Sony’s three-megapixel camcorder

Sony’s three-megapixel camcorder

A new class of combination camera

AUCKLAND, 10 September, 2003 – Sony's latest MiniDV Handycam® camcorder is the industry's first single-CCD, 3.31-megapixel consumer model, giving it the highest quality combination of digital video and still camera optics.

The new DCR-PC330E model has an Advanced HADTM CCD imager, a Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T* lens, and a new advanced primary colour filter, which together create outstanding video and digital photographs. It is expected to be available in October for approximately $3,299.

Beyond Sony's standard advanced Worry Free® features such as Super NightShot® infrared system for shooting video in total darkness and the Super SteadyShot® system for image stabilisation, this new model also has a new smooth interval record feature, enabling smooth time-lapse recording.

Along with a 2.5-inch SwivelScreen™ hybrid touch panel LCD for an easy-access, easy-to-see menu, the new 3-D user menu is customisable into a Personal Menu. Once users assemble their favourite features into their own Personal Menu, it takes just one touch on the LCD to facilitate a personal shooting style.

The new three-colour filter uses proprietary technology that quadruples the area for each primary colour resulting in more true-to-life photographs and video. Like the human eye distinguishes colour through red, green and blue photoreceptors, the new primary colour filter utilises the same colours to deliver vibrant and colour-rich video and still images.

The manual focus ring together with the 10X optical/120X precision digital zoom gives the user even more options for creativity and composition.

The DCR-PC330E camcorder also has specific Sony still camera features for shooting crisp clear pictures in poor lighting conditions. These include:

- An intelligent pop-up flash.
- The Hologram AF™ focus system, which projects a laser grid across the subject to maximise contrast even with smooth surfaces and assist in accurate focusing in dark conditions.
- The NightFraming system, which uses infrared technology to frame and capture a still shot with no or low lighting.

Digital still photos are captured as JPEG files directly to Memory Stick® or Memory Stick PRO™ flash media. To boost convenience, users can capture up to 890 photos at maximum resolution (2016 x 1512) with a 1GB Memory Stick PRO card. A 16MB Memory Stick media card is supplied.

Users may also shoot video in the MPEG Movie EX format, which captures MPEG1 video clips with audio onto Memory Stick or Memory Stick PRO media up to the length of the media capacity. Video can also be shot to the MiniDV tape and converted in-camera to the MPEG movie format later. MPEG Movie EX makes it easy to send video as an e-mail attachment or insert video clips into web pages and presentation materials.

The trademarks, including but not limited to “SONY”, are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Corporation and/or its subsidiaries. All other product and brand names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, communications and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. Sony New Zealand Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Sony Corporation of Japan. With a wide range of products across three main segments, consumer products, broadcast & professional and information technology products, Sony has become the leading electronics company in New Zealand.

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