Rumours abound that Sony will release a lens interchangeable camcorder towards the end of the year.

I understand if true, the main components of the camcorder will be the same as those of the company's "NEX" mirror-less camera released here in Australia a week or so ago and it will incorporate the "E mount" lens, which is also used for the NEX.

And this will be a full consumer camcorder, not a pro or semi pro unit, thus potentially creating a new market that is different from the market for the previous Handycam consumer camcorders. While it could be said this could cannibalize existing sales, I am of the opinion that will only be at the high end of the range as enthusiasts who would normally purchase at this level, will embrace a camcorder with interchangeable lenses as they do for dSLR still cameras. This will also have the effect from a strategy point of view or enabling Sony to better define their beginner / hobbyist sector from the enthusiast / semi-professional and market differently to them accordingly.

As the image sensor will be larger, the lens interchangeable camcorder based on the NEX can realize an image quality much higher than Sony's existing high-grade camcorders

"I would like to make efforts not to reduce the sales of the Handycam but to offer a new experience of shooting video," one of Sony's employees said reportedly said. At this stage, prices are expected to be around USD$1200 which compares more than favourably with their current top-of-the-range camcorders.

(With thanks to TechON newsletter)

By David Hague

David is the owner and publisher of AusCam Online. He has a background in media dating back to 1979 when he first got involved with photojournalism in motorsport, and went from there into technology via a 5 year stint with Tandy Computers. Following that, he ran a software distribution company on the Gold Coast and was one of the first to recognise the potential of Microsoft Windows.

Moving back to WA, David wrote scripts for Computer Television for video training for the just released Windows and Office 95 among others, and was then lured to Sydney to create web sites for the newly commercial Internet in 1995, building hundreds of sites under contract to OzEmail including Coates Hire, Hertz Queensland, John Williamson, the NSW Board of Studies and many, many more.

He went back into full time journalism as the Managing Editor for Channel 7's 'Gadget Guy', Peter Blasina's publications VideoCamera and Pixelmag, before starting Australasian Camcorder magazine when these publications were shelved. He lives at Sydney's Avalon Beaches nearly on the ocean front with dog Budweiser and in his spare time is a nut for motor sport, road safety, fishing, science fiction - especially Dr Who - and technology.

David can be contacted via david@auscamonline.com