Issued by Sony UK:
16th April 2003
New Handycam for your Pocket has lots of Style
'Compact Pocket' Handycams have lightweight, 'vertical' design, improved 16:9 recording and 'One Click' CD-R and DVD burning
Sony UK has announced two new, ultra compact DV Handycams that are called 'Pocket Compact' because of their lightweight, easy-to-handle characteristics. The new models, the DCR-PC105 and DCR-PC103, have a stylish new 'vertical' design which makes them fit comfortably into the hand. Combined with a brand new blue-grey metallic finish, they will appeal strongly to the style conscious.
Thanks to Megapixel technology, overall picture quality and recording resolution in 16:9 format is dramatically improved. In addition, users can now burn to CD-R direct from the Handycam, with new supplied software that links the Handycam to a PC via a USB cable. VAIO users can also connect their VAIO and Handycam via an i.LINK cable and take advantage of the Sony 'Click to DVD' software which allows them to burn directly to DVD. The DCR-PC105 also operates as a highly capable digital still camera and incorporates a new pop up flash for shooting in dark conditions.
"The fact that these Handycams provide 'One Click' burning to CD-R or DVD is an excellent example of how stand-alone products can become far more when they are connected," said Shaun Dorrington, Product Manager, Camcorder's Sony UK. "When you combine such clear benefits with superb picture quality and increased functionality, you have two models which are fun and rewarding to use, ensuring that this immensely popular range continues to appeal to a very wide audience."
The creation of DVD libraries for VAIO users is now easy. With Sony's Click to DVD Version 1.2 software, users can transfer material to DVD from the DCR-PC105 or DCR-PC103 with just one click. Click to DVD software can also be operated directly from the Handycam. The Handycam connects to the VAIO with an i.LINK cable and the software allows DVD's to be recorded, edited and stored.
The new Handycams make it possible, without any extra investment, to burn material directly to Video-CD for playback in most computers (PC or Mac) and home DVD players. USB streaming capabilities provide the connectivity and Video-CD burning is performed by the fast and intuitive Pixela ImageMixer software. The Handycam, with the tape loaded, is connected to the PC with the supplied USB cable. With just one click of the 'EZ VIDEO CD' button, ImageMixer will burn a complete tape onto Video-CD. Thanks to an 'Editing Mode,' simple editing tasks can also be carried out beforehand.
As consumers are more and more equipped with wide screen televisions, the latest Megapixel technology has given rise to many improvements in 16:9 recording and consumers can now record in actual 16:9 with no stretching or cutting. In 16:9 mode, the DCR-PC105 and DCR-PC103 achieve a much higher image quality by reading a wider, 16:9 shaped, area of the 1.1 Megapixel CCD chip, increasing image resolution and maximising a much wider shooting angle. All Sony 16:9 recordings are anamorphic and allow consumers, for the first time, to make full use of their wide screen television resolution.
The DCR-PC105 and DCR-PC103 come with 10x optical and 120x digital zoom lenses from Carl Zeiss, plus a 2.5" touchpanel with Hybrid LCD screen offering a resolution of 211,000 pixels. Both include Super SteadyShot, which enables users to shoot stabilised images and Super NightShot, allowing the shooting under dark conditions such as "0lux" with infra-red ray. The pop-up flash provided with the DCR-PC105 makes it possible to easily shoot still images in the dark.
Both models will be available in the UK from early June 2003.
-ENDS-
About Sony
Sony manufactures audio, video, communications and information technology products for the global consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, game and online businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to become a leading personal broadband entertainment company in the 21st century. In Europe, Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of EUR 14.76 billion (yen 1,609 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2002, based on an average market exchange rate for the same period of yen 109 to the euro. Sony Europe, headquartered at the Sony Center, Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, is responsible for the company's European electronics business and registered consolidated sales of EUR 9.36 billion* for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2002. Sony United Kingdom Limited was founded in 1968 and is responsible for the hardware areas of Sony's UK business, incorporating consumer, broadcast & professional, computer peripherals & components and recording media & energy products, a! s well as all UK manufacturing.
For more information on Sony United Kingdom Limited, please visit: www.sony.co.uk
(*Figures for the cellular phone business from October 1, 2001 are excluded from Sony Europe's consolidated sales.)
'SONY', 'HANDYCAM', 'SONY STEADYSHOT' 'i.LINK' AND VAIO
ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF SONY CORPORATION, JAPAN
For further information, please contact:
website: www.sony.co.uk
Sony Customer Information Centre: 08705 111999
