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Sony has released the HDR-UX1 and HDR-SR1, the two new high-definition Handycam camcorders for the consumer market.

Both the Handycam camcorders are capable of recording in 1080i and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. The content recorded using the HDR-UX1 and HDR-SR1 camcorders would be compatible with Sony’s BDP-S1 Blu-ray player and the upcoming PlayStation 3 console.

Both camcorders conceal HDMI outputs for connection to an HD TV so that there’s no need to transfer video to a PC first for DVD burning.

High def content recorded straight to DVD with the two camcorders can be played back on Blu-ray Disc devices, while standard PC DVD drives can play them back with the bundled software.

Other features include 4MP digital still capture, a Dual Record function to shoot both video and 2.3MP stills at the same time. The HDR-UX1 and HDR-SR1 come with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens and a 3.5″ swiveling LCD touch screens.

“With more families adopting high-definition televisions and acquiring HD content, we want to give them a variety of ways to enjoy their home video in the same high quality,” said Linda Vuolo, director of marketing for camcorders at Sony Electronics. “Our HD camcorder line offers people greater functionality and more choice to make high-def video creation fun and easy.”

The major difference between these two newly launched camcorders is the medium used for recording. While the HDR-UX1 is able to record to 3″ DVD discs, the HDR-SR1 records to a built-in 30GB hard drive.

The HDR-SR1 is scheduled for an October release and is priced at $1,500, whilst the HDR-UX1 is priced at $1,400 and will be available by September.