I’ve always enjoyed using Sony’s handheld news gathering cameras on the road due to their size and professional features. Now there’s a new model for TV news camera operators and video journalists to add to their kit.
Sony has announced the PXW-Z300 handheld XDCAM camcorder featuring 1/2-inch 4K 3-CMOS Exmor R® sensors, the latest BIONZ XR™ image processing engine, and a dedicated AI-processing unit. The Z300 supports MXF file recording in formats adopted by the XDCAM series, such as MPEG HD422, XAVC Intra (4K/HD 4:2:2 10bit), and XAVC Long (4K 4:2:0 8bit/HD 4:2:2 10bit), as well as MP4 proxy recording in HEVC.
When it comes to picture profiles you’ll get my preferred non-log option S-Cinetone. It supports HLG Live, HLG Mild, HLG Natural, and user 3D LUTs. Users can import custom 3D LUTs (.cube files) from memory cards.
The PXW-Z300 combines a 17x optical zoom lens plus a digital 1.5x zoom in 4K mode and up to 4x zoom in HD mode. It has a fast F1.9 constant maximum aperture and three independent manual control rings for traditional camera operation. Add to that an Electronic Variable ND filter, and you have excellent flexibility in the field when going from indoors to outdoors.
Autofocus is critical in camcorders and the Z300 has AI-powered subject recognition for precise autofocus performance. The camera introduces a new articulating Flexible LCD Arm for adaptable capturing styles and a Side V-Mount that allows smartphones or data transmitters to be securely attached.
The PXW-Z300 is the world’s first camcorder to embed digital signatures directly into video files, enabling content authentication. This expansion into video provides newsrooms with more confidence that the content they are ingesting is legitimate and factual.
The PXW-Z300’s network functionality has been enhanced through improved communication device integration, which supports modern production workflows that utilise 5G and cloud technologies. This enables live streaming from shooting locations and efficient file transfer over networks. The camera supports common video streaming protocols including RTMP/RTMPS and SRT, enabling live broadcasting from remote locations.
The camera also features a 3.5-inch high-brightness LCD monitor with approximately 2.76 million dots. It provides excellent visibility even in bright conditions and is significantly brighter than its predecessor, the PXW-Z280. It incorporates the newly developed Flexible LCD Arm with three-axis movement, which allows flexibility in adjusting the monitor’s position and angle. This enables the camera to accommodate various shooting styles. Operators can adjust the viewing distance when capturing content with the camera on their shoulder, position the LCD monitor at the camera’s optical centre for stable waist-level capture, or flip it forward for self-recording.
The camera is compatible with Sony’s mobile application “Monitor & Control,” which supports multi-camera shooting by allowing angle confirmation, camera settings adjustment, and remote operation from smartphones or tablet devices.
You can record up to four channels of audio – including shotgun microphones and Sony’s UWP-series of wireless microphones – via XLR inputs and the Multi Interface shoe. Future support will provide proxy 4-channel audio recording.
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
The PXW-Z300 is expected to available in September with pricing to be announced.
