News.blog: Sanyo's hand-size HD camcorder

Back in late 2004, Sony introduced the first high-definition camcorder for consumers, the HDR-HC1. It costs around £1,300 and takes two hands to operate without shaking. JVC also released an HD camera.

Credit: Sanyo

Expect such cameras to become more common this year. Sanyo, for instance, will showcase the HD1 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. Based around the same design of the palm-size video cameras Sanyo already sells under the Xacti brand, the HD1 can capture HD-quality video, as well as 5.1-megapixel stills.

Other companies will release HD cameras this year because chips from companies such as Ambarella are making it possible to produce HD camcorders economically.

Visit our CES 2006 Special Report for more coverage.