Sony showed off some new camcorders at CES, one (according to the company) being the first-ever hard disk drive model. All three have built-in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and center-channel mic capability. The DCR-DVD505 ($1100) and the DCR-DVD405 ($900) DVD models support an optional wireless microphone that can be clipped to your subject while shooting and Bluetooth technology that works up to 100 ft. The DVD505 also has what Sony calls ClearVID CMOS technology, which increases the number of recorded green pixels, basically allowing for better details. Whatev.
The DCR-SR100 ($1100) comes with a three-megapixel Advanced HAD CCD imager and Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens and records on a 30GB hard disk drive. Way, way cool. Expect to record up to seven hours of DVD movie-quality video or more than 21 hours in long play mode.
