Sony unveiled three new digital video cameras Wednesday targeting three different groups of consumers. The new Action Cam is meant for capturing extreme sports from the athlete’s perspective, the Music Video Recorder is designed to help musicians easily share videos of their work online, and the 4K Handy Cam offers the highest quality video resolution at a price independent videographers can afford. We had a chance to chat with Sony representatives about the new cameras and get some hands-on time with them. Here’s what we learned.
Action Cam
Sony’s new Action Cam isn’t just smaller than the previous model, it also has far more features, including built-in GPS and a new waterproof case with improved functionality. It also offers steady shot, a 170 degrees wide angel lens, the ability to shoot upside down, still image mode, NFC and more. The camera is set to ship in September and costs $299.
Next month, Sony plans to follow up the new Action Cam with a series of accessories including a new head mount, arm mount kit, a handlebar mount, and a chest mount harness. The company will also release a LCD wristband, internally called the Shuriken, that syncs with the Action Cam to stream whatever you’re recording to your watch in real time and full color.
Music Video Recorder
The Music Video Recorder, model number HDR-MV1, is targeted directly at musicians seeking YouTube fame, which explains the two visible microphones designed to pick up 180 degrees of sound. Working alongside the dual mics is a 180 degree Carl Zeiss lens to ensure high quality video to match the audio. The camera also boasts Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity for instant sharing. It ships in December with an estimated retail price of $299.99.
4K Handy Cam
Sony touts its 4K Handy Cam as the world’s first consumer video camera that shoots at 4K resolution, though considering that hefty $4,499 price tag this product may be out of reach for most of us. It’s also the first 4K camera that records video on a memory card, which happens to be Sony’s own specialized XGD card. The camera comes equipped with direct HDMI and two XRL inputs plus its own internal microphone, a G Lens with optical steady shot, 20x optical zoom, stereo speakers, and a headphone jack. The 4K Handy Cam is expected to ship by the end of the year, and comes bundled with Vegas Pro 12 editing software and a 32GB memory card.
