The new Sony HDR-FX1 camcorder is the second consumer HDTV camcorder to hit the market, but the first with three sensor chips. As consumer camcorders go it is pretty big and pretty expensive, but its three-chip architecture puts it into the "prosumer" category.
The camera captures and records in the 1080i scanning format, and is capable of outputting SD as well. The other consumer HD camcorder on the market, the JVC GR-HD1, is a single chip camera, but it operates in 720p.
The HDR-FX1 records on standard mini-DV cassettes using the HDV format, and is said to be capable of recording an hour of 1080i HD on a cassette that normally holds an hour of SD video. Now that's compression!
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