LAS VEGAS, January 7, 2010 － JVC announces the launch of the new GZ-HM1 HD Everio camera offering a full slate of technologies to optimize picture quality.  The GZ-HM1 offers improvements in three key areas — low light performance, camera-shake compensation and digital still quality.  As a result, the GZ-HM1 is ideal for high-end video enthusiasts and semi-professionals.

In the area of low light performance, the GZ-HM1 provides superior results thanks to a new CMOS sensor that boosts sensitivity to four Lux (compared to nine Lux for the previous GZ-HM400) for brilliant recording of 1920 x 1080 Full HD video.  In camera shake compensation, JVC made improvements in wide angle performance, an area not typically addressed.  While most stabilization efforts focus on effectiveness in high zoom ratios, camera shake also occurs at wide angle settings, especially when the camera user is moving along with the subject.  In the new GZ-HM1, JVC uses prism technology to provide effective results at the wide angle end of the zoom range.  And for better still image quality, the GZ-HM1 delivers real 10 megapixel stills for detailed images.

The GZ-HM1’s 1/2.3-inch 10.62 megapixel Back-illuminated CMOS sensor dramatically increases sensitivity, enabling recording of high quality images even in low-light locations. Back-illumination technology moves the circuitry within the CMOS chip to a layer behind the photo diodes, avoiding loss of incoming light that occurs with conventional CMOS sensors.  This efficient gathering of light increases the ability to obtain visual information, which translates into higher picture quality being available at the camera even in low light situations.

A new optical image stabilization system with Advanced Image Stabilizer provides effective camera-shake compensation in a variety of situations.  The camera’s optical image stabilization system uses two prisms within the lens housing to optically compensate for vertical and lateral camera shake.  Together they are able to effectively reduce the effects of shake in any direction.  This JVC system is enhanced by the company’s Advanced Image Stabilizer that improves compensation, especially in the wide angle range, providing a stable image even if the user is walking while shooting.

The camera’s 10.62 megapixel CMOS sensor allow the GZ-HM1 to shoot real 10 megapixel stills with ISO6400 sensitivity for pristine digital stills with high resolution, even if the lighting is less than ideal. The densely packed pixels of the CMOS sensor translate into smooth and realistic images without any sense of pixilation or gaps between pixels, for a look similar to film photography.  ISO6400 high sensitivity is assurance that even in dark situations the image will look sharp and detailed.

LAS VEGAS, January 7, 2010 – JVC today announced a new high definition Everio camera with built-in Bluetooth® wireless technology, allowing the camera to work with a variety of other wireless devices.  In addition, the new Everio GZ-HM550 features a 10.6 megapixel CMOS sensor for recording high quality Full HD video and nine megapixel digital stills to its internal 32GB flash memory.  An SD/SDHC card slot provides additional storage.

Among the capabilities the camera’s Bluetooth technology offers is control of the camera using a smartphone, geo-tagging of videos and stills and use with a compatible Bluetooth headset.

With the installation of a supplied application, a Bluetooth-equipped smartphone can be used to control the camera remotely, allowing record, zoom and play operations.  Use the camera with a GPS device to record location data of where movie and still files were recorded.  The data synchronizes with Google Earth™ when viewing the file on a PC using the bundled Everio MediaBrowser software.  The camera can also be used with a Bluetooth-equipped headset to monitor the recorded sound or for voice recording.

Aside from offering built-in Bluetooth wireless technology, the GZ-HM550 provides all the quality and convenience features to appeal to consumers who are looking for a high-performance camera in a compact package.  Its 10.62 megapixel Back-illuminated CMOS sensor enables shooting of 1920 x 1080 Full HD videos and real nine megapixel digital stills.  The KONICA MINOLTA HD LENS is currently one of the world’s smallest and slimmest HD lenses, and offers 16x dynamic zoom without any degradation of picture quality.  All this is further supported by new technologies that ramp-up basic image quality, including Super LoLux and Advanced Image Stabilizer.  Super LoLux improves low-light sensitivity to capture clear images with precise colors even in low-light environments.  The GZ-HM500 is also equipped with both an LED light and a flash for shooting in dark situations.  Advanced Image Stabilizer ensures steady images even while walking, and is especially effective when shooting bright scenes from full wide to 5x zoom.

Recorded content is stored on the internal 32GB flash memory, with an SD/SDHC card slot to provide additional storage. And like many other models in the new Everio lineup, the GZ-HM550 offers new advanced shooting functions like time lapse recording and Auto Recording. Time-lapse recording makes it easy to create a sophisticated effect — simply set the camera to record in intervals ranging from one to 80 seconds.  When played back, hours-long segments will be reduced to mere seconds.  With Auto Record, recording automatically begins when a person enters the picture — a convenient solution for home surveillance, monitoring a baby, recording wildlife, and more.  Also Motor Drive Shooting (nine megapixel stills up to 15fps) and Ultra-Slow Motion Playback by high speed recording (up to 600fps) are available.

Digital files created can be easily shared in a variety of popular formats with the enhanced Everio MediaBrowser software for Windows^®, which now provides automatic conversion of HD videos for immediate sharing on YouTube™ at HD or SD resolution.  Files also can be directly exported to iTunes^® and synced with an iPod^® or iPhone^®, or burned to DVD, all with just a few mouse clicks using the same Everio MediaBrowser application.

To make it easier for the user to find and play any desired scene, the GZ-HM550 offers Face Flow Thumbnail, a feature that displays thumbnails from a particular section of a video by automatically selecting and zooming into human faces.  And to make shooting and carrying easier, the camera has a redesigned grip belt that works in two ways — as a conventional handle-style grip when both ends are snapped in place or as a strap when one end of the belt is released.

UPLOAD YOUR LIFE ONLINE WITH SONY “BLOGGIE” CAMERAS

Two New Stylish Devices Deliver High Definition MP4 Video and Photos to the Web with Ease

LAS VEGAS (CES BOOTH #14200), Jan. 6, 2010 – Sony is providing consumers with networked products to enhance the entertainment experience and chronicle their everyday lives with Sony’s new portable bloggie™ cameras, which make their worldwide debut today. The bloggie camera offers simple, high quality MP4 video and still photo shooting, as well as easy web sharing capabilities.

With the MHS-CM5 and MHS-PM5 bloggie cameras that capture everyday moments in full high definition 1920×1080 MP4 video and 5-megapixel still photos, Sony offers innovative and stylish pocket devices. Once captured, the content can be easily uploaded online via the device’s embedded software and built-in USB arm.

“Pocket cameras are coveted by anyone who loves to capture and share spontaneous moments, so we made these devices compact, easy to use, and with high quality video,” said Andy Bubala, director of the camcorder business at Sony Electronics. “With the new bloggie cameras, Sony creates a new standard of mobility with products and technologies that answer consumers’ on-the-go needs.”

The MHS-CM5 camera sports a “pistol-grip” vertical design for more comfortable shooting, with a large flip-out 2.5” (measured diagonally) LCD screen. It also has 5x optical zoom to get you closer to the action. The bloggie camera even features an HDMI output, letting you enjoy photos and high definition clips on your HDTV.

The ultra-compact, lightweight MHS-PM5 camera slips easily into a pocket or purse so it can be taken anywhere to catch special moments on-the-go. This design is offered in four fashionable colors — dark purple, blue, pink, and white — and features a rotating lens that swivels 270 degrees to capture life from any angle: get down low, aim high or record yourself. The bloggie camera has 4x digital zoom and SteadyShot® image stabilization (cannot be used in 1920×1080/30p and 1280×720/60p recording modes) to reduce shake for smoother footage that can be viewed on a crisp 2.4″ (measured diagonally) LCD with full-screen, horizontal playback in landscape format.

Sony is also offering the MHS-PM5K, which is a bundled kit option that includes a lens to let you experience incredible 360 Video. After attaching the lens, the bloggie camera captures 360-degree footage that can be viewed on a computer with the supplied PMB (Picture Motion Browser) software. It’s a completely new way of seeing the world.

Las Vegas, NV, January 6, 2010 – SANYO North America Corporation (SANYO) is pleased to announce the release of a new Full HD, Slim Type Dual Camera Xacti, VPC-CS1, available in February, 2010.

The Dual Camera series aims to provide customers with more enjoyable video experiences, by offering cameras that allow users to easily capture both photos and videos in daily life, rather than devices that are merely used to record important events. By utilizing a convenient video format that can be easily handled on PC and Internet environments, and even on home TVs, these cameras are more than just hardware for capturing, viewing, and saving images. They are convenient products for sharing videos online, on blogs or on other multi-media sites, and they are able to easily import images to portable media devices. The VPC-CS1 is undergoing certification to be compatible with iFrame, a next generation video format that has been designed to allow users to easily import, edit and share high quality video. SANYO is offering new ways to enjoy images after they are captured, and the Dual Cameras have been well received by consumers all over the world.

Now, SANYO has introduced a new model with a much greater degree of portability in a compact, lightweight and slim design, in order to expand the use of Full HD cameras. It is a new style of video camera that can record events and occasions as well as capture unforgettable scenes or single frames from daily life in Full HD, just as easily as taking a snapshot.

Main Features

1. New style of Dual Camera with the world’s smallest, lightest and thinnest super-slim body

- Product development for the series has been carried out with an emphasis on a compact design that can be taken anywhere and anytime, using the concept of a handy device for recording the moments of daily life.

- In order to make the new models even more compact than previous models, SANYO has developed a slim sensor module and a new super slim lens.

- With its compact size (approx. 126 cc in volume), lightweight design approx. 5 oz), and slim body (1.06” in thickness) for superior portability, the VPC-CS1 is a new style of video camera that will radically expand the situations where it can be used.

- The original vertical ergonomic style enables slim body with usability^*3

2. Easily captures beautiful Full HD videos

- Not only it features a super slim and compact body, but also the VPC-CS1 can capture Full HD videos with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels.

- The video format used for this model is “MPEG-4 AVC / H.264,” which is easy to use on PC and Internet environments, as it is a single file format, similar to the one used for still photos.

- Consequently, video files are displayed in the same thumbnail format as still picture files, and they can also be played back directly with Windows Media Player, and editable with Windows Live Movie Maker, and are Device Stage compatible. This makes the files even more convenient for use on computers.

Las Vegas, NV, January 6, 2010 – SANYO North America Corporation (SANYO) is pleased to announce the release of a new Full HD Dual Camera Xacti, VPC-SH1, available in February, 2010. Based on the dual camera concept of offering photo and video functions in one camera unit, the new product is compact and enables wide-range shooting from wide angle to telephoto.

The Dual Camera series aims to provide customers with more enjoyable video experiences by offering cameras that allow users to easily capture both photo and video in daily life, as well as recording important events and occasions. By utilizing a convenient video format that can be easily handled on PC and Internet environments, and even on home TVs, these cameras are more than just a tool for capturing, viewing, and saving images. They are convenient products for sharing videos online, on blogs or on other multi-media sites. It is also easy to import images to portable media devices. The VPC-SH1 is undergoing certification to be compatible with iFrame, a next generation video format that has been designed to allow users to easily import, edit and share high quality video. SANYO’s Dual Cameras have always been at the forefront for compatibility with computers as well as online applications and networking. SANYO is offering a new way to enjoy images even after they are captured, and these products have been well received by consumers all over the world.

Now, SANYO is introducing a new stylish horizontal “Xacti” model. While emphasizing portability, the VPC-SH1 incorporates the industry-leading 35-mm wide-angle lens with high-power 30x advanced zoom function to allow users to fully enjoy Full HD video in daily life and for special events and occasions.

Main Features

1. Expands image capturing possibilities with industry-leading “35-mm Wide-Angle Lens”*¹ and “30x Advanced Zoom”*²

- SANYO’s original “Advanced Zoom” technology used for video zoom function

- With the new zoom function, the video filming area on the image sensor is enlarged from approximately 2-Megapixels (Full HD image area) to approximately 3.5-Megapixels. Using pixels effectively, wider scenes from industry leading 35mm (35mm film equiv.) (Wide) to 1,050mm (Tele) with 30x zoom can be enjoyed.

- By widening the wide-angle side and achieving higher magnification telephoto ability, it is possible to capture wide range of objects from close to far.

2. Industry’s smallest, lightest, and thinnest class body^*1 expands imaging opportunities

- Product development for the Xacti series has been carried out with an emphasis on a compact design that can be taken anywhere and anytime by using the concept of a handy device for recording the moments of daily life.

- The VPC-SH1 is a top rated small-class Full HD dual camera approximately 190cc in volume, 7.2 oz in weight, and 1.69” in thickness. Its excellent portability dramatically expands the situations in which a video camera can be used.

- To take usability a step further, the VPC-SH1 is equipped with SANYO’s original “Double Sub REC Button.” In addition to the ordinary recording buttons, a recording button for both photo and video are separately provided on the upper front part of the body to easily capture low-angle images in a comfortable posture. Being able to easily shoot a camera from a child’s or pet’s eye level makes it possible to capture the world from a different point of view.

LAS VEGAS (CES Booth 14200) Jan. 6, 2010 – Sony Electronics is expanding its line of solid state camcorders with two new models designed to broaden the shooting capabilities for professionals and consumers. The company is introducing its first professional camcorder that implements the AVCHD format, the HXR-NX5U, as well as a consumer AVCHD model, HDR-AX2000.

The professional HXR-NX5U model is part of Sony’s NXCAM family of video products for professionals. It features Sony’s Exmor™ CMOS sensor with ClearVid™ array, to deliver full high-definition resolution and low light sensitivity with low noise. The camcorder will record AVCHD up to 24Mbps, delivering 1920×1080 high definition images with both interlace and progressive modes along with native 1080/24P, 720/60p and MPEG-2 standard definition recording. Only the professional NX5U camcorder includes both HD-SDI and HDMI™ outputs, as well as two-channel linear PCM audio capabilities. Other unique features for the professional NX5U camcorder include 720/60P recording, built-in GPS function, SMPTE Time Code I/O and an upgrade option for 60i/50i switchable.

AVCHD technology has been widely adopted in Sony’s consumer camcorder line. In the professional market, Sony has already introduced one AVCHD-based model: the compact point-of-view (POV) camera and solid-state recorder combination, model HXR-MC1.

According to Sony, AVCHD is a highly efficient long-GOP codec based on MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Long-GOP image compression, a member of the MPEG family of codecs. This approach is consistent with Sony’s current line-up of MPEG professional camcorders, including the HDV™, XDCAM® HD optical and XDCAM EX™ series.

The new NXCAM model also shares the 20x optical zoom G lens used in Sony’s HVR-Z5U professional camcorder. The camcorder uses two types of consumer media along with an