Sony unveils compact 4K Handycams with better image stabilization

It wouldn’t be a Consumer Electronics Show without some new camcorders from Sony. The Japanese electronics company is announcing its newest 4K Handycam video camcorders today at the 2015 International CES, the big tech trade show in Las Vegas this week.

Sony’s new models include the high-end, $1,000 FDR-AX33, which is Sony’s first 4K camcorder to feature balanced optical SteadyShot image stabilization. That means it will have better-quality images even if the videographer is moving or has shaky hands. The compact 4K camcorder is 30 percent smaller and 20 percent lighter than the current FDR-AX100 4K camcorder introduced at CES 2014.

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The camcorder has 4K 100 megabit-per-second high-bitrate recording. Image stabilization isn’t easy in 4K video because of the immense amount of data in each frame. The camcorder also a high-performance viewfinder with three times the resolution of previous models. And it has a 3-inch viewing screen that works well in bright sunlight.

“As the popularity of 4K continues to skyrocket, consumers are constantly searching for new and different ways to enjoy the platform,” said Patrick Huang, director of the camcorder business at Sony Electronics, in a statement. “Our new AX33 Handycam brings the wonders of 4K personal content creation to a wider audience than ever before, delivering crystal clear 4K video from the palm of your hand. It’s the ultimate choice for families looking to capture and preserve all their precious memories in the highest possible quality.”

You can use the camcorder to take 8.3-megapixel still images, extracted from the 4K movie footage, without affecting the quality of the 4K video.

Sony has also introduced a lineup of new HD camcorders with upgraded specifications including SteadyShot image stabilization and XAVC S high-bitrate recording. These include the HDR-PJ670, HDR-PJ440, HDR-CX440, and HDR-CX405 models. Prices range from $230 to $700.

Sony says the video footage from these camcorders will be highly detailed and blur-free.