Sony formally introduced what it is calling the industry’s first consumer-focused interchangeable-lens camcorder.
 Sony’s NEX-VG10 ($1,999 with lens) is one of the world’s first interchangeable-lens camcorders for the consumer market. |
The unit adds the flexibility of a d-SLR to a camera form factor that Sony believes to be more practical for shooting video.
The Handycam NEX-VG10 (shipping in September at a $1,999 suggested retail as a kit including an 18-200mm f/3.5 lens) brings the ability to change lenses for a variety of creative shooting techniques including telephoto extensions. The camcorder was designed to use Sony’s new e-mount lenses originally developed for Sony’s new NEX mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera series.
Three e-mount lenses are available, including a new 18-200mm f/3.5 lens ($799 suggested retail) that will be made available as part of a kit with the VG10. Existing e-mount lenses include an 18-55mm ($299) lens and 16mm fixed-focus lens ($249). Sony is also offering an optional e-mount adapter for Alpha-mount lenses ($200), an ultra-wide converter ($129) and a fisheye converter ($149)… (more here)
Video images are captured in up to 1920-by-1080/60i AVCHD format at 24Mbps. Stills and video are recorded to SD or MemoryStick memory cards. [Tom: That's a pretty righteous form of AVCHD - high bandwidth at 27 mips. Can't wait to see some images!]
The company is also including its Sony Vegas Studio 10 (a $129 value) video-editing software through a download voucher that ships with the camcorder. [Tom: Nice! Vegas is THE PC video editing program, imo!]
[UPDATE: Paul Moon responded with lightning speed to invite us MMASFY-ers over to the NEX VG10 users group over at Vimeo and Facebook. Check out this video - SWEET images from this new cam - and get your prayers on for the BEAUTIFUL people of the East!]