Sony HDR-CX350V, HD-RCX300, HDR-CX370 Maintenance and precautions, 102, About the Avchd format

Maintenance and precautions

About the AVCHD format

What is the AVCHD format?

The AVCHD format is a high definition digital video camera format used to record a high definition (HD) signal of either the 1080i specification*1 or the

720p specification*2 using efficient data compression coding technology. The MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 format is adopted to compress video data, and the Dolby Digital or Linear PCM system is used to compress audio data.

The MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 format is capable of compressing images at higher efficiency than that of the conventional image compressing format. The MPEG-4 AVC/ H.264 format enables a high definition video signal shot on a digital video camera recorder to be recorded on 8 cm DVD discs, hard disk drive, flash memory, memory card, etc.

Recording and playback on your camcorder

Based on the AVCHD format, your camcorder records with the high definition image quality (HD) mentioned below.

In addition to high definition image quality (HD), your camcorder is capable of recording a standard definition (STD) signal in the conventional MPEG-2 format.

Video signal*3: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 1920

1080/50i, 1440  1080/50i Audio signal: Dolby Digital 2ch Recording media: HDR-CX300E/CX305E/CX350E/ CX350VE/CX370E: Internal memory, memory card

GB

102

HDR-XR350E/XR350VE: Internal hard disk, memory card

*1 1080i specification

A high definition specification which utilizes 1,080 effective scanning lines and the interlace system.

*2 720p specification

A high definition specification which utilizes 720 effective scanning lines and the progressive system.

*3 Data recorded in AVCHD format other than the above mentioned cannot be played on your camcorder.

About GPS (HDR-CX350VE/

XR350VE)

The GPS (Global Positioning System) is a system that calculates geographical location from highly accurate US space satellites. This system allows you to pinpoint your exact location on the earth. The GPS satellites are located in 6 orbits, 20,000 km above the earth. The GPS system consists of 24 or more GPS satellites. A GPS receiver receives radio signals from the satellites, and calculates the current location of the receiver based on the orbital information (almanac data) and travel time of the signals, etc.

Determining a location is called “triangulating.” A GPS receiver can determine the location’s latitude and longitude by receiving signals from 3 or more satellites.

As the positions of GPS satellites vary constantly, it may take longer to determine the location or the receiver may not be able to determine the location at all, depending on the location and time you use the camcorder.

“GPS” is a system for determining geographic location by triangulating radio signals from GPS satellites. Avoid using the camcorder