Sony presents the smallest camcorder to date

Sony presents the smallest camcorder to date

Tokyo-based Sony Corp. has launched a high-definition camcorder that is so small that you can easily hold with one hand. With the lightest and smallest camcorder yet, Sony is all set to take over the market.

The new model called the HDR-HC3 is a mere 1.1 pounds in weight. It also has a swivel LCD monitor that 2.7 inch-long. It is 26% smaller than its predecessor HC1 which had hit the market in 2005 and has shown good sales. The HDR-HC3 is a high-definition camcorder that is the videos shot with it when viewed on a high-definition TV give a clearer picture.

“People are more savvy about high-definition television, have experienced its visual impact, and now they want the same `wow factor' for their own home movies,” said the director for camcorder products at Sony Electronics Linda Vuolo.

“Sony has made great strides in creating the consumer HDV market over the past two years and now we are expanding it even further. Our latest model is a perfect solution for families who are currently using mini-DV camcorders and want to step up to high definition.”

The decrease in size has been brought about by reducing the size of the lens and by replacing three microchips by one.

The HDR-HC3 will hit the Japanese market in March and will be priced around $1,300. It will be introduced in the US market in April and will fetch the company $1,700 per piece. The new model is less expensive than the previous one which was priced at $1,800.

There have been rumors that the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) is going to file a lawsuit against Sony as its new camcorder will promote movie piracy by making it easier for film pirates to stealthily record movies in theatres. But experts have denied the possibility. “There's no chance of the MPAA taking action against Sony for mass-producing these kinds of products, whether they're used by pirates or not,” remarked A. Nonimus Zourse, a senior analyst with Benn, Dover & Bakwartz.