SONY UNVEILS NEXT GENERATION OF PROFESSIONAL HDV
PRODUCTS
November 15, 2007
Source: Sony Professional
Sony Electronics’
latest HDV™ products include two new camcorders that
feature interchangeable lens systems, native progressive recording,
increased sensitivity for low-light conditions, hybrid solid-state
recording and other features designed for video production
professionals and pro-sumers.
The new models are the HVR-Z7U (handheld) and HVR-S270U (shoulder-mount)
camcorders. Sony is also introducing the HVR-M35U playback
and recording deck. These new products expand Sony’s
line-up of HD production technologies, which includes 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. 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. *
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.
Users 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.
These new lenses give the camcorders the
same functionality as Sony’s popular fixed-lens camcorders
like the HVR-Z1U and HVR-V1U, thanks to built-in features
such as auto-focus, optical stabilizer, and automatic back-focus
adjustment.
Using a special adaptor, users can also
attach the a 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.
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 users 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 8 and 16 GB CompactFlash card in HDV, DVCAM and
DV format are approximately 36 and 72 minutes**, respectively.
The HVR-Z7U can deliver more than 60 minutes
of recording time on miniDV videotapes, 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** 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
cassette, and accepts standard cassettes shot on the HVR-S270U
or other shoulder-mount DVCAM camcorders. It can play back
four-channel audio data in HDV1080i format recorded by the
HVR-S270U, and it can also play back four-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.
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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