How do you prefer to begin 2006? Having a Sony Cyber-shot S600? Having a new Hard Disk Drive (HDD) Camcorder? Having one of seven new Sony miniDV Handycam models? It is your choice. Sony has a lot of presents for you.
First, Sony has for you the Sony Cyber-shot S600, that combines great design and compactness with the forward-thinking, high quality and easy to use camera technology.
Pictures taken with the Cyber-shot S600 have a high resolution thanks to a 6.0 effective Megapixel Sony Super HAD CCD at its heart and a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 3x Optical Zoom lens combined with High Sensitivity producing sparkling, sharp images. The 2.0-inch screen on the rear of the camera allows you to clearly frame, view and review images.
Thanks to the Cyber-shot S600’s High Sensitivity ‘anti-blur’ technology you can shoot in difficult conditions, such as low light. High Sensitivity even allows you to shoot with out the flash. Utilizing the newly developed Clear RAW NR feature, the signal to noise ratio is greatly improved. The Sony Clear RAW NR original algorithm system reduces color and luminance noise, enabling shooting with significantly higher sensitivity (up to ISO 1000). This ensures images with less noise and finer detail. Another feature of the new Cyber-shot S600 camera from Sony is an improved super Strong Flash. It is capable of taking shots using the flash from up to 11m away from the subject (at ISO 1000), that’s approximately 3x the distance when compared to previous models.
The body of the Cyber-shot S600 houses a Sony developed 6.0 effective Megapixel Super HAD CCD. This, combined with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 3x Optical Zoom lens (7 elements in 6 groups), ensures crystal clear shots every time. The camera features a 6x Precision Digital Zoom, and a 13x VGA Smart Zoom to help you view subjects near and far. With the 16:9 shooting mode you can even shoot wide-screen images for playback on your wide-screen TV.
Whatever the occasion, there is bound to be a suitable setting to capture it amongst the seven pre-set Scene Selection modes, including Twilight, Snow, Beach and High Sensitivity functions. The Cyber-shot S600 also features a manual exposure if you feel like being a little more creative. The Cyber-shot S600 also features PictBridge, the standard for printing directly to compatible PictBridge photo printers, such as the Sony DPP-FP50. A choice of 15 menu languages on the Cyber-shot S600 is another great solution to ensure easier operation.
The Cyber-shot S600 will be available throughout Europe from mid January 2006.
A camera does not fit you? Sony Europe launched the DCR-SR90E, a compact HDD camcorder, with 30GB capacity.
The DCR-SR90E has a Carl Zeiss®Vario-Sonnar T* lens featuring a 10x Optical Zoom and 120x Digital 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 DCR-SR90E features a built-in microphone to record in 5.1-channel Surround sound, producing a complete DVD that can be played back to the full on a home theatre system. 5.1-channel surround audio is perfect for use in conjunction with today’s widescreen TVs giving a cinematic sound and feel to your home movies.
The camcorder is equipped with physical shock absorbers to cushion the HDD from an impact and internal 3G sensors that detect gravitational force in 3D automatically protect the hard disc when a fall is detected by disconnecting the HDD write head from the hard disc. If your camera suffers an impact during use, the Video stream buffering feature saves video footage to its buffer memory until the HDD recovers.
The DCR-SR90E comes complete with a comprehensive and creative post solution for editing from Sony:
Recording at 3Mbps means 21 hours of recording time, a higher resolution of 6Mbps sees an impressive recording time of 10 hours and recording at the highest quality, 9 Mbps can be achieved for up to seven hours at a time. Longer recording time will obviously require better data access, so Sony has created a new Visual Index and Easy Search to allow an easier search of archived footage, including the ability to easily search by date and time.
With the supplied battery, the camcorder can record for up to 110 minutes and with an Optional Battery, it can achieve up to 275 minutes on a single charge. The DCR-SR90E features Pictbridge, the standard for printing directly to compatible PictBridge photo printers, such as the Sony DPP-FP50.
The Sony DCR-SR90E will be available throughout Europe from April 2006.
What about a miniDV camcorder? Sony Europe announces the launch of seven new miniDV camcorder models.
The most advanced models, the DCR-HC96E and DCR–HC94E, use the full width of a 3 Megapixel CCD to capture and play back images in true 16:9 widescreen and wide Recording, allowing you to relive moments as if you were there. Both models feature a Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar T* lens with 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 DCR-HC96E can operate for around five hours from a single charge of its InfoLITHIUM P Series battery.
The DCR-HC46E and DCR–HC44E models feature a 1 Megapixel CCD for 16:9 recording and playback and the capture of still images. In addition, these models also feature a Sony Memory Stick Duo Slot for the easy transfer and storage of images. A common feature of the DCR-HC46E, DCR-HC44E, is the inclusion of a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens, ensuring excellent quality pictures with true to life, beautiful colours. The DCR-HC94E and DCR-HC96E have a 10x Optical Zoom and the DCR-HC46E and DCR-HC44E a 12x Optical Zoom to ensure the highest quality is maintained during zooming and close focusing. Additionally, these four models are also equipped with a large and bright 2.7� Wide Hybrid LCD Monitor to make framing and viewing an easy and exciting experience so you can feel part of the action.
The DCR-HC44E, DCR-HC46E, DCR-HC94E and DCR-HC96E all feature Pictbridge, the standard for printing directly to compatible PictBridge photo printers, such as the Sony DPP-FP50.
In addition to being equipped with a 2.5� LCD monitor, 800k pixel CCD and 20x Optical Zoom, the DCR-HC35E, DCR-HC24E and DCR-HC23E all feature high quality Sony Handycam technology featured across all of the seven new models. Each is incredibly easy to use thanks to a large Touch panel on the camcorder’s LCD screen, allowing you to easily select the filming mode of your choice and even view the remaining battery levels. In addition, Sony has thoughtfully added Start/Stop and Zoom buttons on the frame of the LCD screen itself so that you don’t have to take your eye off the action or obstruct the screen to operate these functions. The DCR-HC23E can operate for nine hours on a single charge.
All models feature Sony’s unique Easy Handycam menu, providing 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.
The DCR-HC96E, DCR-HC46E and DCR-HC35E all feature a DV-IN function, allowing you to record back to miniDV tape after you edit your footage on PC. Most of the new models, the DCR-HC96E, DCR-HC94E, DCR-HC46E, DCR–HC44E and DCR–HC35E are supplied with a Handycam station to ensure that your camcorder is always ready to shoot and share – simply plug the Handycam in and charge the camcorder’s InfoLITHIUM battery. Meanwhile, the Handycam station features an i.LINK connection for digital video editing on a PC as well as USB for web streaming purposes. Multi AV (Analogue, S-Video and Audio) is also featured for playing back movies or still images on a TV.
The new miniDV line from Sony will be available across Europe from February 2006.
New additions to the camcorder accessory line from Sony in 2006 include:
The ECM-HW1 wireless microphone, using bluetooth technology, is designed to add further depth and clarity to your audio recording by being easily attached to your subject by clipping onto the clothes, worn around the arm, around the neck or placed nearby. The microphone communicates with the receiver unit wirelessly at up to 30M distance. This microphone may not be available in some countries due to the wireless technology regulations. The ACC-FP71 value accessory kit contains three indispensable items to accompany your camcorder, offering a saving of more than 25 per cent on the price of buying them separately. The kit contains the NP-FP71 high capacity battery, the LCS-VAC carrying case and shoulder belt. Sony also offers LCM-HCF, a new Semi Soft Carrying Case for easy storage and carrying of your Handycam – this is available for all new miniDV Handycam models. Sony range the SPK-HCB Sports Pack. This is compatible with new Handycam models, and offers waterproofing up to 5metres. The HVL-10NH is a high power 10w light. Compatible with all new Handycam models, it is supplied with an Accessory Shoe Adaptor.
