound and features 3-megapixel advanced HAD CCD, 3-megapixel digital still capture in 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios, built-in flash, Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens, 2.7-inch (16:9) touch-panel SwivelScreen LCD and DVD-burning software. It will be available in May for about $1,100.