Sony to announce AVCHD camcorder wed ?

[hmurchison]

http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/13679

While Blu-ray and HD DVD disc players have hit the US market already, not to mention PC Blu-ray writers, the one thing that remains besides HD recorders is the ability to shoot your own HD footage using optical media. Well, Sony has recently decided to work on a high definition camcorder that uses 8cm recordable discs, much like how DVD camcorders use 8cm DVD recordable media. However, rather than wait until Blu-ray matures, they have decided to develop yet another high definition format specifically for use in its camcorders.

I'm excited. Bandwidth goes up to 24Mbps MPEG2TS 1080p24 support. Support for 8cm DVD-R discs, Flash Memory/Memory Stick, and now HDD!!!

Sony, Panny, Samsung, Sanyo, Adobe, Canon and more onboard already. You know Blu-Ray discs are coming and they'll have probably an hour of recording on the same 8cm disc.

I'm happy....really happy.

JVC is a noshow right now. I wonder if they're upset about the abandonment of HDV.

[BTBuck1]

I bought the HDR-HC3 a ferw months back, It's an HDV cam and quite frankly I could care less about "Blu-Ray" cams. I knew they'd come it's just one more way Sony & the gang are going to one up Toshiba (they don't make camcorders). I bought the HDV format because MiniDV tape has been around for a while...and will continue to do so, and what ever format wins (likely-Blu Ray) I'll just transfer my data over with editing software and burn to BR or HDDVD and have the same result. Home HD films on Blu-Ray or HDDVD

[hmurchison]

The HC-3 is a good camera. Feels good in the hands. I'm torn about the new format. I think I may just pick up a HC-3 before end of life and then wait for a HDD based AVCHD cam to replace it with in a few years.

HDV quality is fine and Final Cut Pro edits it natively. Right on Brian that's what I'm looking forward to high quality home movies. I'll likey have one or two more children and I'm looking to preserve as many moments of their young life when they get here.

[BTBuck1]

While we are on the subject, (we talked about what i do for a living) I am a Supervisor at Best Buy, I am in charge of the Digital Imaging, and Car Fi departments.

I always explain to my customers buying cameras that the images they record on film are generally to watch years later. And I even go far as to say, wouldn't you have loved it if your parents would have been able to record you in dvd quality all those years ago? they usually say something like, yeah or what do you mean? Well, those old film reals generally had a pretty poor PQ, as did VHS/VHSC & 8mm, hell even Hi-8 looks pretty lousy IMO.

I then show them visually that as much of a differance they get between minidv 530i from their older VHSC or 8 that the HiDef is just night and day differance. I then explain the widescreen benefits (33% more picture) and how all tv's are going that route. I point over to the Home Theatre department and explain that it's not coincidence that every visible set is widescreen and that the 4:3 tv's represent less than 10% of what we have in store. That said, would you really want to record in a format thats incompatible with not only most of the tv's today...but all of them going forward? I then show them how a stretched image looks on a widescreen set, how poor 480 lines looks on an HD set and explain burn in on plasmas.

I've sold about 15 HDRHC3's using this same sales pitch, on many customers who came in looking to spend "$300" but when you show them the value...all of the sudden their leaving with a new hobbie, and $2300-$3000 worth of camera, software, cables, battery, case, lenses etc.

Yeah, I'm that good =)

[hmurchison]

sniffle

I've sold about 15 HDRHC3's using this same sales pitch, on many customers who came in looking to spend "$300" but when you show them the value...all of the sudden their leaving with a new hobbie, and $2300-$3000 worth of camera, software, cables, battery, case, lenses etc.

Yeah, I'm that good =)

Sales skill like that is a dying art. I hope your employees are watching and learning from this. These skills are a must for sales sucess and even outside of sales they are vital. Toot your own horn its well earned.

AVCHD clouds things though. I hope Sony keeps the HC-3 stocked through Xmas 2006. I'm going to pick up one more MiniDV SD camera (likely a Canon ZR-500) and then I'm HD only from that point on.

Best Buy usually has a pretty good display on the HC-3 with the 17" Sony LCD HDTV. Even on a screen that small you can see the color and clarity superiority.

[BTBuck1]

Originally Posted by hmurchison

Best Buy usually has a pretty good display on the HC-3 with the 17" Sony LCD HDTV. Even on a screen that small you can see the color and clarity superiority.

Yeah, I'm replying to you looking at that very same 17" X-brite. I'm kinda bummed though, now they have the 20" (what i originally wanted) but they didn't have it when i got this over a year ago. These XBrite monitors are sweet, i think sony should do larger sizes, like 32-40inch for the home theatre arena.

[phloyd]

Originally Posted by Brian@BBY

I've sold about 15 HDRHC3's using this same sales pitch, on many customers who came in looking to spend "$300" but when you show them the value...all of the sudden their leaving with a new hobbie, and $2300-$3000 worth of camera, software, cables, battery, case, lenses etc.

Well done

I will admit that I almost died when I saw the USB cable prices at Best Buy - selling those accessories must be a boon for y'all

[BTBuck1]

Originally Posted by phloyd

Well done

I will admit that I almost died when I saw the USB cable prices at Best Buy - selling those accessories must be a boon for y'all

You know, I take care of my customers. If they are buying some hardware from ME, i just say...hey grab what you think your gonna need (us cable, ink, paper) for a printer say, and I give them a great package deal. I admit our prices on some accessories are higher than say Wal Mart. But we are pretty much inline with our competitors. And we do price match in 30 days, giving 10% of the differance back if you find it elsewhere cheaper

[Psiweaver]

they make a killing on those usb cables and most acessories but thats like just about any other retailer you don't make much money on the big ticket items much more on acessories etc.

Good sales pitch there brian. I don't have an HD camera but I do love the one i have Panasonic DVX-100ap I think I'll probably upgrade to the HD version of the camera in the next couple years. But mine shoots 24p which is nice.

[BTBuck1]

Originally Posted by hmurchison

JVC is a noshow right now. I wonder if they're upset about the abandonment of HDV.

HDV & miniDV aren't going anywhere. These products will go along side the HDV models for years to come. NOBODY is abandonning tape, just yet. there are too many upsides to it.

[hmurchison]

Originally Posted by Brian@BBY

HDV & miniDV aren't going anywhere. These products will go along side the HDV models for years to come. NOBODY is abandonning tape, just yet. there are too many upsides to it.

Agreed JVC is going to stay the course. They announced a new HDV camera so that's 3 Semi-Pro models announced and shipping this year.

[BTBuck1]

i'm sure Sony will drop a replacement for the HC3 (hdv cam) after x-mas for around $899-999.