THERE are three good reasons you might not want to read this review of Sony's new HDR-FX1 camcorder. First, it costs $3,300 online(list price: $3,700). Second, it's a big black behemoth, 14 inches long; among the shiny silver microcams at a typical school concert, it would look positively idiotic. Third, it's appallingly basic: it doesn't overlay text or graphics on your video, has no infrared "night shot" mode and can't even take still photos (gasp).
On the other hand, you might want to read about this machine even if you have no intention of buying it: it's the first three-chip, high-definition camcorder for consumers. That is, like professional TV cameras, it has three light sensors, one for each primary TV color, for superior color capturing. (The only other HDTV consumer camcorder, the JVC GR-HD1, is disdained by many amateur filmmakers because it has only one sensor.)