PXW-X70, Sony's first compact 4K-ready professional XDCAM camcorder

Although 4K recording capability will be available in a future update, the new camcorder incorporates one more sensor, eight times larger than conventional 1/3 single-chip sensors, allowing it to offer optimal response in low light situations.

Sony has introduced the 4K-ready PXW-X70, its first compact professional XDCAM camcorder. Expanding the popular file-based

The PXW-X70 has a 1.0 type Exmor R CMOS sensor with a resolution of 20 megapixels. Much larger than the Super 16mm video frame, the sensor offers high resolution and fantastic low-light performance, as well as greater depth-of-field control as demanded by today's diverse recording needs. The new camcorder has the ability to record in High Definition in XAVC Long GOP, which allows 10-bit 422 sampling at 50 Mbps. This, in turn, contributes to an increasingly widespread broadcast quality workflow among productions of multiple professional applications.

This addition to the growing next-generation XDCAM family follows the recently announced PXW-X180 and PXW-X160 and builds on Sony's successful heritage of compact professional camcorders. The PXW-X70 is Sony's first compact professional camcorder to feature Wi-Fi control via a smartphone or tablet using the Content Browser Mobile app. An upcoming release will also offer customers the ability to upgrade the PXW-X70 to record in Ultra High Definition 4K, with file transfer and live video streaming capabilities.

Key features

The 1.0 type Exmor R CMOS sensor and Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens of the new Sony camcorder achieves amazing image quality. The high sensitivity and fantastic resolution of 14.2 million effective pixels delivers striking details and colors even in low-light environments. The lens has a 12x optical zoom expandable to 24x using Clear Image zoom, which maintains full resolution thanks to its resolution upscaling technology. Zoom performance can be doubled anywhere up to 48x with a digital extender.

The PXW-X70 weighs less than 1.4 kg including the XLR handle unit, battery (NP-FV70), lens hood and large eyepiece. It offers professional interfaces such as 3G-SDI and HDMI output connectors, plus two XLR handle units with zoom lever. Other professional features include a manual lens ring that can control zoom and focus, an ergonomic hand grip with large zoom lever, two SD memory card slots for backup, simultaneous and relay recording, and a three-level switchable ND filter.

The new camcorder provides multiple options depending on the desired application, including file-based recording in XAVC, AVCHD and DV. When recording in XAVC, the PXW-X70 uses the MXF file format, which efficiently compresses Full HD (1920 x 1080) images using the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 codec. Image sampling is 4:2:2 at 10 bits with high-efficiency Long-GOP compression at 50, 35 or 25 Mbps.

Finally, highlight the possibilities it offers, through integrated Wi-Fi, for monitoring and remote control versatility. NFC features enable easy one-touch wireless LAN connection to a smartphone or tablet, while the Content Browser Mobile app allows you to confirm shooting angles and operate the camcorder remotely, including field angle adjustment, spot focus and iris adjustment.

Sony is aiming to make 4K upgrades and Wi-Fi file transfer and streaming available for the PXW-X70 in the coming months.