[December] There are two really good reasons why the pros are turning to Sony’s consumer high-def camcorders — by professional standards they’re cheap, and by any standard they produce superb video.

Attend any meeting of video professionals, and you’ll hear talk of Sony’s HDV-format high-definition camcorders, which record 1080i-format HDTV on standard MiniDV tapes. The cheaper of the two models, the $2,200 HDR-HC1, produces images almost as good as those from its older and bigger brother, the $3,700 HDR-FX1 — even though the HC1 uses only a single image-sensor chip to the FX1’s three. The HC1 is also a lot smaller and lighter, and in some ways even easier to operate. Its fold-out LCD viewscreen doubles as a touch-sensitive control panel, giving easy access to the many camera settings without cluttering the cam’s body with easily bumped control buttons. The HC1 is a joy to use, and the detail and color fidelity of its recordings are stunning. It’s certain to put that new HDTV you bought yourself for Christmas through its paces. —David Ranada
sonystyle.com

View Another Editors' Choice Award Winner
Product of the Year and Best Video Product: Sony KDS-R50XBR1 50-inch SXRD HDTV
Best Portable: Apple iPod nano portable music player
Best Network Product: Sonos Digital Music System whole-house audio network
Best Audio Product: Denon AVR-5805 multiroom receiver
Retail Innovation Award: Best Buy
Visionary Award: Mark Cuban

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Delphi MyFi XM2go satellite radio
HP Pavilion MD6580n 65-inch DLP HDTV
JVC Everio GZ-MG30 hard-drive camcorder
Klipsch iFi iPod speaker system
Pioneer PDP-4350HD 43-inch plasma HDTV
Pioneer VSX-815 surround receiver
Revel Concerta speaker system
Sling Media Slingbox TV extender
Sony Cineza VPL-HS51 LCD projector
Sony HDR-HC1 high-def camcorder
Yamaha YSP-1 digital sound projector

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