Wave Issue 2005 1/31/00 Article 1-02

***Sony Digital 8 Handycam Camcorder Line Includes Digital Still
Imaging Capability With Memory Stick Media
(January 5)

According to Internet Wire, Sony announced a series of Digital 8
Handycam camcorders featuring Memory Stick media giving consumers
more capability to capture, create and share digital still images
on a camcorder. Four of the five models include Memory Stick
media and will be available this spring.

This line includes the DCR-TRV820, a camcorder with a built-in
color printer. It prints business card-sized color photos on the
spot, like an instant camera. Pictures can be printed from either
a video scene or a digital still image saved on the Memory Stick
media. Features included in the series are as follows:

*Super LaserLink connection, which provides 60 percent longer
wireless connectivity - up to 26 feet
*30 minutes more recording time on 120 minute Hi8 tape - up to 90
minutes of video in long play mode
*Longer zoom range - with 25x optical/ 450X precision digital
zooming power
*Super NightShot (infrared system) - with automatic slow-shutter
control to deliver brighter, smoother video for shoot-in-the-dark
videotaping

Sony's Digital 8 camcorders are versatile units designed with
convergence in mind. For example, the camcorders let users play
back their library of old Hi8/8mm tapes in their camcorder;
record digital video onto standard Hi8/8mm tapes; and connect to
a PC via i.LINK (IEEE 1394) interface for digital video editing.

The supplied 4 MB Memory Stick card and a Handycam camcorder
allow users to photograph digital still pictures or capture a
still image from their videotape. The pictures can be transferred
to selected printers, desktop or notebook PCs, or other digital
devices, such as Sony's CyberFrame (digital photo frame). The
supplied Memory Stick card can store up to 60 pictures (640 X
480).

Sony also incorporated "Memory Mix Effects" such as the Camera
Chroma Key the Memory Chroma Key and the Memory Luminance Key on
the Digital 8 Handycam camcorders. These combine digital still
and video functions to create creative ways of enjoying digital
imaging. For example, a motion video of your family can be
superimposed on a landscape of the beach.

The camcorders also come with digital still camera capability, a
serial cable for direct connection to virtually any PC, and
PictureGear, digital photo editing software that allows the
camcorder user to upload images to a PC and perform a variety of
imaging enhancements, including color alteration, drawing and
more.

All Digital 8 models feature analog audio/video inputs that
enable Digital 8 to function as a "media converter". By
connecting the Digital 8 camcorder to an analog source (such as a
VHS or VHS-C camcorder) and a PC, users with VHS, VHS-C, Hi8 or
8mm format tape libraries can digitize their analog tapes for
digital editing and archiving. Digitizing analog tapes prevents
old home movies from further deteriorating. Digital 8 camcorders
also connect directly to Sony VAIO with i.LINK interface or any
1394-enabled PC.

Memory Stick media is designed to connect to a host of different
digital products and virtually any notebook or desktop computer
with Sony's line of adapters. Available now are a floppy disk
adapter (MSAC-FD1A) for about $100, a PC card adapter (MSAC-PC2)
for about $80, and a parallel port adapter (MSAC-PR1) for about
$90.

Beginning this month, Sony will offer the following prices on
Memory Stick media:
About $30 for 8 MB capacity
About $50 for 16 MB capacity
About $80 for 32 MB capacity
About $140 for 64 MB capacity

A Memory Stick media card is very small, about the size of a key,
and yet is reliable and durable. With a 10-pin enclosed
connector, it transfers data, and it has a lock on the back to
prevent accidentally recording or erasing digital images.

Camcorder prices are as follows:
DCR-TRV120 - available in March for about $800
DCR-TRV320 with Memory Stick media capability - available in
April for about $900
DCR-TRV520 with Memory Stick media capability - available in
April for about $1,000
DCR-TRV720 with Memory Stick media capability - available in
April for about $1,200
DCR-TRV820 with Memory Stick media capability and integrated
color printer - available in May for about $1,300

www.sony.com