Sony to develop new NXCAM HD camcorder with E-mount lens

Sony is aiming to furnish professionals with a new E-mount interchangeable lens camcorder by the middle of next year. The company says that the NXCAM HD model is still under development, but should sit at the entry level end of the professional camcorder market. In addition to being compatible with the E-mount lens system, users will also be able to attach A-mount and third party lenses via mount adapters.

As the name might suggest, users of the NXCAM HD can expect to shoot in full 1080p high definition. Recording formats will depend on the mode used, but MPEG4-AVC/H.264 compression and AVCHD format will feature. It's also known that the new affordable entry level professional camcorder will sport a Super-35mm equivalent large format CMOS sensor and will be able to utilize the E-mount lenses developed for the NEX alpha series camera and NEX-VG10 handycam.

The very short distance between the lens mount surface and the sensor also means that in addition to the various A-mount lenses compatible via a mount adapter, numerous other lenses could be used via third party adapters.

That's about all that's known at the moment. We'll keep you posted as more solid information becomes available.