Sony's FireWire-equipped DCR-IP55 MicroMV Handycam camcorder features a 1-megapixel CCD sensor and offers 520 lines of horizontal video resolution and still image resolution of 1,152 x 864. It also offers a foldout handle for use in shooting video on an angle, above a crowd, or when following fast-paced sports.

The DCR-IP55 boasts Carl Zeiss optics with an advanced multilayer coating. It features a 10x optical and 120x precision digital zoom, SteadyShot picture stabilization, and a super NightShot infrared system for recording in total darkness--new to MicroMV Handycam camcorders.

In addition to video, the DCR-IP55 offers enhanced digital still photo features, including intelligent pop-up flash and hologram AF--an autofocus feature designed to achieve accurate subject focus with minimal contrast in dark conditions. Through an MPEG movie AD mode, the DCR-IP55 also allows you to capture MPEG1 compressed video and audio for up to 60 seconds directly to Memory Stick media in four different quality modes: light, standard, fine, and super fine.

The MicroMV tape is 70 percent smaller than a MiniDV tape and provides up to 60 minutes of digital video footage. It has a 64K memory chip that allows for a multisearch function to access different recorded sections of the tape as one would a DVD, creating a thumbnail image of each recorded scene on the tape. Additionally, whenever a MicroMV cassette is inserted into the camcorder or the VCR mode is used, cassette information is automatically displayed on the LCD showing the first and last date of use, how much recording space remains, and titling capability so the user can title the videotape.

Connect to your PC or Mac via a superfast IEEE 1394 port (also called FireWire). You can also connect wirelessly to a Bluetooth-enabled PC.