Sony of Canada Ltd., Canada's leading supplier of electronic and computer products for consumers and business, today introduced its latest Full High-Definition 1080 camcorder technology - the DVD-based HDR-UX1 Handycam(R), affording consumers an alternative when it comes to HD recording media.

The Sony HDR-UX1 Handycam camcorder is the first consumer camcorder in the world to record in 1080i HD resolution and Dolby(R) Digital 5.1 surround sound. While the HDR-UX1 Handycam camcorder records HD and SD (standard definition) directly to readily-available, 8cm. DVD discs for effortless playback and sharing, Sony's marketshare-leading HDR-HC3 and HDR-FX1 Handycam camcorders record on standard MiniDV video cassettes.

"With more families adopting HD 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 Samuel Yip, Product Manager, Handycam Camcorder, Consumer Audio Visual/Information Technology Group, Sony of Canada Ltd. "Our HD camcorder line offers people greater functionality and more choice to make HD video creation fun and easy."

Sony's new HDR-UX1 Handycam camcorder brings home movies fully into the home theater fold. It features HDMI(TM) outputs for simple, one-cord connection to an HD TV with no data conversion and subsequent degradation of picture quality.

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

HD content recorded on DVDs with the HDR-UX1 Handycam camcorder can be played back on Blu-ray Disc devices, such as the forthcoming Sony BDP-S1 player and PlayStation(R) 3 video game console. Standard DVD drives on compatible PCs can also play back HD content on these DVDs with bundled software. SD content recorded on DVDs with the HDR-UX1 Handycam camcorder can be played back on current DVD players.

The HDR-UX1 Handycam camcorder supports the new AVCHD(TM) 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. The HDR-UX1 Handycam camcorder allows for quick data transfer from the camcorder to a compatible PC for playback and editing.

The HD content recording time of the HDR-UX1 Handycam model can be extended up to an hour in long play mode (5 Mbps (megabits per second)) by using Sony's new +R double-layer, single-sided 8cm. DVD disc.

The lightweight HDR-UX1 Handycam camcorder features Sony's ClearVid CMOS Sensor(TM) and Enhanced Imaging Processor(TM) technologies. Together, they provide high-resolution and heightened sensitivity for virtually smear-free video with vivid colour and clarity.

Other benefits include 4-megapixel digital still capture, a Dual Record function that allows users to shoot video and simultaneously capture 2.3 megapixel stills, and a Smooth Slow Record function to shoot video in slow motion.

The HDR-UX1 Handycam camcorder is also equipped with an advanced Carl Zeiss(R) Vario-Sonnar(R) T(*) lens to ensure true-to-life colour saturation and minimize unwanted glare and flare from reflected light. Even while shooting, the camcorder's extra-large, 3.5-inch SwivelScreen(TM) LCD (liquid crystal display) displays video with high-contrast and optimal colour due to Sony's Clear Photo Plus LCD(TM) technology. Video is easy to view on screen from any angle and in virtually any environment. The screen doubles as a touch-sensitive control panel, giving easy access to many of the camcorder's settings.

The HDR-UX1 Handycam camcorder will be available in September at a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $1,699.99. Options will include a full line of accessories, including lights, lenses, microphones, InfoLithium(R) batteries, chargers and cables.

AVCHD Licensing and Supporting Companies

On July 13, 2006, Panasonic and Sony announced the commencement of licensing for AVCHD, the HD 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)

Editor's Note: AVCHD is a trademark of Sony Corporation and Matsushita

Electric Industrial Company, Ltd. PlayStation(R)3 is a product of Sony

Computer Entertainment Inc. PlayStation is a registered trademark.

Sony's new High-Definition Handycam(R) camcorders are compatible with the

following personal computer operating systems: Microsoft(R) Windows(R)

2000 Professional, XP Home Edition and XP Professional. Not all devices

with a USB 2.0 connector will communicate with each other due to chipset

variations. Sixty gigabytes and thirty gigabytes equal 60 billion bytes

and 30 billion bytes, respectively, a portion of which is used for data

management functions. The viewable area of the LCD screen is measured

diagonally.

About Sony of Canada Ltd.

Established in 1955, Sony of Canada Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of Tokyo, Japan, a world leader in the manufacture and marketing of electronic and computer products for consumer, business, electronics publishing and multimedia applications on a global scale. With headquarters in Toronto, sales offices in Vancouver and Montreal and distribution centres in Coquitlam, British Columbia, and Whitby, Ontario, approximately 1,000 employees support 77 Sony stores and a network of more than 500 authorized dealers across Canada.

For further information: please visit us at www.sony.ca, www.thesonystore.ca, www.sonybiz.ca or www.sonystyle.ca, Sony's product information and e-commerce Web site, or contact: John B. Challinor II, APR, General Manager, Advertising & Corporate Communications, Sony of Canada Ltd., (416) 495-3740, john_challinor@sony.ca; Shawna Rossi, Senior Counsellor, Technology Practice, Silverhammer Public Relations, (416) 324-2024, Ext. 3, shawna_rossi@silver-hammer.com

Source: newswire