Sony's pocket HD camcorder is sexy, too pricey

Ultra compact HD camcorders are sexy, but they're definitely designed for the casual user who wants to capture those quirky family moments. I bought the extremely cheap AIPTEK HD camcorder last Christmas, and while the picture looks good on video sharing sites like Blip.tv, the sound quality can really ruin the video (here's a video I captured with the AIPTEK HD camcorder.) The good news is I didn't spend too much on the camera, the bad news is I don't use it nearly enough to justify the price tag.

There are plenty of high-definition pocket camcorders out there, like the Xacti HD700 that can do a better job, but they all come with a high price tag. The latest high-end compact HD camcorder will be released next month by Sony. The HDR-TG1 can record video in full HD at a 1920 x 1080 resolution, and snap 4-megapixel digital photos. Sony is calling it the traveler's camcorder because it's really light, small, and it has a titanium body that's resistant to scratches.

The camera itself includes face detection, a 2.7-inch touch panel LCD screen, 10x optical zoom, and built-in zoom microphone that records audio in Dolby Digital 5.1-channel surround sound, so hopefully the audio quality will be a lot better. The camera includes a 4GB Pro Duo Mark2 media card, but you'll probably need extras since you'll be recording in high-definition. Sadly, the $900 price makes it more of luxury than a must have, because at that price you might as well buy a better camera.

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