Sony unveils first AVCHD hi-def cams - one hard-disk, one DVD

[Bob Crabtree]

UPDATE - JULY 22 - 12:03

This thread originally pointed to a press release (and info about that is at the end of this posting).

But a (hopefully more useful) news story has been written and details of that are directly below.

Late last week, Panasonic and Sony unveiled a raft of changes to AVCHD - the hi-def consumer camcorder format that the two companies first announced back in early May and are aiming at owners of HD TV sets. This week, Sony released some (but not all) details of its first two AVCHD models, due September. One records to DVD, as per the original spec, but the other uses a hard disk - reflecting one of the three main changes seen in the revised specs for this MPEG-4-based camcorder standard.

Panasonic has yet to give news of its own AVCHD camcorder launches but a phone call today to the company's UK offices did reveal that an announcement is pending.

As you can see from the two tables below, the original proposed recording media - 8cm DVDs - has been joined not just by hard disks but also by two types of memory card - and what they are isn't hard to guess. Sony's own Memory Stick format is included, of course, and so is - as per Panasonic's proposal in mid-May - SD (Secure Digital), the format developed by Panasonic in collaboration with SanDisk and Toshiba.

Check out this latest HEXUS.headline.


THE PREVIOUS POSTING IS BELOW

Two new Disc/Disk-based Sony HD Camcorders

Sony continues to define the future of the Camcorder with the launch of two new High Definition models and a new standard for HD video recording. AVCHD was developed to provide a way of recording 1080i HD video to various media, including DVD and hard disk.

Both the launch of the camcorders and the creation of AVCHD demonstrate Sony’s commitment to HD and its pivotal role in this rapidly developing sector.

While there are key similarities between the two models, there is also an essential difference, which allows users to choose the one which suits them best.

The HDR-UX1E is unique: the first ever HD camcorder to record to an 8cm DVD, literally archiving as you film, using an inexpensive, durable medium.

The HDR-SR1E also employs the new AVCHD format for HD recording, but captures the AV stream to an internal 30GB hard disk rather than 8cm DVD.

HDR-UX1E hard disk AVCHD cam

We'll be doing a story soon, but thought you ought to see this release asap.

Check out the full release while you're waiting.

Please comment only in this HEXUS.HD forum thread