Sony of Canada is offering some serious new toys to the amateur video enthusiast in the form of digital video cameras.

The two models of Digital Handycam camcorders, the DCR-VX1000 and the DCR-VX700, are touted as the first consumer camcorders with digital picture quality normally found in professional video cameras.

Both cameras offer close to 500 lines of horizontal resolution, significantly more than the current consumer standard vhs/ 8mm or laserdisc, and use 5:1 digital compression technology. The cameras also feature an advanced image stabilization technology and stereo sound via a 12-bit digital sound recording system. By way of accompaniment, Sony also unveiled two new 30- and 60-minute mini digital videocassettes which are about half the size of 8mm tapes.

Ted Kawai, president of Sony of Canada, says the camcorders will not be positioned against the current 8mm format, but will be aimed at the high end of the consumer market, ‘from serious amateur videographers to photo journalists.’

The DCR-VX1000 is priced at roughly $6,000 and the VX700 at $4,000. Prices are not expected to fall significantly any time soon.

Next on the drawing board for Sony, which pioneered professional video recording with the Betamax and Betacam, may be a lineup of digital editing equipment.