Tech Eye: Do it yourself DVD

They can shoot those oh-so-precious family moments in 16:9 (which promises a wider angle then 4:3 models) and record in 5.1 surround sound (how one tiny microphone manages this is beyond us). The lens is a sweet Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar (with 10x, 12x and 20x optical zooms depending on which model you opt for). Apparently they are as easy to use as swinging a cat and all record directly onto eight-centimeter DVD discs that most home units will play. The LCD monitor is about 2.5 inches in size. Sony say that your filmic masterpieces will only truly be appreciated when you play it back on a home theatre system and take advantage of the 5.1 surround sound. But that is for another week's column ... L.M.