Sony of Canada introduced two new DVD-based camcorders - the Sony DCR-DVD100 Handycam and the Sony DCR-DVD200 Handycam.

The new camcorders produce DVD recordings that play back in most current home personal computers and DVD players, as well as most later releases of PlayStation(R)2 game consoles. They record on 8 cm. (3-inch) DVD-R and DVD-RW media.

These new camcorders also capture JPEG still images for viewing on either a PC or television. The DCR-DVD100 Handycam captures 640 X 480 pixel images, while the DCR-DVD200 Handycam model incorporates a 1 megapixel imager to produce higher quality video and still image resolution (1152 X 864 pixels).

Thumbnail images of video are created from the start of every recorded scene.

When recording on a DVD-RW disc, users have the flexibility to do some simple in-camera editing. For example, if the last recorded scene didn't turn out perfectly, the user can simply erase the last video excerpt and shoot the desired scene in its place. In addition, when in VR (video recording) mode, users can design a playlist of their video clips, and rearrange the order of the scenes and images for a more customized finished product without modifying the video.

Each camcorder has multiple quality recordings options that can extend a disc's capacity to hold up to 60 minutes of video. Other features of the new DVD Handycam camcorders include the following:

- Super SteadyShot(R) Picture Stabilization - Using motion sensors to compensate for camera shake;
- InfoLithium(R) Battery System - All Sony Handycam camcorders conveniently indicate the remaining minutes of battery life on the LCD (liquid crystal display) or viewfinder display;
- USB 2.0 Interface - For users without a DVD drive in their PC, Sony's DVD camcorders have a USB (universal serial bus) 2.0 interface for uncomplicated video and still data transfer to a compatible PC (Windows(R) ME/2000 and later operating system) with the supplied USB cable and driver CD-ROM. And as USB 2.0 on the camcorder is backward compatible, it will work seamlessly with the popular USB 1.1 interface as well;
-Super NightShot(R) O Lux/Color Slow Shutter Recording System - This system captures video in total darkness up to 10 feet away by using an advanced infrared system.

Both models feature a Carl Zeiss(R) Vario-Sonnar(R) and 10X optical/120X precision digital zoom.

The entry-level DCR-DVD100 Handycam model and the DCR-DVD200 Handycam are both available immediately across Canada through authorized Sony retailers,Sony Stores or at www.sonystyle.ca at suggested list prices of $1,299 and $1,499, respectively.