Just in time for back-to-school home video projects, Sony has slashed prices on two of their new HD camcorders by $200. The models are the HDR-UX20 and the HDR-UX10, both are high def digital video cameras with still capabilities.
This sale drops the $999.99 HDR-UX20 down to $799.99 and the HDR-UX10 will drop from $799.99 down to $599.99. Not too shabby.
Both cameras feature a 2.3 MP ClearVid™ CMOS sensor, BIONZ ™ image processor, 1920 x 1080
video, 4 MP still image capture, Face Detection technology for video,
Hybrid Plus recording, 8GB internal memory, built-in zoom mic. The main difference between the models is that the HDR-UX20 has a built-in 8GB flash memory.
Keep reading for the features from Sony.
The ultimate in home video flexibility. The HDR-UX20 delivers Hybrid
Plus recording technology, giving you the option to record images to
DVD media, 8GB internal flash memory, or removable Memory Stick PRO
Duo™ media. The ClearVid™ CMOS sensor (with Exmor™ technology) and
BIONZ™ image processor capture Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution for
amazingly sharp picture detail, as well as 4 megapixel still photos.
For better results, Super SteadyShot® optical image stabilization helps
reduce blur while Face Detection helps people look their best in every
video and photo. And the built-in zoom microphone with Dolby® Digital
5.1 channel recording lets you capture realistic surround sound even
when you?re far away from your subject.
Note: Most camcorders will not fit in ACC-FH50A case when the large (NP-FH100) battery is attached to camcorder.
Record stunning, incredibly detailed video footage in the clarity of 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution.
Made
possible by the BIONZ™ image processing engine, Face Detection
technology recognizes up to 8 faces anywhere in the frame and
automatically controls focus, exposure, and color to help capture
smiling faces brightly and clearly. Face Detection also helps make skin
tones look natural without affecting other colors in the image.
Sony's
newly designed CMOS image sensor with delivers bright, vivid, and
spectacularly detailed 2.3 megapixel (effective) video footage, as well
as 4 megapixel still images -- all with prolonged battery life. Exmor™
technology captures images with high resolution and high sensitivity.
In addition, the advanced Sony BIONZ™ image processor improves camera
response time and screens out noise so the signal from each pixel is as
pure as possible.
The
advanced Sony BIONZ™ Image Processor uses hardware-based Large Scale
Integrated (LSI) circuitry that improves camera response time, screens
out noise before RAW data conversion, handles Dynamic Range
Optimization processing, and prolongs battery life.
Exmor™
technology captures video and still photo images with high resolution,
high sensitivity, and exceptional detail. Advanced on-sensor A/D
conversion yields rich tonal reproduction with high signal-to-noise
ratio.
Hybrid
Plus recording technology delivers a new level of flexibility for
transferring your video footage and digital photos from the camcorder
to compatible viewing devices. Record to your choice of DVD media, an
internal 8GB flash memory drive, or removable Memory Stick Duo™ media or Memory
Stick PRO Duo™ media (sold separately). You can even select from
various dubbing functions to easily copy video or still images from
Memory Stick media or built in flash memory media to DVD -- without
using a PC. Images recorded or transferred to DVD media can then be
played directly in most DVD Players (SD), computers, Blu-ray Disc™
players, and even PlayStation® 3 video game consoles to share your
memories with friends and family.
While
recording video in High Definition you have the ability to capture
still images directly to Memory Stick Duo™ media (sold separately).
The
optical zoom helps to bring the action close up from far away. In
addition, Digital Zoom Interpolation means that extreme digital zooming
is clearer, with less distortion than previous types of digital zoom.
The 2.7" Wide
(16:9) LCD screen provides exceptional viewing clarity with improved
resolution (211K pixels). The display rotates up to 270 degrees for
multiple viewing angles, as well as provides sharp, detailed images for
monitoring or playback. The widescreen format makes shooting in 16:9
mode and composing shots even easier.
The DVD recording format, in both MPEG2 (SD) and AVCHD™ format,
delivers digital picture and sound quality comparable to that of MiniDV
and High Definition, but on DVD. Playback of these DVDs couldn't be
simpler (depending upon the playback device used). After finalizing the
disc in the camcorder, the disc can play back in most DVD Players (SD),
computers, Blu-ray Disc™ players, and even PlayStation® 3 video game
consoles.
Compatibility with a variety of DVD formats
allows the ease-of-use and simplicity found in DVD media. With DVD+RW
media there is no need to finalize the disc (minimum recording
required); simply remove the finalized disc and insert the media into a
compatible DVD or Blu-ray Disc™ Player.
Featuring
Dolby® Ditigal 5.1 Creator, the built-in zoom microphone focuses audio
recording on your subjects in sync with the camera's zoom lens, helping
memories ring true with clear dialogue and crisp, discrete sounds.
Record
in Dolby Digital 5.1ch surround sound with the camcorder's built-in
microphone. Recording in 5.1 channel surround sound allows you to
experience your home movies with active sounds coming from all
directions, so you can enjoy your personal home movies the way you
experienced them while recording.
Missing
an important scene can be frustrating, especially if the reason is
because your camcorder is turned off. With the Quick On feature, the
touch of a single button places that camcorder in Sleep mode. Another
push instantly wakes the camcorder, so you'll always be ready to
capture special moments.
Powered
by the exclusive Sony's BIONZ™ high-speed processing engine, D-Range
Optimization preserves image data in bright highlights, such as
suppressing "whiteout" in skies. When shooting in backlit settings,
D-Range Optimization reveals more detail in shadows, preventing
"blackout." As a result, the captured image appears as natural as the
original scene.
Using
a camcorder can be intimidating for some people. With a press of the
Easy Handycam Button, most of the advanced features of the camcorder
are "locked out," letting you focus only the buttons essential for
recording.
Record and play back both High Definition (HD)4 and Standard Definition (SD) video.
Carl
Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T lenses use highly advanced optics to deliver
vivid image brilliance, true-to-life color saturation, and perfect
renditions of subtle tones. The additional T coating further reduces
unwanted glare and flare for increased contrast and color.
Sony's
proprietary hot shoe makes it easy to use Intelligent Accessories, such
as external lights and microphones, by providing power and on/off
capability directly from the camcorder.
HDMI™
connectivity provides a simple, high-quality video and audio
connection, with the ability to transmit HD video and 5.1 channel audio
directly from the camcorder to compatible HDTVs via a single cable.
With BRAVIA® Sync™ (CEC) technology, the HDMI connection also delivers
the ability to control both the camcorder and HDTV using a single
BRAVIA TV remote.
The USB 2.0 interface provides an easy way to connect your camcorder to a PC for fast transfer of video and still images for editing. —Leslie Shapiro
