Sony announces three new palm camcorders featuring stunning Autofocus performance with 273-point phase-detection AF sensor and 4K HDR recording

Asia Pacific, 15 September 2017 – Sony today announced three new 4K HDR[1] (High
Dynamic Range) camcorders featuring its groundbreaking Fast Hybrid AF system:
the XDCAM® PXW-Z90, the NXCAM® HXR-NX80 and the Handycam® FDR-AX700. All three
palm camcorders combine a fast and reliable autofocus (AF) function adapted for
shooting with a 1.0-type stacked Exmor RS CMOS image sensor, delivering
stunning image clarity alongside a range of versatile shooting features. The
new camcorders support an instant HDR workflow, enabling users to produce breathtaking
HDR content with minimum post-production to suit a range of content creation
scenarios and applications.

The Fast Hybrid AF system ensures
highly-accurate focusing and tracking during shooting, delivered by 273
phase-detection AF points that cover approximately 84% of the shooting area,
high-density placement of autofocus points and a newly developed AF algorithm.
This reduces the burden of focusing especially when highly accurate focusing is
required for shooting 4K[2] films. In movie recording mode, the
appearance of phase-detection AF frames indicates the focused area and allows
users to easily monitor a subject that is in focus. The new camcorders feature
a high-resolution OLED viewfinder (0.39-type OLED, 2,359k dots) and a 3.5-type
large LCD screen (1,555k dots) with advanced touch screen operation that allows
users to quickly switch focus from one subject to another. The AF Drive Speed,
Tracking Depth Range and Subject Switching Sensitivity can all be configured as
required for different subjects and content styles.

The new camcorders support 4K HDR¹ recording
with HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) offering an Instant HDR workflow. This enables
users to reduce the post-production work and produce high-quality HDR content
smoothly, without the need for a grading process, which usually requires highly
skilled technique and special knowledge. They are equipped with the following
key technology and features to support versatile shooting, including:

•         4K2 full-pixel readout without
pixel binning using an enhanced BIONZ X™ image processing engine

•         Super Slow Motion[3] recording
up to 960fps[4], which is industry-leading among palm categories and
Slow & Quick Motion[5] Full HD recording up to 120fps[6]

•         S-Log3/S-Gamut3 capabilities for users to
create and work with images as they desire

•         29mm[7] wide-angle ZEISS®
Vario-Sonnar T* 12x optical zoom lens and 18x Clear Image Zoom[8]

•         Less image distortion (rolling shutter
phenomenon), in comparison to conventional models, when shooting subjects in
motion

Workflow efficiency benefits such as Proxy
recording, relay recording and simultaneous backup recording are also delivered
thanks to the new camcorders’ dual memory card slots and multi-camera operation
capabilities supported by TC (time code)/UB (user bit). The new camcorders also
have REMOTE terminals, Multi-Interface Shoe™, and HDMI Type A to ensure
enhanced operability.

“We strongly believe in empowering customers
to tell amazing stories, whether it’s a journalist out in the field covering a
breaking news event, or a freelancer working under the tight deadline pressures
of a one-day corporate shoot” explained Hiroyuki Takahama, Assistant General
Manager, Content Creation Solutions Marketing, Professional Solutions Company
(PSAP), Sony Corporation of Hong Kong Limited. “Our new palm camcorders do
exactly that. By minimising the efforts required to focus on a subject in-frame
and streamlining the post-production workflow, we’re helping users concentrate
on what they do best – storytelling.”

In addition to the above key features, the
XDCAM PXW-Z90 and NXCAM HXR-NX80 also feature dual XLR audio input, a
detachable handle, and access to Content Browser Mobile – a supporting
smartphone application to enable Wi-Fi monitoring, camcorder remote control and
wireless timecode sync[9] between multiple cameras.

The PXW-Z90 also includes several features to
suit broadcast-specific requirements – XAVC® format recording that provides
high-quality images at 4:2:2 10 bit (HD) and 4:2:0 8 bit (QFHD) in addition to
conventional broadcasting MPEG2HD9 format recording; 3G SDI
connectivity for compatibility with existing broadcasting equipment; and
networking functions to support news reporting, such as compatibility with
XDCAM air, the Sony cloud-based ENG subscription service.

NXCAM HXR-NX80 and Handycam FDR-AX700 adopt
XAVC S[10], an extended format of XAVC for consumer use and it can
record high-defined 4K films.

The XDCAM PXW-Z90, NXCAM HXR-NX80 will be
available in December 2017 and Handycam FDR-AX700 will be available in October
2017.

For more information on Sony’s offering at IBC, click here or visit us at
RAI, Amsterdam from 15 to 19 September.

Sony is a leading
manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information
technology products for the global consumer and professional markets. Sony’s Content
Creation Solutions Marketing Division is established under Professional
Solutions Company (PSAP), a division company under Sony Corporation of Hong
Kong Ltd. It markets Sony’s leading broadcast systems, professional video and
audio products in Asia other than Japan. It also provides customized business
solutions, comprehensive technical support and after-sales service to help
Sony’s customers stay at the forefront of their business.

Please visit our website at http://pro.sony-asia.com for
more information.