Sony Ushers in Next Wave of High-Def Home Movies

Sony is making sure home movies meet the high-def expectations of home theater fans with its new HDR-UX1 and HDR-SR1 Handycam® camcorders.

These are the first consumer camcorders to record in full 1080i HD resolution and Dolby® Digital 5.1 surround sound, offering a choice in recording media. While the HDR-UX1 model records directly to readily-available, three-inch DVD discs for effortless playback and sharing, the HDR-SR1 camcorder's built-in 30GB hard drive facilitates mass video storage as well as in-camcorder and PC editing.

"With more families adopting high-definition televisions and acquiring HD content, we want to give them a variety of ways to enjoy their home video in the same high quality," said Linda Vuolo, director of marketing for camcorders at Sony Electronics. "Our HD camcorder line offers people greater functionality and more choice to make high-def video creation fun and easy."

High-Def is Not Just For Sports

Sony's new HD camcorders bring home movies fully into the home theater fold. They feature HDMI™ outputs for simple, one-cord connection to an HD television with no data conversion and subsequent degradation of picture quality.

Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound assures a life-like audio experience when viewing your home movies. This experience can be further enhanced with the sold-separately Sony ECM-HW1 Bluetooth® wireless microphone, which amplifies the center channel sound of the multi-point surround system and even lets you record them wirelessly up to 100 feet away.

The HDR-SR1 hard disk drive model is the perfect choice for that week-long vacation in Hawaii when the convenience of long recording times and not having to manage removable media is much appreciated. This model records more than ten hours of high-def video in long play mode. You can extend the recording time of the HDR-UX1 model up to an hour in long play mode by using Sony's new +R double-layer, single-sided DVD.

Effortless HD Playback

HD content recorded on DVDs with either the HDR-UX1 or HDR-SR1 models can be played back on Blu-ray Disc devices, such as the forthcoming Sony BDP-S1 player and PLAYSTATION® 3 video game console. Standard DVD drives on compatible PCs can also play back these DVDs with the bundled software.

Both support the new AVCHD™ camcorder recording format based on the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 codec for video compression and Dolby digital audio. This technology makes it possible to not only achieve high-quality HD video and audio, but also produce camcorders that are power efficient and compact.

Both models allow for quick data transfer from the camcorder to a compatible PC for playback and editing. The hard disk drive unit also features Sony's One Touch Disc Burn button for easy DVD creation using a PC.

Imaging Technologies for Like No Other

These lightweight camcorders feature Sony's ClearVid CMOS Sensor™ and Enhanced Imaging Processor™ technologies. Together, they provide high-resolution and heightened sensitivity for virtually smear-free video with vivid color and clarity.

Other benefits include four-megapixel digital still capture, a Dual Record function that allows you to shoot video and simultaneously capture 2.3 megapixel stills, and a Smooth Slow Record function to shoot video in slow motion.

Both models are also equipped with an advanced Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T* lens to ensure true-to-life color saturation and minimize unwanted glare and flare from reflected light. Even while shooting, the camcorders' extra-large, 3.5-inch SwivelScreen™ LCD screens display video with high-contrast and optimal color due to Sony's Clear Photo Plus LCD™ technology. Video is easy to view on screen from any angle and in virtually any environment. The screens double as touch-sensitive control panels, giving easy access to many of the camcorders' settings.

The HDR-UX1 camcorder will be available in September for about $1,400, and the HDR-SR1 will hit stores in October for about $1,500. Options will include a full line of accessories, including lights, lenses, microphones, InfoLithium® batteries, chargers and cables.

Both models will be available online at Sonystyle.com, at Sony Style® retail stores (www.sonystyle.com/retail), and at authorized dealers nationwide. Pre-orders will begin on July 21st at www.sonystyle.com/handycam.

AVCHD Licensing and Supporting Companies

On July 13, Panasonic and Sony announced the commencement of licensing for AVCHD, the high-definition digital video camera recorder format, as well as an expansion of the format's specifications. The two companies have been promoting this format extensively throughout the industry and the following companies have expressed their support for AVCHD.

  AVCHD Supporting Companies

  Consumer Electronics Manufacturers:

  Canon Inc.
  Pioneer Corporation
  Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
  Sharp Corporation

  Non-liner Editing Software Suppliers [Software Supporting AVCHD]

  Adobe Systems Incorporated        [Adobe Production Studio]
  CyberLink Corporation             [PowerDVD, PowerDirector]
  InterVideo, Inc.                  [WinDVD]
  Nero AG                           [Nero 7 Premium (Nero 7 Ultra Edition)]
  Sonic Solutions                   [Easy Media Creator 9]
  Sony Media Software               [Vegas 7.0]
  Ulead Systems, Inc.               [Video Studio, DVD MovieWriter]

SOURCE: Sony Electronics Inc.

CONTACT: Yolanda Hunt-Boes of Sony Electronics Inc., +1-858-942-4174,
yolanda.hunt-boes@am.sony.com; or Joslyn Beloff of Burson-Marsteller,
+1-212-614-4664, joslyn.beloff@bm.com, for Sony Electronics Inc.

Web site: http://sonystyle.com/