Next Generation of HDV products from Sony

Sony have announced their latest generation of HDV™ production technologies which includes two new camcorders that feature interchangeable lens systems, native progressive recording capabilities, increased sensitivity for low-light conditions, hybrid solid-state recording and an array of other features designed for general TV production, videographers, budget movie-makers and corporate video production professionals.The new models include the HVR-Z7E (handheld) and HVR-S270E (shoulder-mount) camcorders. Sony is also introducing the HVR-M35E playback and recording deck. These flagship professional HDV 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-HD1000E shoulder-mount HDV camcorder.

Both the HVR-Z7E and HVR-S270E are equipped with a universal standard 1/3-inch bayonet mount mechanism to make lens changes faster and easier. 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, to suit a diverse range of shooting requirements.

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-Z7E or the side of the HVR-S270E 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 allows users to 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 300x CompactFlash card as well as standard CompactFlash cards (2GB minimum capacity, 133x minimum speed) for secure recording, quick access, large data capacity, convenience, and resistance to vibrations. The recording times on an 8 & 16 GB CompactFlash card in HDV, DVCAM and DV format are approx 36 and 72 minutes, respectively.

The HVR-Z7E and HVR-S270E 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-Z7E has an HDMI output. The HVR-S270E is available with HD-SDI or SD-SDI connectivity, and also supports embedded audio and timecode.

The HVR-M35E record and playback deck is compatible with HDV native progressive recording modes and supports HD/SD-SDI out with embedded audio and timecode data. The deck’s HD/SD-SDI output capability allows it to interface with other systems requiring HD/SD-SDI compatibility. It has a 50i/60i switchable function, and supports HDV1080i (50i/60i/24p/30p/25p) and DVCAM/DV (50i/60i).

The deck supports standard- and mini-size cassette, and accepts standard cassettes shot on the HVR-S270E or other shoulder-mount DVCAM camcorders. It can play back 4-channel audio data in HDV1080i format recorded by the HVR-S270E, and it 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.

Visuals Group Technical Department.