Sony gradually shifted from tape-based media to hard disk drive storage producing the HDR-SR1 only seven months after Sony’s first hard disk camcorder, the HDR-SR100. Not only that, the HDR-SR1 offers high definition in AVCHD format, which is a derivative of MPEG-4 H.264 codec jointly developed by Sony and Panasonic.

Among Sony’s sleeker models is the HDR-CX7 AVCHD camcorder. It’s akin to Panasonic’s HDC-SD1 in size. Both camcorders record in high definition AVCHD to flash media. The HDR-CX7 uses Memory Stick while the HDC-SD1 uses SDHC cards. At about $1200 MSRP, the HDR-CX7 exemplifies low-profile, silent-running, rapidly-deployable speed.

The Sony HDR-HC7 is equipped with a 1/2.9-inch ClearVID CMOS sensor with a resolution of 3.2 megapixels. It has an effective resolution of 2.2 megapixels working in wide screen video mode (16:9 aspect ratio), 1.2 megapixels in normal mode (4:3 aspect ratio) and 3 megapixels in still photography.

The Sony’s HDR-HC3 camcorder is an upgraded version of the former HDR-HC1 handycam. It features great evolution in features that can accommodate most prosumer demands, compared to its predecessor. Dimensions for the camcorder are 3.2in x 5.5in x 3.1in (W x D x H) and it weighs approximately 19.8 oz. It is not the smallest High Definition (HD) camcorder in its category but it is portable enough to fit in your pocket or a handbag.