SONY ANNOUNCES SLEW OF NEW PRODUCTS
By Adnews Staff
Toronto-based Sony of Canada will add a new digital camera line and three camcorders to its line up during the fall season. The new digital camera line is called the Digital Mavica and features two cameras: the MVC-FD91 and MVC-FD81. The two products are capable of capturing up to 60 seconds of MPEG video and audio on a 3.5-inch floppy disk. Other features include a movie mode, voice demo mode, which allows users to send up to 60 seconds of motion video with audio via e-mail, a 3X optical zoom lens, built-in flash, a 2.5-inch color LCD display with brightness control, auto exposure, six pre-programmed exposure modes and four pre-programmed special picture effects. The three new camcorders are called the Ruvi, the DCR-PC10 and the DCR-TRV900. Sony is billing the Ruvi as the world's smallest camcorder. The pocket-sized camera works as a camcorder and a still camera, using an internal cartridge that can store up to 30 minutes of video and audio. The Ruvi is 12.5 cm wide, 6.25 cm high and 4.5 cm deep. It weighs half a kilogram. The DCR-PC1 measures 52 mm wide, 119 mm high and 92.5 mm deep. It can store up to 700 individual still photos on a 60 minute cassette. Other features include a 10X optical zoom and 120X digital zoom lens and a seven mode recording program which includes: programmed auto, soft portrait, beach and ski, sports lesson, landscape, spotlight, sunset and moon and low light. The DCR-TRV900 is a high-end machine that offers 1.14 million pixels for better color. It is Sony's first digital video and digital still imaging product that can be downloaded to a floppy disk or PC card. Other features include pre-programmed background digital effects and analog inputs to allow users to take existing personal footage of any video source, such as Hi8, 8mm or VHS, and transfer it onto digital video for more flexible editing options. Sony plans to promote the new products with advertising, but hasn't finalized the ads plans yet. Advertising for Sony is handled in-house and by agencies on a project basis. PR is done by Cohn & Wolfe of Toronto.