Sony introduced four new camcorders this week to coincide with the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The one that particularly interests me the most is the high-end tape-based HDR-HC7; available now for presale $1399.99. I like it primarily because I still don't quite feel that DVD media is reliable or attractive in a camcorder setup. But fortunately there's much more here than basic reliability.

This camcorder boasts a 3.2 megapixel CMOS sensor to record your favorite event or ceremony in crisp 1080 HD detail. The unit is compact and looks comfortable to hold, weighing under 1.4 lbs and is only 3.25" inches tall. It uses technology that is adapted to the DV tape format so you can film both in HD and SD on the same tape.

The 10x optical zoom and Carl Zeiss lens pulls the action in close, and the dual record feature allows you to take 4.6 MP stills while the reel is spinning. The other features are standard fare but after seeing the first generation HD Sony camcorders, I can't help but be excited about this latest offering. Via