Sony products hit the Myanmar market within six months following their general global release.

CAMCORDERS have been available in Myanmar for three years but few people in the country know what they are or what they are used for.

Allow us to enlighten those who may not be in the know: A camcorder is a portable electronic device that records and stores moving images and audio.

The name derives from the fact that the camera and recorder are contained in a single unit.

Small, lightweight and generally easy to use, camcorders are ideal for capturing important family events like weddings, birthdays and holidays, as well as for shooting home movies.

The global market share for camcorders that use digital technology, rather than analog videotapes, is continually rising as prices decrease and quality increases. With digital, any relatively new personal computer can be made into a video editing machine with the installation of the proper software. A basic editing program is often included in the purchase of a new camcorder.

The most notable camcorders available in Myanmar are those made by Panasonic, Sony and Canon. Because camcorders are beyond the price range of most people in the country and are therefore not yet widely used, some companies have made only a limited range of models available here.

Ma Hnin Hnin Ye Myint, a salesperson for Panasonic in Myanmar, said the company introduced its camcorders to Myanmar in 2003.

“We now have two models available here – the NV-GS 6525 and PVDV 203, priced at K577,000 and K485,000 (respectively),” she said.

Ma Hnin Hnin Ye Myint said that although camcorders are capable of capturing still pictures, their mega-pixel rating is very low, so they are most useful for recording moving images.

Panasonic provides a one-year warranty for new camcorders, which includes free parts and service.

A spokesperson for Canon in Myanmar said the company displays all the models produced by the mother company.

“Canon launches new products twice a year, and customers in Myanmar have to wait only two weeks to get them,” said the spokesperson.

The newest Canon camcorder models are the NTSC ZR 300 (K650,000) and NTSC ZR 200 (K600,000).

One significant feature of Canon camcorders is the inclusion of a night-shooting mode, which allows for recording in low-light situations like candlelit rooms, barrooms or dim restaurants, said the spokesperson.

Canon provides a one-year warranty with its camcorders.

A spokesperson at TMW Enterprise Limited, which imports Sony products, said the company introduced camcorders to the Myanmar market in 1996 but they only started selling more widely last year.

However, the market for camcorders is still limited in the country, said the spokesperson.

Sony products usually hit the Myanmar market within six months following their general global release. Among the newest products is the DCR-HC42E, which sells for K690,000 and includes a ‘super night shot plus’ function for dim lighting.

Other available Sony camcorders include the HDR FX1E (K3.6 million), and the DCR-TRV480E and DCR-TRV438E (both K499,000), which unlike most other brands are capable of taking three-mega-pixel still shots.

Sony offers a one-year service warranty to buyers of new camcorders.

With camcorders getting more reliable and less expensive, an increasing number of people in Myanmar will be looking to purchase them in the future.

Here is a brief buyer’s guide when the time comes for you to make a decision:
1) Choose a suitable video camera format (such as PAL or NTSC).
2) Determine the amount of money you are willing or able to spend.
3) Compare the models of the chosen format that are available in your price range from a wide variety of manufacturers. Most manufacturers offer several different models in each price category, distinguished from one another only by the number of additional features.
4) Eliminate the unnecessary features of nearly identical cameras from different manufacturers.
5) Choose a manufacturer.
6) Choose one camcorder from the remaining models at a store where you feel comfortable in shopping.