Sony announces three new Mini DV Handycams

Along with all those new DVD-based Handycams announced this week, Sony's also seen fit to give its line of Mini DV camcorders a bit of a boost, introducing three new models for those who prefer to keep things tape-based. The top-end of the three is the DCR-HC48, packing a 1 megapixel CCD, 25x optical zoom, a 2.7-inch widescreen LCD, and a Memory Stick slot, although you can't record video directly to a card, just still pics. Moving down the lineup, there's not a whole lot separating Sony's DCR-HC38 and DCR-HC28 from each other, each boasting 680k CCDs, 40x optical zooms, and 2.5-inch LCDs, with the HC38 adding a still image mode and USB streaming capability, among other minor upgrades. Look for all three to hit sometime next month, coming in at $400, $330, and $280 for the HC48, 38, and 28, respectively.

[luke @ Jan 11th 2007 5:44AM]

So the most expensive one actually has less optical zoom (25x) than the two cheaper ones(40x)? Seems kind of odd...

[RoadHead @ Jan 11th 2007 3:54PM]

What no HD????

[Joe Moore @ Jan 11th 2007 5:32PM]

This is it's mid-to-low-end line of camcorders, not the high end or prosumer line.

[RoadHead @ Jan 11th 2007 7:48PM]

Thats true..(i gotta watch for those prices better) I am really anxious to see some other hd capable consumer cams hit the market. I love sony, however they usually are not the cheapest...