X

Sony maintains HDV status quo

A new product with not much new comprises Sony's sole HDV announcement at CES 2008.

Lori Grunin Senior Editor / Advice
I've been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I'm currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I've also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.
Expertise Photography, PCs and laptops, gaming and gaming accessories
Lori Grunin
Sony Handycam HDR-HC9
Sony Handycam HDR-HC9 Sony Electronics

Don't look for any great leaps in consumer HDV technology from Sony, at least during the first quarter of 2008. The company's lone new HDV product, the Handycam HDR-HC9, replaces two older models, the HDR-HC5 and HDR-HC7, with nothing but a few nice-to-have manual settings.

The HC9 adds spot metering and focus, color bars, a center marker, peaking display, and infinity focus in manual focus mode; that's it. Otherwise it's pretty much the same as the HC7--the same 10x zoom lens and 3.2-megapixel ClearVid CMOS--and will cost the same $1,099 when it ships in February as the HC5 did when it initially shipped. So if you can find the HC7 at a bargain, snap it up now before it's gone. though it'll probably be just as good, there's no reason to wait for the HC9.