Sony PXW-Z300, the new 4K 60P XDCAM camcorder with 17x zoom, triple 1/2-inch CMOS sensor and AI subject tracking

Heir to the popular Z280 and Z200, the new PXW-Z300 from Sony is a camcorder designed for broadcasters, small production companies and freelancers equipped with a 1/2-inch Exmor R 4K 3-CMOS sensor, digital signature technology for video authentication, advanced network capabilities and subject recognition through Artificial Intelligence.

This portable XDCAM camcorder features the latest BIONZ XR image processing and a dedicated AI processing unit. This model comes equipped with a professional lens system that includes three independent manual control rings.

Pavel Skabrout, product director at Sony Europe, says: “This latest camcorder features new enhancements, including content authenticity capabilities, which will be highly beneficial to professionals in the information and production industry, whether capturing action-packed content, breaking news or producing educational documentaries.”

Authenticity of images

With the aim of fighting against fake news that is starting to cause so many headaches for broadcasters, one of the aspects to highlight about this new camera is the possibility of working with digital signatures directly into the video files, allowing content authentication to respond to the changing needs of the content creation industry, including the growing demand for content authenticity.

Thanks to technology Sony Autenthinticity Solution It is possible to guarantee the originality of the contents in all their traceability by validating that the recorded object is real and not fake; validation that the image was taken with that camera; preservation in the editing of the piece with C2PA application compatibility; verification of the time in which the images were taken; and the analysis of modifications of any area of ​​the image.

Image capture

The camcorder has sensors Exmor R 4K 3 1/2 inch backlit CMOS and the engine BIONZ XR image processing, allowing excellent color separation, a F12 sensitivity and 4K 60p recording.
Incorporates an objective with 17x optical zoom with constant F1.9 maximum aperture and three independent manual control rings for traditional camera operation.

By using the digital extender function, you can get a zoom they 1.5x en modo 4K and up to 4x a modo HD with minimal degradation, making the camera suitable for a wide range of shooting situations such as news gathering and event documentation.

Additionally, the camera is equipped with a electronic variable ND filter which seamlessly adjusts the transmission from 1/4 to 1/128, along with optical image stabilization. This allows for smooth brightness adjustment and stable shooting when moving between locations with varying lighting conditions, such as from bright outdoor areas to dimly lit indoor spaces.

The PXW-Z300 features a dedicated AI processing unit, in addition to its image processing engine. This enables high-precision subject (human) recognition based on face, eye, skeletal structure, and posture information. The system can keep autofocus on subjects even when they have their back to the camera or have their faces covered. It also features an auto-framing feature that automatically adjusts composition to keep human subjects centered in the frame.

The camera also has a 3.5-inch high-brightness LCD monitor with approximately 2.76 million points. It offers excellent visibility even in bright conditions and is significantly brighter than its predecessor, the PXW-Z280. It incorporates the new flexible LCD arm with three-axis movement, which allows you to flexibly adjust the position and angle of the monitor. This allows the camera to adapt to various shooting styles. Operators can adjust the viewing distance when shooting content with the camera on their shoulder, place the LCD monitor in the optical center of the camera for stable waist-level shooting, or rotate it forward to record themselves.

Network functions

The camera supports new workflows using 5G and cloud technologies, enabling immediate transfer of recorded footage from filming locations and live streaming via smartphones or wired or Wi-Fi LAN connections. Recorded content can be transferred over the network to streaming services. cloud-based media sharing or local storage in efficient and high-quality formats. For streaming proxy material at lower resolutions, the camera is now supports HEVC codec, allowing for higher quality and compression rates.

Furthermore, you can transfer clips in fragmented format (segmented recording) during filming. This eliminates the need to remove media and transfer material after shooting, allowing editing to begin as soon as the material arrives.
The camera is compatible with the most common video transmission protocols, including RTMP/RTMPS and SRT, allowing live streaming from remote locations. By attaching the Sony PDT-FP1 portable data transmitter (sold separately) to the side V-mount and connecting it to the camera, users can simplify integration and achieve more stable transmission of video material.

Additionally, the PXW-Z300 uses cloud services such as C3 Portal cloud material transfer service and Sony's Ci Media Cloud, a cloud-based solution for media collaboration. This allows the camera to support more immediate and efficient video production workflows, including integration with file-based news systems, material sharing and collaboration between project members, and multi-camera live streaming when combined with Sony's M2 Live cloud switcher.

The PXW-Z300 supports several recording formats designed for a wide range of video production applications, including news and documentaries. Offers standard compatibility with recording MXF files in formats adopted by the XDCAM series, such as MPEG HD422, XAVC Intra (4K/HD 4:2:2 10-bit) and

The camera also adapts to various styles. In addition toe S-Cinetone, ITU709 y 709tone, available in Sony's Cinema Line, XDCAM and HDC series, is compatible con HLG Live, HLG Mild, HLG Natural y LUT 3D of user. Users can import custom 3D LUTs (cube files) from memory cards.

The camera is compatible with aplicación móvil de Sony Monitor & Control, which supports multi-camera recording by allowing angle confirmation, adjusting camera settings, and remote control from smartphones or tablets.

Additionally, the camcorder allows you to record up to four audio channels, including shotgun microphones and Sony UWP series wireless microphones, via XLR inputs and the multi-interface shoe. In the future, support for 4-channel proxy audio recording will be added.