Sony's new "HDR-HC3" adds a few features to their previous "HDR-HC1" High Definition camcorder, yet also manages to decrease its size and weight.

Sony Marketing announced the "HDR-HC3" "Hi-Vision Handycam," a digital High Definition camera that records in HDV1080i. It will be released o­n March 3rd. It is Open Price, and the estimated retail cost is around 160,000 yen.

This is a consumer-level video camera that uses the HDV1080i system, which allows for recording High Definition video (1440 x 1080 pixels), which is about 4.5x the size of contention DV standard (720 x 480). After the "HDR-HC1" announced in May of last year, this is the second consumer-level "Hi-Vision Handycam."

The size is 82 x 78 x 139mm (W x H x D), and it weighs about 500g making it palm size -- compared to the HDR-HC1 (71 x 94 x 188mm, 680g), both the volume and weight have been reduced by about 26%. "It is the world's smallest and lightest consumer-level digitial High Definition video camera that uses HDV1080i." (Sony)

It also contains the new effective 1.99MP "Clear Bit CMOS Sensor" that was developed for use in Hi-Vision Handycams. Though it is compact, it allows for both "high sensitivity recording" and "high image count still image recording." The Clear Bit CMOS Sensor achieves a sensitivity of 11 lux at the lowest for photographic subjects by enlarging the surface area of each individual pixel through an original pixel arrangement. With pixel interpolation technology from the new "New Enhanced Imaging Processor" image processing engine, it can record still images at about 4MP, over double the effective pixels of the image sensor itself.

Also, the camera can record still images as large as 2.3MP (16:9) while recording video. By pushing the Photo button o­n the body while recording a video, users can record as many as three still images per video recording session. Another new feature is the "Smooth Slow Record" that records four times as many video frames for 3 seconds, then stretches it out to 12 seconds.

The body also provides an HDMI port for an interface. This allows users to easily enjoy their High Definition video with a single HDMI cable (sold separately). It also features a D jack and composite jacks.

A "Clear Photo LCD Plus" 2.7" widescreen LCD is used as a LCD monitor. The lens is a Carl Zeiss "Vario Tessar T*" that has a 10x optical zoom, with a focial range of 5.1 - 51mm.

Inspired by:
http://plusd.itmedia.co.jp/lifestyle/articles/0602/21/news023.html

Press Release:
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20060221/sony1.htm