NEW OPTION BOARDS FOR SONY'S XDCAM HD PRODUCTS ADD PRODUCTION FLEXIBILITY AND SYSTEM GROWTH

PARK RIDGE, N.J., Feb. 20, 2006 - Sony is introducing four new option boards for its XDCAM HD Professional Disc ™ system, each developed to extend the system's capabilities and to enable a broader range of applications by professional customers.

"The true measure of any technology's success is its ability to adapt to a user's individual requirements," said Bob Ott, vice president of optical and network systems for Sony Electronics. "The availability of these option boards increases the XDCAM system's benefits to end users and extends the technology's reach to new users."

The PDBK-101 network board delivers Giga-bit Ethernet capabilities for users in networked environments. The PDBK-102 allows input and output of 25 Mbps HDV streams (MPEG-2 transport streams) for interfacing with HDV products or HDV-based non-linear editors via an i.LINK ® (IEEE 1394) port). The PDBK-103 offers an HD analog component input and RGB input. The PDBK-104 provides SD-SDI and SD composite inputs for HD up-conversion recording capabilities.

The Sony XDCAM HD family of optical products includes two camcorders (models PDW-F350 and PDW-F330) and two decks (models PDW-F70 and PDW-F30).

The same blue laser-based Professional Disc media used in the standard definition version of the XDCAM system is also compatible with the new HD version. Now, professional users can record up to two hours of high definition content on the versatile optical media. As a result, they can maintain their workflow continuity by combining HD resolution with the same IT-based benefits made possible by the XDCAM system since its initial launch in 2004.

The four new option boards are planned to be available in June, each at a suggested list price of $2,000.

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