(DVCAM) is a digital VTR format that uses 1/4 inch tape, it was developed specially to speed-up the professional broadcast industry’s adoption of digital formats. It is a professional broadcast use VTR format offering superb cost performance and special features that gives high picture quality and replay compatibility with consumer digital VTR (DV) via 4:1:1 and 8 bit digital component recording.
Starting with its introduction in 1996, Sony aggressively introduced (DVCAM) to the market with a focus on production houses, business, cable TV and video journalists. In 1998 Sony introduced the small, light-weight and low cost (DSR-PD100) camcorder. Followed by the introduction in 1999 of the top of the range (DSR-2000) VTR, that incorporates the necessary standard news editing functions and play back compatibility with all DV (25Mbps) recording tapes, plus the (DSR-500WS) camcorder with its high sensitivity and endurance.
Last year in edition to the top-end (DSR-2000) VTR, Sony introduced the (DVCAM-1000 Series) that includes the small, light-weight, low cost [DSR-PD 150] camcorder and the low cost, shoulder portable [DSR-250] camcorder plus the portable (DSR-50) VTR and the non-linear, small installation type (DSR-11) VTR. These new products will further enrich the (DVCAM) product line-up.
As a result, it has been possible to further expand sales channels from broadcast quality news production and documentary image capture to lower-end business use systems. The BBC in the UK, Canal Plus in France and Portugal’s National Broadcast Company (RTP) have all adopted (DVCAM) for news gathering. Recently a wide variety of new low-end users, such as event photographers and film production companies seeking low cost, easy to use equipment have also started to use (DVCAM).
