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?

yes - exactly - " improved video codec " - what beast dwelleth here ? That statement could include alot of ground , i.e. opens up myriad questions . We need to know exactly what they mean by "improved ". Are there any hiredguns available ?? We need an expert to chime in on this one.

My skeptical question would be "compared to what." The FX-1 has an "improved codec" when compared to the PD-170 for example...

---------

Just looking a little closer, that news item actually says "but the QUALIA seems to have a revised video codec " and its source is the Akihabara News, not Sony. Look at the press release from Sony in my earlier post. They are not claiming anything new in the Codec. They mention the "Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar SQ T* (star) lens (specialized for QUALIA" and other exciting features like the "genuine leather grip belt", and of course the "elegantly styled black piano finish" however.

The whole Qualia line seems to exist primarily as status symbols for people who don't care how much the latest gadget costs.

But I'm sure that the video you shoot with your new Qualia 002 is gonna sound great through those $2,600 Qualia 010 headphones and look even greater on the Qualia 006 Silicon X-tal Reflective Display which is "expected to sell for a relatively modest $13,000."

New CF26 Mode added for only 999.99 USD
 

FX1 3000 USD CF24 (lame)
FX1E 4000 USD CF25 (OK)
Qualia 5000 USD CF26 (revolutionary)

CF26 is the improved codec. To appreciate stunning improvement you need to buy matching color new Qualia projector for mere 26,000 USD