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Consumer Digital Video Camcorders Gallery
Digital Video goes HD
by Douglas Dixon
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These galleries provide notes on some interesting technology and trends in
digital home media.
They include some sample products illustrating these trends.
Information and pricing are summarized
from public sources as of when they were added,
and may be incorrect or out of date. Corrections and updates are welcome. |
Digital Camcorder Trends
Digital Camcorder Formats
-- DV, DVD, Hard Disk, Flash
HD Digital Video Formats -- HDV, AVCHD
Sample Digital Camcorders
Pure Digital Flip - RCA Small Wonder
Canon
- JVC - Panasonic
- Samsung
- Sony
Home Media
PC TV and Video Capture
Home Video Monitoring and Webcams
 
See also:
Consumer Digital Photo
Cameras Gallery --
Photos beyond megapixels, Accessories
Portable Power
Accessories Gallery -- Batteries, chargers, adapters
Portable Storage
Gallery -- Cards and drives, Flash and hard disk
Find related Camcorder
articles in the Manifest Tech Blog
See also a summary of Digital Holiday Trends 2007: Video
Camcorders -- Memories in High-Def
CES 1/2008: Lightweight flash memory camcorders
The picture phone is becoming the dominant imaging device. But still cameras
shoot better photos plus reasonable video, and video camcorders shoot HD video
and great stills. We'll all be recording and recorded, especially as today's
memory-based HD camcorders shrink to the size of a soda can.
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Rise of flash: End of tape? Even mini-DVD disc?
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"Soda can" design: Light, compact, easy (1
memory card = 1 tape)
Multiple Storage Formats, Dual Recording Modes
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Tape, DVD disc, hard disk, memory
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Memory + storage, Tape + storage
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DVD burning docking stations
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Direct to Web
Multiple Video Formats / Resolutions
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Web resolution: MPEG-4
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Standard definition (SD): DV, MPEG-2
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High definition (HD): 1280 x 720 / 1440 x
1080 / full 1920 x 1080
HDV (MPEG-2) for tape, AVCHD (MPEG-4) for
disc / memory
Pro Features
- 1080p, 24p cinema mode
- Instant AF uses external sensor, improve speed and accuracy
(Canon)
- Smooth Zoom speed control (Canon)
- HDMI output
Surround Sound
- Dolby Surround recording (2 mics)
- 5.1-channel surround sound with 5 microphones (Panasonic)
Better Still Photos
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Longer zoom lens (typically
10X)
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Multiple-megapixel still recording
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Still and video modes -- Stills while shooting video
Top
DV Camcorders -- Digital on Tape
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Best all-round format, inexpensive
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records to Mini-DV tape
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Good-quality,
lightly-compressed video, easy to edit on a computer
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Keep original tape as archive
DVD Camcorder -- Direct to Mini Disc
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Quick viewing after shooting
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Record directly to a mini-DVD disc.
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Immediately play back on most DVD players (after
finalizing)
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More heavily compressed MPEG-2 video
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Squeeze 60 minutes onto tape (or 20 at higher quality)
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Lower-quality results, more work to edit (newer
software can handle)
Hard
Disk Camcorder -- Built-in Storage
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Smaller and lighter package,
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No removable media -- records to built-in hard drive
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Typically 30 or 60 GB.
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Once drive is filled (7 to 20 hours
for 30 GB), need to off-load it to a computer
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Need to back
up to some other disc or tape
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Shoot in more compressed MPEG-2 or MPEG-4
Flash Memory Camcorders --
Most Portable
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Most portabile, very light
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Fewer features, significantly lower recording time
-
Shoot in more compressed MPEG-2 or MPEG-4
Top
See Video Editing References
for links on video formats and standards
HDV -- HD on DV
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HD widescreen video on consumer Mini-DV tape
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Convenient interfacing with computers
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MPEG-2 video in HD resolution
- 720p (1280 x 720)
- 1080i (1440 x
1080 -- not the full 1920 x 1080 of HDTV
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www.hdv-info.org
AVCHD -- MPEG-4 AVC in HD
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Jointly introduced by Sony and Panasonic
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MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 video codec, 1080i and 720p, 16:9
widescreen
multi-channel digital audio
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Record to hard drive, 8cm DVD, Memory Stick/SD --
not tape
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www.avchd-info.org
Top
Pure Digital Flip Video Ultra
- Simple, affordable digital camcorders for the mass market
- One-click record, play, delete
- Pop-out USB connector to upload to a computer
- Built-in software to play, edit, convert, share
- www.theflip.com
Design
- Fixed lens with 2x digital zoom
- Built-in microphone and speaker
- Preprogrammed auto exposure, Automatic white balance & black level
- Video: VGA (640 × 480), 30 fps, MPEG-4 (Part 2, ASP), saved as an AVI
file
- Uses 2 AA batteries, Automatic power-off if inactive over 90 seconds
- USB 2.0 connector via flip-out arm
- (No card slot for expansion memory)
- Includes TV connection A/V cable (NTSC) to play on TV
Controls
- One-touch recording, Instant playback, review, delete
- Power On/Off
- Record - start/stop (center red)
- Play - start/stop playback
- Delete - current video
- 4-way Navigation
- Left/Right - Previous / Next video (during playback)
- Up/Down - Volume during playback, Zoom during recording
- (Cannot fast forward or rewind video during playback)
On-board Flip Video Software
- Runs from camcorder when connected to computer (Windows & Mac)
- View, save and organize videos
- One-click video emailing, Instant online video publishing
- Simple editing and movie making, Capture still photos from videos
- Directly integrates with video sharing sites like AOL and YouTube for
private and public sharing
- DVD processing at participating retailers
Pure Digital - Flip Video Ultra (9/07) -- Highly compact camcorder
- 1.5 inch transflective, no-glare LCD color viewfinder (528? x
132)
- Enhanced video processing engine
Improved color fidelity, exposure control, dynamic range
- Adds - Set Date/Time function
- Adds - Built-in tripod mount
- MPEG-4 video at 4.5 Mbps
- Battery life up to 2.5 hours (Alkaline), 6.5 hours (Energizer e2)
- ~ 4.17 x 2.17 x 1.26 in., 5.1 oz (slightly taller and thinner)
- 30-minute $149.99 (1 GB), white and black
- 60-minute $179.99 (2 GB), white, black, orange, and pink
Find the Pure
Digital Flip Video Ultra camcorder on Amazon.com
Pure Digital - Flip Video (5/07)
- 1.5 inch LCD color viewfinder (280 × 120)
- MPEG-4 video at 2.8 Mbps
- Battery life up to 2 hours (Alkaline), 5 hours (Energizer e2)
- ~ 4.125 x 2.25 x 1.25 in., 4.9 oz.
- 30-minute $119.99 (512 MB), 60-minute $149.99 (1 GB), white
and black
Find the Pure
Digital Flip Video camcorder on Amazon.com
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Pocket-size -- easy and fun
shooting
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Packaging says nothing about resolution or storage, megapixels or megabytes
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Few controls -- Power to turn on, red Record to start
shooting
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Play , pause, delete, rewind, and fast forward clips
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No confusing menus or
profusion of options.
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No power adaptor: Uses two standard AA batteries
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No additional cable: Built-in pop-out USB connector
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Preloaded software for transferring MPEG-4 files to a PC or
Mac
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A/V jack to connect directly to a TV set for immediate
viewing
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www.mysmallwonder.com
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See also the Pure Digital Flip -- www.theflip.com
RCA Small Wonder EZ201 digital camcorder (Spring 07)
- About the same size as a deck of cards
- 1.5-inch LCD panel, flip out 180 degrees
- Expandable SD memory slot
- Two AA batteries last up to two hours of continuous use
- Spring 07 - $129
- 9/07 - $99
Find the RCA
Small Wonder EZ201 camcorder on Amazon.com
RCA Memory Maker -- DVD docking and recording system (later 07)
- Simple one-touch, at-home DVD burning of favorite clips
RCA EZ-105 Small Wonder digital camcorder (06)
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5 ounces
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06 EZ-105 - $129
Top
Canon HV20 -- Full HD MiniDV Camcorder (4/07)
- True 1080 HD video, 24p Cinema Mode
- 2.7" widescreen LCD, overlay level marker
- Canon True HD 1/2.7” CMOS Image Sensor, 2.96 MP, 1920 x
1080
- Super Range Optical Image Stabilization, gyro and vector
detection
- 10x HD video zoom lens
- Smooth Zoom Speed Control, three pre-set zoom speeds
- Instant AF uses external sensor, dramatically improved
speed and accuracy
- Record SD and HD
- Photo: 3.1 MP still image capture to a miniSD card
nine-point autofocus, built-in flash, Continuous Shooting
up to five stills per sec
- Horizontal form factor
- HDMI terminal
- 4/07 - $1099
- 9/07 - ~ $900
Find the Canon
HV20 camcorder on Amazon.com
Canon
HV10 -- HD MiniDV Camcorder
- 2.7-inch widescreen LCD screen
- 10x optical zoom lens
- Record SD and HD (HDV)
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around 1 pound
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12/06 - $1399
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9/07 - $689
Find the Canon
HV10 camcorder on Amazon.com
Top
JVC HD Everio GZ-HD7 -- 2 CCD, 1080i, Hard Disk (4/07)
- 60GB hard drive
- three 1/5-inch 16:9 progressive scan CCD
- 10x optical zoom Fujinon lens
- optical image stabilization, manual controls
- USB, HDMI and i.LINK
- up to five hours of full HD 1920x1080i at 30 Mbps
- seven hour SP mode 1440x1080i, five-hour 1440CBR mode 1440x1080i
- MPEG2 Transport Stream video with MPEG 1 Layer 2 audio
- 4/07 - $1799
- 9/07 - $1099
Find the JVC
HD Everio GZ-HD7 camcorder on Amazon.com
JVC HD Everio SHARE STATION CU-VD40 - DVD burner (4/07)
- optional DVD burner, USB 2.0 cable
- HDMI output - play back HD and still files
- April 07 - $399
Top
Panasonic Palmcorder SDR-S10 - Flash
- Standard-definition camcorder
- Rugged and water-resistant
- Records 12 to 50 minutes of MPEG-2 video per GB of storage
- 4.49 x 2.48 x 1.22 inches , 0.4 pounds,
- $399
Find the Panasonic
SDR-S10 camcorder on Amazon.com
Panasonic HDC-SD5 - Full HD, SD card (7/07)
Panasonic HDC-SD5
- Full Hi-Def, 3CCD AVCHD Palmcorder Camcorder, Flash Memory
- 1920x1080 pixel full-HD recording
- 1/6" CCD (560K x 3 pixels)
- Leica Dicomar lens, Optical Image Stabilizer
- Intelligent Contrast Control; Pre-rec function
- 10x optical zoom, variable speed
- 2.7 inch wide-angle LCD; 170 degree viewing angle
- Video Recording:AVCH (Motion Image)/JPEG (Still Image)
Recording Mode HG (13 Mbps/CBR), HN (9Mbps/VBR), HE
(6Mbps/VBR)
- Audio Recording Format Dolby Digital (Dolby AC3)/2-channel
- Video Recording Time: (1 GB / 10 min. at highest quality)
SDHC: 8 GB: HG(80 min)/HN(120 min)/HE(180 min),
4 GB: HG(40 min)/HN(60 min)/HE(90 min)
SD Memory Card: 2GB: HG(20 min)/HN(30 min)/HE(45 min),
1 GB: HG(10 min)/HN(15 min)/HE(22 min)
512 MB: HG(5 min)/HN(7 min)/HE(10 min)
- Still Picture JPEG Picture Size: 2.1 MEGA: 1920 x 1080 (16:9)
- records to SD / SDHC memory card
- AV out, HDMI out
- USB 2.0 (mini B)
- 2.6 x 2.6 x 5.3 in., 0.75 lbs.
- 7/07 - $999
Find the Panasonic
HDC-SD5 camcorder on Amazon.com
Panasonic HDC-SD1 - SD Memory Card (3/07)
Panasonic HDC-DX1 & -SD1
- Hi-Def, 3CCD AVCHD Palmcorder Camcorder, Flash Memory
- 1/4" CCD (560K x 3 pixels)
- Leica lens, Optical Image Stabilizer
- 12x optical zoom, variable speed
- 3.0-inch wide LCD, 250k pixels
- First 5.1-channel surround sound system with 5 microphones
- Records MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 video, 1440x1080
video modes - HF 13 Mbps CBR, HN 9 Mbps VBR, HE 6 Mbps
VBR
audio - Dolby Digital AC3 5.1 channel
- records to SD / SDHC memory card
1 GB / 10 min. at highest quality
up to 1 hour HD recording on 4GB SDHC Memory Card
- AV out, HDMI out
- USB 2.0 (mini B)
- 2.92 x 2.64 x 5.40 in. - 0.95 lbs
- 3/07 - $1,499
- 8/07 - $999
Find the Panasonic
HDC-SD1 camcorder on Amazon.com
Panasonic HDC-DX1 - DVD discs (3/07)
- 3CCD HD AVCHD Camcorders
- Optical Image Stabilizer
- First 5.1-channel surround sound system with 5 microphones
- 40 minutes HD recording on a dual-layer DVD-R disc
- 3/ 07 - $1,399
- 9/ 07 - $575
Find the Panasonic
HDC-DX1 camcorder on Amazon.com
Top
Samsung SC-HMX10 - Flash HD Cam (~10/07)
- Samsung's first HD camcorder
- 2.7 inch wide touch screen LCD
- 1.5 megapixel CCD
- 10x optical zoom
- Record 1080i and 720p resolution
- 4GB built-in flash memory
- Plus MMC and SD cards
- 2/07 - $999
10/07 B000MAQSD6 $799
Find the Samsung
SC-HMX10 camcorder on Amazon.com
Samsung MX10 - Flash Memory Cam (9/07)
- Flash-based MPEG4 Sports Camcorder
- Ultra-slim and compact design - for first-time camcorder buyers and young
video-bloggers
- 2.7" Widescreen LCD, 112K Pixel, 480x240
- 34X Optical Zoom Lens
- 720 x 480 MPEG4 (60i TV Mode or 30p PC Mode)
- MPEG4
ASP Video,.avi format, 30 fps, ADPCM/Stereo Audio
- PC Video (web cam) 352x240, Max 30fps
- Recording Time: HQ 30 min @ 1 GB (4.5 Mbps);
Fine 45
min @ 1 GB (3 Mbps); Normal 68 min @ 1 GB (2 Mbps)
- Swivel hand grip for low angle shooting
- 3 sec instant recording (from power-off state)
- 18 language GUI
- Power Director 6 editing software included
- SDHC / MMC+ Slot
- Li-polymer Battery (Detachable), 2 hours recording time
- 1/6" Interlaced CCD, Pixel(Max/Effective) 680K/350K
- EIS Image Stabilization
- 60 x 62.5 x 121 mm, 0.28 Kg
- 9/07 - $299
Find the Samsung
MX10 camcorder on Amazon.com
Samsung SC-X300L - External lens (2/07)
- Flash-based MPEG4 Multi-Function Sports Camcorder
MP3 Player/Voice Recorder/Webcam/Data Storage
- 2.0" LCD Monitor, 123K Pixel, Rotation 90+270 deg.
- 1/6" Interlaced CCD, 680K/350K Pixel (Max/Effective)
10X Optical Zoom Lens
- Removable weather resistant external lens with head/arm strap
- Rugged rubberized exterior
- 680K pixel CCD
- Electronic image stabilizer
- SDHC/MMC+ memory slot
- Li-polymer Battery (Detachable)
- Video MPEG4 ASP, 30 fps, .avi files
- PC Video (web cam) 352x240 / Max 30fps
- Audio ADPCM/Stereo
- Recording Time HQ 30 min (4.5 Mbps), Fine 45 min (3 Mbps), Normal 68 min
(2 Mbps)
- Streaming Yes
- Bundled Software DV Media Pro v2.0, VideoStudio/PhotoExpress
- 61 x 93.7 x 30.3 mm, 0.15 Kg
- 2/07 - $549
- 9/07 - $499 - $369
Find the Samsung
SC-X300L camcorder on Amazon.com
Top
Sony HDR-UX7 AVCHD DVD camcorder - top-of-the-line
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Mini 3" DVD, can play back on select Blu-ray
devices
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3 MP, 1080i HD video quality, 6 MP digital still photos
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Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization
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Dual record mode - shoot video while capturing 4.6-MP
digital still picture
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Smooth slow record: slow-motion play back short video
clips at 240 fps
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Dolby Digital 5.1 surround-sound recording
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3/07 - $1,300
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9/07 - $999
Find the Sony
HDR-UX7 camcorder on Amazon.com
Sony HDR-UX5 AVCHD DVD camcorder
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Mini 3" DVD, can play back on select Blu-ray
devices
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2.3-MP photo
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Smooth slow record: slow-motion play back short video
clips at 240 fps
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Dolby Digital 5.1 surround-sound recording
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3/07 - $1,100
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9/07 - $699
Find the Sony
HDR-UX5 camcorder on Amazon.com
Sony HDR-HC7 HDV tape camcorders- top-of-the-line
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Dual record mode - shoot video while capturing 4.6-MP
digital still picture
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3 MP, 1080i HD video quality, 6 MP digital still photos
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Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization
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Smooth slow record: slow-motion play back short video
clips at 240 fps
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Feb. 07 - $1,400
Sony HDR-HC5 HDV tape camcorders
Sony HDR 06: Tape, DVD, and Hard Disk
Sony HDR-HC3 (MiniDV tape) and
HDR-UX1 (mini-DVD)
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Sony HDR-HC3 records DV and
high-def HDV video to standard MiniDV tape
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HDR-UX1
records to 8 cm mini-DVD
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HDR-SR1
records to 30 GB hard disk
Sony HDR-SR1 (hard disk)
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