Sony expands the XDCAM HD422 product line with a handheld camcorder and the SxS portable recorder

These new products are highly useful for broadcast and television production operations as they optimize the user's workflow, adding high-performance functions to meet the diverse needs of professional users.

Sony expands its XDCAM HD422 format by introducing the new PMW-160 handheld camcorder equipped with a 20x zoom lens and the PMW-50 SxS portable memory recorder. These new products are highly useful for broadcast and television production operations as they optimize the user's workflow, adding high-performance functions to meet the diverse needs of professional users.

The XDCAM HD422 format is gaining more and more acceptance especially in television broadcast operations thanks to its established workflow and incredible image quality. The PMW-160 and PMW-50 join the XDCAM family of products that includes the PDW-F800, 700, 680 and PMW-500 shoulder camcorders. Needless to say, the PMW-200 camcorder has already gained great reputation through exhibitions around the world as a flagship handheld camcorder, replacing the popular PMW-EX1R. The new fully updated PMW series includes the PMW-100 model, with the most affordable price of the group, with high-quality features.

PMW-160 Handheld Camcorder

The PMW-160 camcorder is equipped with 3 1/3-inch Full HD ExmorTM CMOS sensors with high sensitivity and low noise compared to the other 1/3-inch camcorders. It also incorporates a 20x zoom lens with a focal length of 29.5-590mm (35mm equivalent), which makes it an essential tool for event and documentary productions. The lens is equipped with 3 independent focus rings, zoom and iris adjustment with full manual control and an image stabilization function with a lens shift mechanism.

Para satisfacer aun más las necesidades operativas y creativas, la PMW-160 cuenta con filtros ND incorporados de cuatro posiciones (Claro, 1: 1/4, 2: 1/16, 3: 1/64) y la función Slow & Quick Motion (Cámara lenta y rápida) que permite realizar tomas de 1 fps a 60 fps en modo 720p, y de 1 fps a 30 fps en modo1080p. El modelo PMW-160 también incorpora una función de grabación caché de 15 segundos – en donde la grabación puede comenzar hasta 15 segundos antes de presionar el botón grabar para no perder escenas importantes, especialmente útil en la búsqueda de noticias o la captura de escenas de la naturaleza.

The camera records SxS cards and a variety of inexpensive media such as SxS cards, SDHC, Memory Stick and the new XQD cards with available adapters. The Genlock input and Time Code In/Output interface allow the PMW-160 to be synchronized with multiple cameras. In addition, the PMW-160 camcorder incorporates a Wi-Fi remote control function – by attaching the optional CBK-WA01 adapter (Wi-Fi adapter), you can remotely control the lens, white balance and playback from Android or iOS mobile devices.

Lightweight and portable, the PMW-160 camcorder can be used for a wide variety of applications in broadcast stations, production, educational recording, corporate, journalism and more.

SxS PMW-50 Portable Memory Recorder

The PMW-50 is a portable SxS memory recorder that is very useful in the field for video productions in XDCAM HD422 format. Since the introduction of the PMW-100/200/500 series camcorders to the market, the use of camcorders with SxS memory has grown rapidly among broadcasters. In the case of news broadcasts, a portable recording deck that functions as a field operation hub is undoubtedly an invaluable asset. The PMW-50 SxS Recorder allows users to play and view content (via a 3.5-inch LCD panel) recorded on an SxS memory card, copy data saved on an SxS card to other storage devices, record an external SDI signal, or convert an SDI signal to iLINK, among many other options.

Through USB and iLINK interfaces, this recorder supports both file-based and streaming operations. With the function to copy data stored on an SxS memory card to an external storage device such as a USB HDD, users can also minimize their operating costs. The PMW-50 unit is highly useful for XDCAM operations in combination with PMW-100/150/200/500 camcorders for greater convenience and efficiency, with support for all related formats including MPEG HD422 50Mbps (MXF) and MPEG HD420 35Mbps (MP4) as well as standard definition DVCAM. The PMW-50 can also be used in other applications as an ingest device for an NLE system.

With the optional CBK-WA01 Wi-Fi adapter, the PMW-50 supports wireless remote control.

The PMW-160 camcorder is scheduled for release in late November 2012, while the Wi-Fi remote option for the PMW-160 is scheduled for early 2013. The PMW-50 unit will be available in late December 2012.