Sony Unveils New HDV Pro Camcorders With 1.5 Lux Ratings
November 14, 2007
Park Ridge, NJ - Sony Electronics has announced new HDV products, including two new camcorders - the handheld HVR-Z7U (pictured) and the HVR-S270U (shoulder-mount) that feature interchangeable lens systems, native progressive recording, increased sensitivity for low-light conditions, hybrid solid-state recording and other features.
Sony is also introducing the HVR-M35U playback and recording deck. The new products will expand Sony’s line-up of HD production technologies, which include the recently introduced PMW-EX1 XDCAM EX solid-state memory camera and the soon-to-be-available HVR-HD1000U shoulder-mount HDV camcorder.
“These new tools enhance the versatility of our professional HDV lineup, and open up a world of possibilities for HD digital video production,” said Bob Ott, vice president of professional video and audio products for Sony Electronics. “Sony’s new HDV camcorders and decks are ideal for documentaries, electronic newsgathering, independent production, music videos, web streaming, and more.”
The new camcorders use Sony’s 1/3-inch 3 ClearVid CMOS Sensor™ system enhanced by Exmor™ technology. With a 45-degree rotated pixel layout, the 3 ClearVid CMOS Sensor system offers sufficient pixel surface area while maintaining high resolution.
New Low-Light Spec
The Exmor technology features a unique column-parallel analog-to-digital conversion technique and dual noise canceling, resulting in high-quality digital signals with extremely low noise, similar to the imaging technology used in the PMW-EX1 camera. The two new technologies combine to allow the new camcorders to perform significantly better in low-light environments with sensitivity of 1.5 lux (at 1/30 shutter, auto iris and auto gain).
This imaging technology is complemented by Sony’s Enhanced Imaging Processor™ (EIP) system to achieve high resolution, high sensitivity, wide dynamic range, and excellent color reproduction.
Videographers can attach different lenses for extra flexibility, and both models have a universal standard 1/3-inch bayonet mount mechanism for easier lens changes.
Each camcorder comes standard with a 12x high-quality, multi-purpose Carl Zeiss lens for HD video, with a Vario-Sonnar™ T* coating to reduce reflections. A specially designed 8x wide-angle lens is also available as an option.
The new lenses are designed to give the camcorders the same functionality as Sony’s fixed-lens camcorders (like the HVR-Z1U and HVR-V1U), due to built-in features such as auto-focus, optical stabilizer, and automatic back-focus adjustment.
Using a special adaptor, videographers can also attach the α lens series designed for Sony’s consumer digital SLR still cameras. The camcorders offer 1080, 24p and 30p native progressive recording. The 3 ClearVid CMOS Sensor system and EIP technology create true 1080p images, which can then be recorded as progressive signals by the HVR-Z7U and HVR-S270U camcorders in the HDV format. The progressive HDV streams can be output from an i.LINK interface and used for progressive editing with compatible NLE software.
The HVR-Z7U and HVR-S270U can switch between 1080p, 1080i in the HDV format, DVCAM™, and DV recording, and both can down-convert material from HD to SD, and output the video signals through its i.LINK interface and other SD output connectors.
The HVR-Z7U has an HDMI output. The HVR-S270U is available with HD-SDI or SD-SDI connectivity, and also supports embedded audio and timecode. The HVR-Z7U and HVR-S270U use Sony’s XtraFine™ LCD and XtraFine electronic viewfinder for high-resolution and high-contrast images with remarkable color reproduction. The HVR-S270U features a new LCD/EVF configuration named “Dual Finder,” where the LCD located on the EVF enables multiple styles of operation.
Hybrid Recording Option
The new camcorders offer the option of hybrid recording when using a supplied memory-recording unit, which attaches directly to the back of the HVR-Z7U or the side of the HVR-S270U and eliminates the need for cables.
The unit automatically synchronizes with the recording action of the camcorder and a special shoe connector inputs and outputs an HDV/DV stream and supplies power to the unit.
This unit captures the HDV1080i, DVCAM, or DV stream output from the camcorder and can record HDV/DVCAM/DV files to a standard CompactFlash solid-state memory card, while videographers are simultaneously recording to tape.
It will be compatible with Sony’s Professional 306x CompactFlash card as well as standard CompactFlash cards (2GB minimum capacity, 133x minimum speed). The recording times on an 8GB and 16GB CompactFlash card in HDV, DVCAM and DV format are approximately 36 and 72 minutes, respectively (in HDV or DV format).
The HVR-Z7U can deliver more than 60 minutes of recording time on MiniDV tape, and approximate recording times of 63 minutes with Sony’s DigitalMaster cassettes (PHDVM-63DM).
The HVR-S270U also accepts standard-size cassettes to provide more than 4.5 hours of continuous recording, with approximate recording times of 4 hours, 36 minutes (in HDV or DV) on Sony PHDV-276DM videotapes.
The HVR-M35U record and playback deck is compatible with HDV native progressive recording modes and supports HD/SD-SDI output with embedded audio and timecode data. It has a 60i/50i switchable function, and supports HDV1080i (60i/50i/24p/30p/25p) and DVCAM/DV (60i/50i).
The deck supports standard and mini-size cassettes, and accepts standard cassettes shot on the HVR-S270U or other shoulder-mount DVCAM camcorders. It can play back 4-channel audio data in HDV1080i format recorded by the HVR-S270U, and can also play back 4-channel audio data in the DVCAM format. It also includes a 2.7-inch wide Clear Photo LCD plus™ screen, monaural speaker, edge crop adjust and a Duplicate Plus function for copying video and audio from another VTR.
A range of accessories is available for the new camcorders, including a Camcorder Support, an AC Adaptor Charger with four-battery slot, an LCD hood and more.
Pricing
The new products are each planned to be available in February, at the following suggested list prices:
HVR-S270U camcorder, $10,500
HVR-Z7U camcorder, $6,850
HVR-M35U deck, $5,540
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