Raising a smile? Sony's new HDR-CX11 AVCHD camcorder

Sony has announced what it proudly boasts to be the world's first ever camcorder to feature Smile Shutter, a new and apparently unique technology that automatically captures crisp 7.6 megapixel photos when someone smiles in the frame as you're recording.

This latest addition to the Sony Handycam range offers a Dual Capture mode which enables people's smiles to be grabbed and saved to Memory Stick PRO Duo card whilst full specification, 1920 x 1080 pixels, high definition video is being recorded. Switching Smile Shutter to Always On makes it possible to grab photos whilst you're in Record Standby, irrespective of whether you've selected video or stills recording mode. So, according to Sony, there's no chance of your missing that winning smile between takes. The feature can, we're assured, be adjusted to recognise anything from a gentle smile to a beaming grin. Priority can also be set to recognise children's or adult's faces, too.

And there's more. Smile Shutter is teamed up with Face Detection (a feature we're seeing on more and more consumer HD models lately) to automatically fine-tune focus, exposure and colour balance, too.

Low noise ClearVid CMOS sensor for "stunning high resolution" images
The CX11 employs a ClearVid CMOS image sensor with Exmor-derived technology to record up to 85 minutes of AVCHD video at highest quality to the supplied 4MB Memory Stick PRO Duo card or 16GB in optional LP mode. It sports a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 12x optical zoom (150x digital) lens with Optical Steadyshot image stablisation and is powered by a BIONZ processor with D-range Optimiser technology designed to automatically adjust exposure and contrast in such a way as to maximise shadows and to highlight detail in high-contrast scenes. In stills mode, you can achieve picture resolutions of up to 10.2 megapixels.

Other features include a 5.1 Channel Surround sound microphone, zoom microphone and a 2.7-inch Clear Photo wide touch-panel LCD screen which is claimed by Sony to make life even easier when viewing in bright sunlight.

High definition playback can be achieved with an optional HDMI cable or, for users of Sony's Bravia HDTVs, Bravia Sync which allows the use of a single remote control for everything. Users of Sony's Playstation 3 can, if they wish, plug the Memory Stick PRO Duo card into the console for immediate playback of HD movie clips.

We'll have more info and a full review of the Sony HDR-CX11 as it becomes available to us. It is aimed to be in shops during August 2008.

Don't forget! You can discuss the Sony HDR-CX11 and other matters of a camcordery nature over on the SimplyDV Forums right now!