Get Real With New Sony Handycam: Incredible Images With Super-Sensitive New Exmor R CMOS Sensor

• Press Release
• Source: Sony Europe
• On 7:30 pm EST, Wednesday January 7, 2009

LONDON--(MARKET WIRE)--Jan 7, 2009 --
High Definition Sony Handycam

Sony Europe ...

-- Digital camcorder with Exmor R CMOS sensor gives 2x increase in sensitivity(*1) for brilliant low-noise images, even in low light

-- Premium Sony G Lens for class-leading optical performance

-- Longest ever Full HD shooting time (up to 101 hrs) on 240GB HDD (XR520VE)

-- Sony camcorder containing Optical SteadyShot with new 'Active' mode gives up to ten times improved anti-shake performance

-- GPS enhances your memories with geotagging and map display

Standard Definition Sony Handycam

-- Light, easy to carry new Memory Stick models in eye-catching colours

-- Highest-ever 60x optical zoom

-- Fastest ever Quick start for near-instant shooting from standby

This season's new Sony Handycam range is bursting with smart technology for incredible Full HD picture quality plus fun new shooting and playback features. Superbly styled and easy to use, it's your passport to breathtaking images in any situation -- from fun-filled holidays, parties and days out to precious family moments.

New High Definition Sony Handycam range; longest ever record time, best-ever pictures

The Spring '09 Sony camcorder line-up is headed up by seven compact new High Definition models. Boasting best-ever picture quality and intelligent shooting features, the digital camcorder hard disk drive (HDD) models are joined by colourful new Memory Stick models that offer amazing value.

The new Sony Handycam models set a new standard for extra-long record times, letting you capture more of your favourite memories. The flagship HDR-XR520VE digital camcorder can store 101 hours of sparkling HD video on its massive 240GB hard disk drive. That's an incredible two hours of recording time every weekend for a whole year without hitting 'delete'.

The range-topping AVCHD HDD digital camcorder models (XR520VE/500VE) now feature a super-sensitive Exmor R CMOS sensor. This groundbreaking imager increases sensitivity by approximately 2x compared with conventional models. Significantly reducing image noise, the new sensor ensures brilliant picture quality, even when you're shooting in low light. Also making its debut on top models is Sony's new high-quality G Lens that's perfectly tailored to complement the resolving power of the Exmor R sensor.

New 'Active Mode' on Optical SteadyShot for top-end ACVHD HDD models dramatically reduces camera shake for more stable images, even when you're walking along as you shoot. Anti-shake performance is improved by up to ten times at wide-angle settings compared with previous-generation Sony Handycam models.

Fun, easy-to-use shooting features

If you're looking for a real sense of place, automatic geotagging by GPS makes its Sony Handycam debut. Selected HD models (XR520VE/500VE/200VE) include a sensitive GPS receiver inside the camcorder that tracks your position anywhere on earth where there's satellite coverage. Videos and still images are automatically matched with location data as you travel. After shooting, Map Index shows where each clip was shot as 'map pins' on the LCD screen(*2). Just touch an on-screen thumbnail image to select a clip from the map and enjoy a world of memories. Online map views can also be enjoyed on your PC using the supplied Picture Motion Browser software.

With the new Sony Handycam you're even less likely to miss those amazing moments when they happen. All models now feature Quick Start-up; flipping open the LCD takes you from standby mode to ready-to-shoot in less than a second -- three times faster that previous models and very low power consumption during standby mode.

Ever wished you had a camera handy while you're shooting video? After making its debut on Cyber-shot, Smile Shutter now comes to all HD Sony Handycam models for the first time. Working with Face Detection, Smile Shutter automatically grabs beautifully-exposed, smiling still portraits of friends and family while you're recording video. It's a great way to capture happy faces without disturbing your concentration.

All HD models now also feature Auto Backlight Correction for evenly-exposed high and low-lights. Exposure and D-Range Optimiser settings are adjusted automatically for great results, even with challenging scenes like faces in the foreground backed by strong sunlight.

After shooting, Sony Handycam gives you even more ways to enjoy your memories. Don't fancy editing all that footage? This new Sony camcorder does the hard work for you. Highlight Playback automatically picks stand-out shots from a chosen range of dates, favouring 'Dual REC' stills captured during video shooting and images with smiling faces. The Sony Handycam automatically splices together selected footage and stills. It also adds pre-set scene transitions plus background music, either from a pre-installed tune or your own choice of imported track. It's a fun, easy way to show off your favourite moments -- with no need for a PC or video editing skills.

New Standard Definition Sony Handycam range; now with highest-ever 60x zoom

Complementary the HD range is a line-up of nine brilliantly affordable Standard Definition models in a choice of Memory Stick, hard disk or DVD formats. Shooting onto convenient internal flash memory or removable Memory Stick media, all-new SX Series models (DCR-SX30/50) stand out from the crowd with a choice of bold colour finishes. In a Sony Handycam first, entry-level SD models in all formats now feature a highest-ever 60x optical zoom range to pull distant objects closer still. Other highlights include quick start-up and SteadyShot image stabilisation for clearer video and stills.

Get more with accessories for Sony Handycam

There's a full range of Sony Handycam accessories by Sony that give you even more -- from stylish, colour co-ordinated carry cases to spare batteries that boost shooting time when you're out and about.

A perfect match for the convenience of Sony Handycam is the compact new VRD-P1 DVDirect Express. Connecting via USB to '09 Standard Definition HDD and Memory Stick Sony Handycam models, DVDirect Express can fill a blank DVD with camcorder footage in as little as 20 minutes. (NB: depends on record mode and number of scenes). It also remembers the last time you've burned onto DVD, creating discs only with new footage that hasn't previously been archived.

The new Sony Handycam range of High Definition and Standard Definition camcorders will be available from February 2009.

(*1) Approx. increase when the model with Exmor R CMOS sensor is compared to our conventional model

(*2) Map coverage does not cover all world regions (Russia and Turkey are not covered)

 
2009 Sony Handycam New Line-up Featured Models


             HDR-     HDR-     HDR-     HDR-     DCR-     DCR-     DCR-
             XR520VE  XR200VE  XR105E   CX105E   SR37E    SX30E    DVD150E
             -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Movie format High     High     High     High     Standard Standard Standard
             Definit- Definit- Definit- Definit- Definit- Definit- Definit-
             ion,     ion,     ion,     ion,     ion,     ion,     ion,
             AVCHD /  AVCHD /  AVCHD /  AVCHD /  MPEG2    MPEG2   DVD-video
             Standard Standard Standard Standard                   / DVD-VR
             Definit- Definit- Definit- Definit-                   / DVD+RW
             ion, MP- ion, MP- ion, MP- ion, MP-                   Video /
             EG2      EG2      EG2      EG2                        MPEG2
             -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Recording                                                          8cm
 media                                  8GB               4GB      DVD-R/-
               240GB                    Internal          Internal RW/+RW/
                 HDD  80GB HDD 80GB HDD memory,  60GB HDD Memory,  +RDL,
             Memory   Memory   Memory   Memory   Memory   Memory   Memory
             Stick    Stick    Stick    Stick    Stick    Stick    Stick
             -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Image Device   1/2.9"   1/5.0"   1/5.0"   1/5.0"   1/8.0"   1/8.0"  1/8.0"
             Exmor R  Exmor    Exmor    Exmor         CCD      CCD      CCD
             CMOS     CMOS     CMOS     C MOS
             Sensor   Sensor   Sensor   Sensor
             -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Number of     Gross:   Gross:   Gross:   Gross:   Gross:   Gross:   Gross:
 MegaPixels   6631     2360     2360     2360      800      800      800
             -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Processor    BIONZ    BIONZ    BIONZ    BIONZ           -        -        -
             -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Lens                  Carl     Carl     Carl     Carl     Carl     Carl
                      Zeiss    Zeiss    Zeiss    Zeiss    Zeiss    Zeiss
              Sony    Vario-   Vario-   Vario-   Vario-   Vario-   Vario-
              G Lens  Sonnar T* Tessar  Tessar   Tessar   Tessar   Tessar
             -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
                 12x      15x      10x      10x      60x      60x      60x
Zoom          Optical  Optical  Optical  Optical  Optical  Optical  Optical
             -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
SteadyShot   Optical, Optical,
             Active   Active   Electro- Electro- Electro- Electro- Electro-
              Mode     Mode      nic      nic      nic      nic      nic
             -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Audio System    Dolby    Dolby    Dolby    Dolby    Dolby    Dolby    Dolby
              Digital  Digital  Digital  Digital  Digital  Digital  Digital
                5.1ch    5.1ch    5.1ch    5.1ch      2ch      2ch      2ch
             -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Automatic
Geotagging
 by GPS           Yes      Yes       No       No       No       No       No
             -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Face
 Detection        Yes      Yes      Yes      Yes       No       No       No
             -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Smile
 Shutter          Yes      Yes      Yes      Yes       No       No       No
             -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
                                           2.7"
             3.2"Xtra 2.7"Cle- 2.7"Cle-   Clear
             Fine LCD ar Photo ar Photo   Photo  2.7" LCD 2.7" LCD 2.7" LCD
LCD Type         plus LCD plus LCD plus LCD plus   Screen   Screen   Screen
             -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Body Weight
 *without
 Battery         500g     330g     330g     280g     300g     240g     390g
             -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Colours      Black    Black    Black    Black/   Silver    Silver/ Silver
                                        Silver/            Blue/
                                        Red                Red
             -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------

NOTES TO EDITORS

Environmental Info

Sony is engaged in a constant review of its manufacturing, operational and business practices to ensure that its products are developed in an environmentally responsible way. This approach can broadly be divided into three areas:

Product

Halogenated materials can pose a risk to the environment if disposed of improperly. To minimize this risk, halogen-free flame retardants are used for certain printed circuit boards.

Process

The extended user manual is provided electronically on CD-ROM to reduce paper use.

Product packaging is made from 100% recycled paper to reduce the impact on the environment. VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) -- free vegetable oil based ink is used to print the carton.

Planet

Sony is determined to lead the way as a responsible manufacturer, and as a result we are focussing on two key areas of investment:

1. Reducing CO2 gas emissions

2. Increasing the percentage of renewable energy used in manufacturing facilities

About Sony:

Sony manufactures audio, video, communications and information technology products for the global consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, game and online businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be one of the world's leading digital entertainment brands. Sony recorded consolidated global annual sales of EUR 55.44 billion (yen 8,871 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, based on an average market exchange rate for the same period of yen 160.0 to the EUR. It employs approximately 180,500 people worldwide.

In Europe, the Sony Group recorded consolidated annual sales of EUR 12.73 billion (yen 2,328 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008. Sony Europe, headquartered at the Sony Center am Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, is responsible for the company's European electronics business and registered consolidated sales of EUR 9.55 billion for the same period.

For more information on Sony Europe, please visit http://www.sony-europe.com and http://www.sony-europe.com/presscenter

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