We all knew it was coming (see this post), but Sony has finally OFFICALLY announced the new HDR-HC3 HD digital camcorder. At 500g and 26% smaller than the HC1, it’s going to be a hit with the consumer market if they can get it to sell at its $1700 price tag. It features 1080i video recording, a 10x optical zoom, and a 2.7″ LCD screen. It is also HDMI-ready, whatever that means. Probably means you’ll have to buy an adapter. But anyway…
Yes, it is very pretty, and no, you can’t have it yet, but soon, very soon! Pre-orders will begin being accepted in mid-March. Read on to see the full press release I ruthlessly stole from Akihabara.
Two powerful Sony technologies combine for optimum image quality
The new HDR - HC3E features the ability to record movies with higher sensitivity and higher picture quality, and 4Mega pixel still image. 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 is formidable, facilitating 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. Other new benefits of these combined technologies include:
4Mega still Image Recording
Thanks to unique ClearVid CMOS Sensor, now you can record 4Mega still image from 2Mega CMOS Sensor with Unique Pixel interpolation based on signal correlation.
Dual Rec
Now you can capture high resolution 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.
Smooth Slow Rec
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.
HDMI-ready for easy TV viewing and sharing
The new HDR-HC3E from Sony 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.
Colours come alive
The newest HDV camcorder from Sony features an improved wide Clear Photo LCD plus screen measuring 2.7″ 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-HC3E 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 minimizes reflections, reduces flare and increases contrast. This results in brilliantly vivid images, natural colour saturation and precise renditions of subtle tones. The 10X Optical Zoom lens ensures high quality during zooming and close focusing.
Professional quality coupled with ease of use
With regard to the ease of use, the camera has become even more lightweight and smaller; it weighs 500g, which is 26 percent lighter compared to HC1 (680g), and the cubic volume has been reduced by 26 percent 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 the user a quick and easy selection of basic settings to choose from. These are displayed on the LCD screen in large, easy to read characters.
