Pro video blog…Produced by Philip Johnston DoP/Editor

Sony announce 3 new 4K camcorders…plus a new 3rd generation radio mic system.

The XDCAM PXW-Z90, NXCAM HXR-NX80 and the Handicam FDR-AX700

Sony PXW-Z90… Capture broadcast quality 4K footage in XAVC QFHD at 100Mbps, with responsive Fast Hybrid AF that tracks fast-moving subjects with ease. Shoot, edit and view HDR content in HLG without the need for additional colour grading. Professional connections integrate seamlessly with your SDI production infrastructure.

The PXW-Z90 camcorder supports an instant HDR (High Dynamic Range) workflow, enabling users to produce breath-taking HDR content with minimum post-production to suit a range of content creation scenarios and applications.

The Fast Hybrid AF system ensures highly accurate focusing and tracking during shooting, delivered by 273 phase-detection AF points that cover approximately 84% of the shooting area, high-density placement of autofocus points and a newly developed AF algorithm. This reduces the burden of focusing, especially when accurate focusing is required for shooting 4K2 films. In movie recording mode, the appearance of phase-detection AF frames indicates the focused area and easily allows users to monitor a subject that is in focus. The new camcorder features a high-resolution OLED viewfinder (0.39-type OLED, 2,359k dots) and advanced touch screen operation, on the 3.5-type large LCD screen (1,555k dots), to allow users to quickly switch focus from one subject to another, while the AF Drive Speed, Tracking Depth Range and Subject Switching Sensitivity can all be configured as required for different subjects and content styles.

The PXW-Z90 supports 4K HDR recording with HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma), offering an instant HDR workflow. This enables users to reduce the post-production work and produce high-quality HDR content without grading, which usually requires a highly skilled technique and specialist knowledge.

The camcorder also has the following key technology features to support versatile shooting, including;

 

  • 4K full-pixel readout without pixel binning, using an enhanced BIONZ X image processing engine
  • Super Slow Motion recording up to 960fps, which is industry leading among palm categories and Slow & Quick Motion Full HD recording up to 120fps
  • S-Log3/S-Gamut capabilities for users to create and work with images as they desire.
  • 29mm7 (35EQ) wide-angle ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* 12x optical zoom lens and 18x Clear Image Zoom
  • Less image distortion (rolling shutter phenomenon), in comparison to conventional models when shooting subjects in motion

 

 

The HXR-NX80 offers professional quality 4K with advanced features such as high-speed Auto Focus, Instant HDR Workflow, up to 960fps* Super slow motion and streaming at 2.4GHz.

* 960 fps (NTSC). 1000 fps (PAL).

Amazingly fast precision auto focus

The HXR-NX80 incorporates an advanced Fast Hybrid AF system, alongside face detection and lock-on auto focus technology, making it easy to focus and track a subject while filming.

First NXCAM professional palm camcorder with 4K HDR

The HXR-NX80 is the first professional palm-sized camcorder to deliver stunning 4K High Dynamic Range (HDR) content with Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) file-based workflows. S-Log3 is also supported, enabling you to create beautiful imagery with a wide colour gamut and colour range.

Super slow motion up to 960fps* and S&Q motion up to 120fps**

High Frame Rate shots can turn everyday actions into slow motion ballet and the HXR-NX80 delivers a stunning 120 frames per second (fps) in Full HD XAVC S 10bit 4:2:0, giving you continuous 5 times slow motion expression. Higher frame rates up to 960fps using S&Q motion cache recording are also possible for even greater creative flexibility.

* 960 fps (NTSC). 1000 fps (PAL).

** 120fps (NTSC)/ 100fps (PAL).

Versatile connections for professional workflows

The camcorder features a Multi-Interface (MI) Shoe, HDMI and Remote interface to connect with and control remotely a wide variety of compatible Sony accessories, including creating a simple live solution when connected to the optional MCX-500 Multi Camera Live Producer and RM-30BP Remote Commander.

 

 

 

The Sony DWT-B03R Transmitter is an ideal choice for live sound applications including theatre and concerts, as well as studio based TV production and ENG/EFP.

Light and compact (27% smaller than its DWT-B01N predecessor), the DWT-B03R features a tough magnesium body that’s resistant to rain, spray and sweat.

Sony’s advanced digital audio processing, encryption and RF transmission technologies assure secure, stable transmission and reception of very high-quality audio with low latency.

The DWT-B03R is ideal for use in large-scale multichannel productions, supporting up to 21 simultaneous channels per 8MHz TV band.

The DWT-B03R is compatible with Sony Wireless Studio control software for PC (Ver 5.0 or later), allowing flexible remote operation. Remote control of up to 82 transmitters is possible using the Cross Remote™ function combined with the RMU-01 remote control unit (available separately).

The small, lightweight and sweat-proof bodypack transmitter is ideal for theatre, drama and movie production. It offers a remarkably low audio latency of 1.2ms1, with 148MHz wideband operation. It utilises a rechargeable Li-ion battery that equips users with many hours of battery operation time.

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.

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