[CES 2014] There are plenty of handycams available on the market at the moment, so which one should you get? That’s a question that is hard to answer because depending on your needs and budget, there will be many different options to choose from, which is why Sony has decided to unveil a handful of handycams for CES 2014, ranging from the prosumer model, to the high-end, all the way to the low-end that will hopefully be able to satisfy a wider-range of customers.
Starting with the prosumer model, the HDR-CX90, this handy cam will sport a 1.0 type Exymor R CMOS back-illuminated sensor which should help in low-light situations. The camera will also feature 50Mbps high bit-rate XAVC S recording which is supposedly designed for 4K videos and also professional videographers in mind. The camera will also sport a 20MP image sensor used for its still shots, and will feature a 29mm wide-angle ZEISS Vario Sonnar T Lens, and will come with WiFi/NFC connectivity options and will be priced around $1,500.
Next is the high-end model which is the HDR-PJ810. This camera will sport a 24.5MP sensor for still images and will feature manual controls for the videographer/photographer who wants to be more in control of their settings. The device will also pack a wide-angle 26.8mm Sony G Lens with a hood, a 3.0” Xtra Fine LCD touchscreen display with Sony’s WhiteMagic, an electronic viewfinder, and even a built-in projector that lets you share your new videos or photos with a larger audience without everyone having to crowd around your screen. The HDR-PJ810 will be priced at $1,100.
For those who do not need all the flashy features of the prosumer or high-end model comes the mid-ranged models in the form of the HDR-PJ340 and the HDR-PJ540. Both devices will feature WiFi/NFC connectivity and built-in projects at 131m and 251m respectively. Both cameras will feature Optical SteadyShot image stabilization, but with the PJ540 model, it will sport a 5.1 channel microphone which should allow it to capture sound better and in a more professional manner. It will aslo sport a 3” touchscreen LCD display and will come with 32GB of flash memory, versus the PJ340 which comes with 16GB. The PJ340 will be priced at $480 while the PJ540 will retail for around $700.
Last but not least are Sony’s entry-level models, the HDR-CX240, HDR-CX330, and the HDR-PJ275. They will retail for around $230, $330, and $400 respectively. One of the reasons the PJ275 costs more is because of its features such as a built-in projector. As far as the rest of the specs are concerned, the CX250 and PJ275 models will feature a 29.8mm wide-angle ZEISS Vario Sonnar T Lens, while the CX330 will come with a 26.8mm Sony G Lens instead. All of Sony’s new handycams will be available late February and can be pre-ordered via Sony’s website.
Filed in . Read more about Sony and Sony Cameras.