A dazzling array of digital cameras is about to hit the market from Japan, and Sony Corp has two up its kimono. The PC CAM, also called the CCD-PC1 is a desktop video camera designed for computer users that want to integrate full motion or still frame video images into their multimedia creations, business presentations or other visual communications. The PC CAM, which has an in-base microphone can also be used for desktop video conferencing. The PC CAM can be used with any computer or presentation system with standard audiovisual inputs and uses a 270,000 pixel quarter inch charge-coupled device with manual iris control for image capture in a range of different lighting conditions. It is out next month in the US at $500. Separately, Sony said in Japan that it would introduce a consumer digital camcorder using compact digital video cassettes on September 10. There will be two models of its digital Handycam camcorders, the DCR-VX1000 and DCR-VX700, priced at $3,500 and $2,350 respectively. A 30 minute cassette will sell for $18, a one hour cassette is $22.
