Sony has announced its new HDR-CX11E Handycam - the world's first high-definition camcorder to feature both face detection and Smile Shutter technologies.

Smile Shutter is a new technology that means you can capture smiling photos and record video at the same time. Whenever a subject is detected as smiling during movie recording, a still photo is captured automatically. Y

As well as this, the camcorder can record full 1920 x 1080 HD video and 10-megapixel photos, and measuring just 2.8-inches wide by 5.3-inches tall, its ultra-compact too.

Other features include ClearVid CMOS sensor with Exmor-derived technology for top video clarity, a 12x optical zoom lens, 5.1 surround sound recording and a 2.7-inch widescreen LCD screen.

The camcorder comes with a supplied 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo media card so that you are ready to start recording almost straight out of the box. Also included is the Handycam Station cradle which makes for easy DVD creation with its One Touch Disc Burn button.

The HDR-CX11E will be available in stores from August, but there's no news yet on European pricing. We'll keep you updated