Sony's new 3rd HDV model
 

Sorry my Japanese in not that good :)

That's a Z1. Not ?

Peter

Seems like it's an upgraded FX1.

Click here and scroll down to read a little about it:
http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/

I don't read Japanese, so hopefully someone else can fill us in, but I'd say it sure looks like a Z1 (which could be described as an upgraded FX1). Unless someone can read something new in the Japanese text, I doubt there's anything new here.

I took the Japanese page into Babelfish and sorted through the specs, and unless I missed something, it looks like it's the Z1.

You're right. I think what made it odd is that the site is implying that people can start ordering today. I thought Japan already had the Z1. And the name is different too, the Q002-HDR1. Isn't it the Z1 everywhere?

this looks like a black FX1 with two cinema tone modes - type1&2 plus an external mic - sort of half way between the FX1 and Z1

yeah, that's what I pulled from the article too.

I don't know much about reading Japanese but QUALIA is Sony's language for "OVERPRICED". :)

Exactly-- I remember reading about the launch of the "Qualia" line of Sony products...supposed to have hand finish/assembly etc...

Hence the glossy, piano black look...

Anyone interested in a $2,600 pair of headphones? http://www.elitemediasolutions.com/Sony_Qualia.html

Hey Boyd, don't be sarcastic, I mean they have Frequency Response up to 120,000 Hertz - I've always wanted to hear what those sounds were like :)

Aaron

US version is announced
 

See the following press release: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050421/nyth031.html?.v=7

So, for $5,800 it appears that you get the following (if I am reading this right):

An FX-1 with a different name (Qualia 002) and maybe different color
An NPF-970 battery
A shoulder strap and belt
An ECM-672 mike
A genuine leather grip belt
A three year warranty

Woo-hoo, where can I pick one of these babies up? ;-)

To be fair, it does say that the lens is different (an "SQ" T*), so there may actually be some kind of worthwhile improvement there...

Still, I'm not desperately trying to find my chequebook!!!

Dang. Y'all had my hopes up that this was the rumored shoulder-mount version of the Z1...

...and you're telling me it's a Qualia FX1? Gee whiz.

In the link from sean's post (3d post) it also says it has an improved video codec. Maybe they solved some of the mpeg-GOP issues?