Pro video blog…Produced by Philip Johnston DoP/Editor

NXCAM-big-pic

New inboard video recording options

In HD mode, Sony’s NXCAM records H.264 in AVCHD format at a maximum bitrate of 24 megabit per second in best mode (“FX”). Fortunately, NXCAM offers full-raster 720p and full-raster 1080i/p (in addition to subsampled 1080 formats, and SD formats encoded with MPEG2). If you live the USA or other (ex-)NTSC country, this first NXCAM will start out (“off-the-shelf”) with the standard ±60Hz-derived formats:

  • Full-raster 1080 (1920×1080) at 59.94i, 29.97p (truly native), or 23.976p (truly native)

  • Subsampled 1080 (1440×1080) 59.94i

  • Full-raster 720 (1280×720) at 59.94p

  • Standard definition (720×480) at 59.94i

  • Standard definition (720×480) at 29.97p recorded over 59.94i (not native)

  • Standard definition (720×480) at 23.976p recorded over 59.94i (not native)

  • If you send a NXCAM to Sony for a WorldCam upgrade, it will also offer you:

  • Full-raster 1080 (1920×1080) at 50i or 25p (truly native)

  • Subsampled 1080 (1440×1080) 50i

  • Full-raster 720 (1280×720) at 50p

  • Standard definition (720×586) at 50i

  • Standard definition (720×586) at 25p recorded over 50i (not native)

  • If you live in a 50Hz, (ex-)PAL location, simply reverse the two above lists to understand your “off-the-shelf” and after WordCam upgrade capabilities.

    NXCAM-insert

    I welcome the native versions of the HD 23.976p, 25p, and 29.97p recordings. I know from personal experience with a client’s Panasonic AG-HMC150 that 720p29.97 is unfortunately recorded over 720p59.94 in that camera. In addition, according to Panasonic’s European spec sheet of the AG-HMC151 (which is the European version of the AG-HMC150), only 23.976p is recorded natively, which implies that 25p and 29.97p in that camera are unfortunately recorded over 50i and over 59.94i respectively. I am glad to see that Sony is offering the desired native modes for AVCHD.

    New inboard audio recording options

    According to Juan Martínez at Sony, NXCAM is the first AVCHD camcorder ever to offer the option of recording audio in linear PCM for higher quality, instead of the more common Dolby Digital. As many other Sony camcorders, NXCAM offers dual balanced XLR inputs which can be individually set for line, microphone, or microphone with 48-volt phantom power. The headphone output has a selector switch to choose among monitoring channel 1, channel 2, or a mix. There is also a menu setting to tell the camera whether the headphones are stereo or mono, which makes the switch work properly in each case.

    NXCAM sensor and optics

    The first NXCAM uses the same renowned 1/3” EXMOR sensor and G lens as Sony’s Z5camcorder. For details about the sensor and optics, see Adam Wilt’s review on that camera. NXCAM takes this image beyond the Z5 (which can only record sub-sampled 1080), since NXCAM can record full-raster 1080. When recording in 720p mode, NXCAM oversamples the video before recording (as the EX1 and EX3 also do in 720p). Also, NXCAM has a much improved image stabilizer.

    Dual solid-state recording options

    NXAM offers recording either to Sony’s Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick PRO-HD Duo, or a new NXCAM flash memory unit. I received the prototype with a 128GB version of this new NXCAM flash memory unit. This will be optional, and Sony has not yet set the price for it. NXCAM offers the option of creating identical or different types of recording on the NXCAM and on Memory Stick.

    Output flexibility for monitoring and external 4:2:2 recordings

    NXCAM offers both HDMI output and SD/HD-SDI output. When the camera is in live mode, the HD-SDI output is true 10-bit 4:2:2. Unlike some other cameras, which output a live HD-SDI signal at 10-bit which has been derived from an 8-bit signal, NXCAM (as the EX1 and EX3) output a true 10-bit signal over HD-SDI when live. The HD-SDI signal fortunately includes RP188 metadata, which means that a ideal recording can be made with a recorder like AJA’s KiPro (10-bit) or Convergent Design’s nanoFlash (currently 8-bit) with like timecode.

    Multicam with matching timecode

    Although this NXCAM model does not include genlock input, it does include a timecode i/o, which allows synchronizing the clock in multiple NXCAMs after making a temporary wired connection. Using the same connector, there is a switch to indicate whether it is being used as an input or an output.

    Use NXCAM with a video mixer (“switcher”)?

    As stated above, NXCAM does not include any genlock input. However, many recent HD video mixers (“switchers”) have a built-in frame synchronizer on their HD-SDI inputs, which means that NXCAM is a candidate! Some of these video mixers also include a built-in audio delay to compensate the video delay, which is a necessary evil in a frame synchronizer. (I’ll be covering some of those video mixers in upcoming articles.)

    RM1000BP_619

    Although NXCAM includes a wireless remote control, for a multicam installation with a video mixer, a wired remote is much more appropriate. Fortunately, NXCAM is compatible with Sony’s RM-1000BP. In addition to zoom and record start/stop, the RM-1000BP allows access to iris, gain, and all of NXCAM’s menu adjustments. Third parties offer very long LANC cables, which will work to extend the RM-1000BP to wherever the video mixer is located, to facilitate matching cameras.

    GPS

    NXCAM includes a built-in GPS, which adds geo metadata to its video recordings. This information is already available in applications like Apple’s iPhoto ’09. I imagine that it will probably be in iMovie ’10 soon.

    More details

    For now, Sony is not releasing exact model number information or pricing. More details about that should be available in January. In the meantime, I will be publishing more articles about AVCHD workflow with different NLEs in the coming weeks.

    www.provideocoalition.com

    author

    Having been working in the video business since 1988 I have amassed a great amount of knowledge of both the kit and production values over the last 30 years.

    5 thoughts on “Sony NXCAM…”First Pictures”

    1. Had a play with the NX CAM prototypes yesterday at the Sony Power of Images event in London. Looks and feels almost identical to the Z5, with the exception of having to Memory Stick slots and the attachment for the Flash memory module. If they keep their word and the price is the same as the Z5 it makes total sense to buy the NX CAM instead next year. Got some experience of using the MP2 and AVCHD formats for news gathering, it is really simple. The transition from tape to file is not as scary as you might think.
      And for lives/studio work the SDI-out is brilliant.

    2. i have the sony hvr z 7,and i think the sony hvr z 7 is better like nxcam

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *