Sony's latest Handycam, the HDR-UX5/E (HK$8,980), is part of a new wave of camcorders based on the Advanced Video Codec High Definition (AVCHD) recording format. AVCHD enables this camera, with its professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens and 2.7-inch screen, to record videos on 8cm DVD discs and in surround sound, using Dolby Digital 5.1 audio codec. It is widely compatible, allowing instant playback on most DVD players. And thanks to multimedia connectivity, the high-definition footage can be played on a computer monitor or television with the use of only one cable.