J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Sony Models Sweep Inaugural Camcorder Usage and Satisfaction Study Award Rankings

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., Nov. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sony DCR-DVD Series(1) and DCR-SR Series of camcorders rank highest in their respective segments, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Camcorder Usage and Satisfaction Study(SM) released today.

The inaugural study measures customer satisfaction with standard definition analog or digital camcorders across two segments: standard definition ($399 or less); and premium standard definition ($400 or more). Within each segment, three factors are examined to determine overall camcorder performance: appearance and styling; operation; and performance and video quality.

Sony products occupy the top two rank positions in the standard definition segment. The Sony DCR-DVD Series, which comes equipped with direct DVD burning capabilities, ranks highest with an index score of 744 points on a 1,000-point scale. The Sony DCR-HC Series (740) ranks second in the segment followed by the Canon Elura Series (707), both of which are traditional miniDV camcorders.

In the premium standard definition segment, the Sony DCR-SR Series, which features on-board hard drive storage, ranks highest with 756. The Sony DCR-DVD Series follows in the segment with 736.

The study finds that nearly 80 percent of camcorder owners report editing their videos on home computers, while considerably fewer owners use raw footage, edit the video on the camcorder or have the video professionally edited. Among those who edit at home, 57 percent then transfer the footage to a DVD, 28 percent e-mail the video footage to family and friends, 13 percent post their video to a personal site on Web sites such as MySpace or Facebook and 7 percent post to an entertainment Web site such as YouTube.

"Many consumers prefer the easier to use and editing formats found in the top-performing Sony model lines," said Larry Wu, senior director of the technology practice at J.D. Power and Associates. "The nature of sharing videos has also evolved dramatically over the past several years, creating a whole new medium for entertainment and personal interaction. Web sites are aiding consumers in sharing their videos with not only family and friends, but with the general public as well."

The study also finds that a high percentage of camcorder owners also own other products from the same manufacturer, with 50 percent owning a TV, 45 percent owning a digital camera and 32 percent owning other audio/video equipment.

"When consumers have a positive experience with one branded product, it's not uncommon for them to seek and purchase other products from the same manufacturer," said Wu. "There are also added benefits to owning multiple products under the same brand. For example, being able to use certain accessories -- such as memory devices that work with similarly branded camcorders and digital cameras -- and convenience elements that allow easy connection between two devices, such as a camcorder and a television."

    The study also finds the following camcorder owner behavior patterns:

    *  Nearly one-third (33%) of owners report using their camcorder on at
       least a weekly basis. Additionally, 38 percent of owners use their
       camcorder monthly and 27 percent report using their camcorder only on
       special occasions.

    *  In general, the top three reasons that influence purchase decisions
       among camcorder owners are price (21%), brand reputation (16%), and
       features/functions (10%). When researching camcorders, more than one
       half (60%) of owners report visiting an Internet site for information
       on brands or models.

    *  Features that are cited as being used most by current camcorder owners
       include rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (77%), standard viewfinder
       (77%) and USB connectivity (74%). When asked about features desired on
       their next camcorders, more than one-half of current standard digital
       camcorder owners indicate they would like some type of face detection
       technology (52%), high definition recording and output capabilities
       (52%) and high optical zoom functions (51%).

The 2007 Camcorder Usage and Satisfaction Study is based on responses from 2,565 owners who purchased or received a camcorder between August 2006 and July 2007. The study was fielded in August and September 2007.

About J.D. Power and Associates

Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is an ISO 9001-registered global marketing information services firm operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, training and customer satisfaction. The firm's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2006 were $6.3 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com.

    J.D. Power and Associates Media Relations Contacts:

    John Tews                  Syvetril Perryman
    Troy, Mich.                Westlake Village, Calif.
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    Standard Definition Segment
    (Based on a 1,000-point scale)
    Sony DCR-DVD Series              744
    Sony DCR-HC Series               740
    Canon Elura Series               707
    Canon ZR Series                  704
    Standard Definition Average      700
    Sony CCD-TRV Series              698
    JVC GR-D Series                  680
    Panasonic PV-GS Series           678
    Canon DC Series                  668
    Samsung SC-D Series              664

    Premium Standard Definition Segment
    (Based on a 1,000-point scale)
    Sony DCR-SR Series                    756
    Sony DCR-DVD Series                   736
    Premium Standard Definition Average   730
    Panosonic PV-GS Series                721
    JVC GZ-MG Series                      710
    Canon DC Series                       681

(1) The Sony DCR-DVD Series consists of products that vary considerably in pricing. Therefore the series is ranked in both the standard and premium standard definition segments.