Sony's HDV 1080i Consumer Camcorder

An anonymous reader writes "Sony has just announced a high-definition video camcorder that records in 1080i. A site was just created with a lot of information about the camcorder. The camcorder uses the HDV spec which records to standard MiniDV tapes. It includes 3 CCDs and along with the announcement it appears Apple and Adobe are now supporting the HDV standard. The camcorder carries a steep price at $3,700 though. See the original press release as well, though it doesn't contain much information."

Finally....

[Omega1045]

Cheap porn can be brought to us in HD!

Porn?

[foshizzlemynizzle]

Screw Porn (HAHAHA). Throw caution to the DCMA and BOOTLEG, BOOTLEG, BOOTLEG. Now all I need is 3700$, some milk duds, and a rear seat.

Ick

[Anonymous Coward]

I doubt many people really want to watch high-def porn.

It'll just make the flaws and bad makeup stand out more.

Consider though...

[tsangc]

...that HDV's recorded bitrate is still 25Mbit/sec. While you might think that is a lot compared to terrestrial HDTV's 18Mbit stream, in fact, it's very little. In production you generally want to record MORE in acquisition than distribution.

The defacto HD production format, HDCAM, records something like 140-180MBit/sec, the uncompressed signal is something like 996MBit/sec.

The most likely market for this camera will be indie filmmakers, documentaries, and industrial/corporate promotional use. The price makes complete sense--and most of the market buying VX2100's and XL1's will probably look seriously at this.

Most broadcast/network HD will still be HDCAM, DVCPRO HD (off the popular Panasonic Varicam) or 35mm transfer.

Calum

Re:Interesting

[Atmchicago]

I'm hoping that by the time I have kids

What? I thought this was slashdot!

Re:How much is enough?

[boarder]

I think the more important question is whether you really need to see every zit on a porn star's ass.

Re:JVC did it first...

[callipygian-showsyst]

I had the JVC on loan. It wasn't very good; one problem is that all of the camera's special features (titles, fades, in-camera edits) didn't work in HD mode. It wasn't even 720p/60 it was 720p/30 or equivalent to 720i, if there was such a thing!

doesn't support OS X

I think you mean OS-X doesn't support the JVC! What is it with you Mac folks that tries to spin everything wrong?

Re:Interesting

[CreatureComfort]

Digital TV sucks. It will be the end of television, as we know it. Mark my words.

From your mouth to God's ears. The end of TV as we know can only be a good thing.

Flaw in argument against HD porn

[backdoorstudent]

What do you guys who claim that HD porn reveals too much detail (i.e., pimples, sores, blemishes, scars, etc...) think you see when you actually have sex with a real person? You guys are making it clear that you're virgins. Well, HD porn will give you a better idea what it's like; It can be disgusting. So the argument that it won't do well is ridiculous because people go to prostitutes.