Digital8 Handycam Camorders Bring Color to the Night

Jan. 8, 2002 -- Sony Electronics is providing more reasons than ever to acquire a digital camcorder with today's introduction of its 2002 line of Digital8 Handycam camcorders, focusing on picture quality, a full set of features and value. Sharing Streaming Video With New USB Streaming
Sharing special moments with family and friends across the world is easy, with the incorporation of USB (Universal Serial Bus) Streaming into all 2002 Digital8 Handycam camcorders. USB Streaming allows users to stream live and recorded video to the Internet with their PCs using Microsoft® Windows® NetMeeting. This feature turns the camcorder into a webcam with a simple USB plug-in and Microsoft's free NetMeeting software. Now parents can either share baby's first steps live or stream a pre-recorded video of the event to loved ones who can't be there.

Enhanced Video Quality in Dark and Low-Light Settings
With the touch of a button, users can improve their video in dark and low-light settings by activating one of two recording modes. Sony's super NightShot feature enables monochrome video taping in total darkness. By selecting Color Mode, full-color video is recorded in dimly lit places, enabling users to capture video of sleeping babies and nocturnal animals in color.

Megapixel Video and MPEG1 Without Limits
Another advancement found in both the DCR-TRV740 and the DCR-TRV840 models is MPEG MovieEX Mode, which captures video and audio onto Memory Stick® media up to the length of the media capacity. MPEG1 video can be captured directly to Memory Stick media or shot to the tape and converted in-camera to MPEG movie format later. MPEG MovieEX function makes it easy to share video as e-mail attachments, or insertion in Web pages and presentation materials.

Both the DCR-TRV740 and the DCR-TRV840 also have a megapixel CCD imager and feature 520 lines of horizontal resolution resulting in exceptional video and still image clarity.

All of the new Digital8 camcorder models offer the same outstanding sound quality as a compact disc. With an estimated price as low as $500, it is easier than ever to enjoy high-quality digital video and audio in combination with Sony's advanced Worry-Free Recording features, like SteadyShot Picture Stabilization and an InfoLithium Battery with the AccuPower Meter System.

In addition, four of the new camcorders in the line can play back any analog-recorded Hi8/8mm tape. And all of the models record digital video onto inexpensive standard Hi8/8mm tape and connect via i.LINK (IEEE-1394) interface to compatible PCs for digital video editing.

Digital8 Handycam Camcorder Pricing and Availability

DCR-TRV140 -- 2.5" SwivelScreen LCD display, USB Streaming, SteadyShot Picture Stabilization, super NightShot® Color Mode, InfoLithium Battery with AccuPower Meter System, 20X optical/560X digital zoom and Digital Program Edit for about $500. The DCR-TRV140 will be available this month.

DCR-TRV240 -- 2.5" SwivelScreen LCD display, USB Streaming, super NightShot® Color Mode, super SteadyShot® Picture Stabilization, InfoLithium Battery with AccuPower? Meter System, 20X optical/700X digital zoom, Hi8 and 8mm playback capability, Digital Program Edit and LP Recording. It will be available this month for about $600.

DCR-TRV340 -- includes all of the above features plus an 8MB Memory Stick media card, USB Streaming, and MPEG Movie Mode. The DCR-TRV340 will be available in this month about $700.

DCR-TRV740 -- all of the above features plus a megapixel CCD imager for higher quality video and still images, 15X optical/420X digital zoom and MPEG Movie EX. The DCR-TRV740 will be available in March for about $800.