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Camcorders

Sony reveals Spring Handycam lineup, including HDR-CX760V, XR260V, and CX190

Sony has unveiled what appears to be their entire imaging lineup for 2012, including 13 new Handycam-class camcorders. Of them, 7 models are traditional camcorders, in the sense that they support neither 3D capture nor light projector playback.

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At CES in Las Vegas, Sony has unveiled what appears to be their entire imaging lineup for 2012, including 13 new Handycam camcorders. Of them, seven models are traditional camcorders, in the sense that they support neither 3D capture nor light projector playback with built-in video projectors.

Most of the announced models have features and specifications that are in lock-step with their projector-equipped equivalents. At the top of the product line, for example, the HDR-CX760V is almost identical to the HDR-PJ760V, minus the projector. This includes Full HD video recording at 24p, with 24.1 megapixel still image capture, and 96 GB of built in flash memory. The CX760V will be an optical SteadyShot model, with 10x optical zoom and–like all the Sony models announced today–an Exmor backside illuminated CMOS sensor. Manual control over iris, shutter, exposure, and white balance will be possible, along with advanced controls like expanded focus, overexposure zebra, and peaking. The camcorder will also feature a 921,000-dot LCD monitor, a 5.1 channel surround microphone, and GPS functionality.

The HDR-CX760V will be available in March for $1500—that's $100 less than the HDR-PJ760V.

Below the CX760V will be the HDR-CX580V, another Full HD model, this time with 20.4 megapixel still shooting. Onboard flash memory will be reduced to 32 GB, though optical SteadyShot is still available and optical zoom gets a boost to 12x. Advanced manual controls will not be available in the CX580V, but CinemaTone presets, expanded focus, zebra, and peaking are still included. The same 921,000-dot LCD will once again be used here, but the 5.1 channel microphone has been replaced with standard mic and headphone jacks. GPS functionality, indicated by the “V” suffix on this model number, will be included.

Although controls and features will be somewhat limited compared to the CX760V, the CX580V will come in at nearly half the price, $800, and hit stores in March.

The only hard disk drive camcorder announced today was the HDR-XR260V, another Full HD device, this time with 60p recording and the ability to capture 8.9-megapixel stills. The hard disk will be 160 GB in size, and the camcorder features both optical SteadyShot and a 30x optical zoom. Monitor resolution is reduced to 230,000 pixels, and manual controls are just as limited as on the CX580V, but the 5.1 channel surround microphone makes a return. This model will also be available in March, for about $700.

Sony will also release a CX260V with identical specifications except for flash memory instead of a hard drive. This camcorder will feature 16 GB of internal storage, and hit retail at the same time as the others, for around $550, in black, white, or pink.

Finally, the company announced three relatively inexpensive models, priced very close to one another. The HDR-CX210, HDR-CX200, and HDR-CX190 will all record 1080p HD with 5.3 megapixel still capture, but image stabilization will use a digital method, and only the CX210 will feature onboard memory. All three will have 25x optical zoom and wide angle lenses. Although most manual controls are absent from these models, tracking focus and face detection are still available.

The CX210, CX200, and CX190 will all reach stores in March, for $370, $340, and $300 respectively.

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