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Sony plans to take the wraps off its first high-definition camcorder compatible with the new AVCHD format tomorrow here in Tokyo.
AVCHD has been developed by Sony and Panasonic as a way to allow high-definition video to be stored on 8cm DVDs. Conventional DVDs don’t support high-definition video but the new HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc optical disc formats are not yet mature enough for use in camcorders.
That means camcorder makers like Sony have used DV cassettes and hard-disk drives in current high-definition camcorders. However sales figures show consumers much prefer the simplicity of DVD-based camcorders to those that use tape or hard-disk, thus the creation of AVCHD.
Licensing of version 1.0 of the format has just begun and the format has attracted support from several rival camcorder makers including: Canon, Pioneer, Samsung and Sharp.
Martyn Williams


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