Sony Gulf, subsidiary of Sony Corporation, has announced the Middle East launch of  HDR-XR520, a full High Definition (HD) Handycam in its XR series - the largest storage capacity camcorder in the market with premium features.

The HDR-XR520 allows users to shoot freely without having to frequently delete their movies, storing up to 101 hours of high definition video on its 240GB hard disk drive, the company said in a statement.

Featuring a back-illuminated Exmor™ R CMOS and BIONZ™ image processor technologies, the Handycam HDR-XR520 dramatically boosts overall efficiency.

The Exmor R CMOS sensor nearly doubles  sensitivity in comparison to conventional camcorder models. This enables users to produce low-noise images that are crisp, clear, bright, and of exceptionally high resolution even in night scenes, allowing users to record full HD movies in 1920 x 1080i.

In addition to capturing richly detailed videos and extraordinary crisp and clear 12.0-megapixel still images, the combined feature makes dual recording possible, allowing users to shoot up to 8.3-megapixel still images while recording video.

Furthermore, Sony’s unique high performance G-Lens is optimized to complement the advanced image sensor and processing technology.

Boasting cutting-edge technology, the XR Series allows consumers to experience High Definition with convenient functions such as the Optical SteadyShot  (Active Mode).

The new ‘Active Mode’ on Optical SteadyShot dramatically reduces camera shake for more stable images, even if users are walking as they shoot through the shake correction angle that is 10 times wider than conventional cameras.

Integrating a superior Auto Backlight Correction function, the HDR-XR520 automatically recognizes back-lit scenes and optimizes exposure for portrait and landscape images with its Auto Exposure Control and D-Range Optimizer technology. This prevents under-exposure of subjects and over-exposure of skies to recreate natural looking scenes, the statement added.

Incorporating Dolby® Digital 5.1ch surround sound recording and a built-in zoom microphone, users can capture audio active sounds from all directions, enabling them to experience videos the way they experienced them while recording.

The built-in zoom microphone enables users to record distant sound sources even with high levels of background noise.

The camcorder enables convenient back up and editing of videos and stills with the Easy PC Back-up function. The One Touch Disk Burn function on the supplied Handycam® Station allows users to copy footage to AVCHD discs or DVDs with the press of a button, it said.

In addition to the HDR-XR520 camcorder, Sony’s XR-series comprise the HDR-XR500, HDR-XR200 and HDR-XR100 models.

Sony also provides a full range of Handycam accessories from fashionable carry cases to spare batteries that boost shooting time when the user is out and about. The Handycam HDR-XR520 is available at Jumbo Electronics and all other major retail consumer electronic stores.-TradeArabia News Service