Shortly after Panasonics announcement, Sony declared that its new models will also have face detection—so the camcorder stays focused on subjects even as they move around. Sonys face-finding models—the high-def HDR-UX20, UX10, SR12, SR11, and SR10 and standard-def DCR-SR220, SR85 and DVD910—track up to eight faces and optimize not only focus but also color and light exposure. And when they compress the video for storage, they allocate more digital bits to the subjects mugs, so they come out looking sharper. Sonys still cameras with face-detection are very adept at locking on the kisser, and the same Bionz image processor tech is now in the camcorders, so results should be good. In a very quick test, a preproduction model found up to four faces (the most I could get in a frame), even those in profile.

PopSci is covering the HDR-UX20 in its February issue, for a sneak peek, click here.—Sean Captain

Want more? Check out our entire CES 2008 coverage here.

The goal of autofocus is to make something in the picture come out sharp. But if you're taking a photo of people, it's not their hands you want in focus. Recently, camera makers have been adding the ability to detect faces in a scene, track them if they move, and optimize both focus and exposure to make everyone look their best. But not all face-detection systems are equal, as I discovered after testing several compact cameras
on patient friends who posed by indoor light, as well as on passersby rushing through Times Square.

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