CeBIT: First MPEG4 camcorder debuts in Hannover

The first digital camera to save audio and video data directly in MPEG4-format was unveiled at CeBIT today by the Japanese electronics group, Sharp. The "Internet-Viewcam" uses smartmedia cards of a maximum capacity of 36MB (equal to 1 hour of video) instead of conventional video tapes. The video is then loaded onto the PC via the PCMCIA port or a floppy disc adapter for later editing.

The MPEG4-Camera has a 1.8 inch TFT display and a 4x zoom that is also able to rotate 270 degrees. However, one must not expect incredibly sharp pictures as it only has a 320 x 240 pixel resolution. Weighing only 150 grammes (without memory card) and measuring approximately 8 x 9 x 4 centimetres, the "Internet-Viewcam" is exceedingly compact.

Billed as the "new trendy product for the growing Internet community" it will hit the market by the summer, selling for around 1,500 DM.

Thanks to ZDNet Germany for this report. Translated by Sophie Handrick

Take me to ZDNet's CeBIT coverage.