Sony's Much Smaller, Relatively Cheap HD Camcorder

Just a few months ago, we were so impressed with Sony's HDR-FX1 high-definition camcorder that we gave it an award. But it cost $3700 and was big and bulky. (I could envision a local TV station's camera crew lugging it around; I couldn't see grabbing it to take to a picnic.) Interesting for sure, but not a true consumer product--unless the consumer in question is extremely well-heeled and has a strong arm.

Today, Sony unveiled the HDR-HC1 camcorder, a much more totable model that looks a lot like the standard-def models in Sony's extremely mainstream HC series. This story by my IDG News Service colleague Martyn Williams says that it weighs just a third as much as the earlier models, and is about half the size.

The HDR-HC1, which should be available in July, will go for $1685--a lot more than standard-def models (I just saw a decent low-end Canon model at CompUSA for less than $200), but less than half the price of the HDR-FX1.

Not ready to plunk down $1685 for a camcorder? Me neither--but I'm starting to watch the prices for these things, in anticipation of them hitting a price point that makes sense. (Which for me would be, um, somewhere in the $700-$800 range.) And I I've officially lost interest in the notion of buying a new standard-def model. Better to wait until high-def gets truly affordable...which I bet it will in the next year-to-eighteen-months.

Of course, for the time being, I'm still an entirely standard-def guy, with an ancient Panasonic tube TV and lots of non-HDTV products like my beloved old ReplayTV. And I still don't have much of the stuff I need to edit and record high-definition video on my PC. But I'm starting to daydream about the day I go HD, at least.

Here's Sony's official press release on the new model. And here's a photo of it.