Digital Cinema
Sony Unveils Line of HD Products in its XDCAM Professional Disc System
By Myrna Tobisoo
Apr 26, 2006, 19:25

The next generation of Sony's XDCAM Professional Disc system - a line of high-definition optical camcorders and decks unveiled - offers cinematographers, broadcasters and video professionals a complete toolkit of flexible, digital production options.

The Sony XDCAM HD family of optical products includes
two camcorders and two decks. The same Professional
Disc media used in the standard definition version of
the XDCAM system is also compatible with the new HD
version. Now, professional users can record up to two
hours of high definition content on the versatile
optical media, maintaining their workflow continuity
by combining HD resolution with the same IT-based
benefits made possible by XDCAM technology since its
initial launch in 2004.


With the introduction of the XDCAM HD system, Sony is
extending its CineAlta™ family of cinematic, broadcast
and professional production systems by giving these
new products the CineAlta brand.

The two XDCAM HD camcorders - models PDW-F330 and
PDW-F350 - both offer the production features that
professional users need, such as true 24P recording in
SD or HD, interval recording, and slow shutter.

The PDW-F350 additionally offers true variable frame
rate recording capabilities; also commonly known as
"over-cranking" and "under-cranking" or
"slow-motion/fast motion" functionality.

The PDW-F350 enables variable frame rate recording at
a range of frame rates from four frames per second
(fps) to 60 fps in one frame increments. For example,
when viewed at 24 fps, four fps yields motion six
times faster than normal. In comparison, 60 fps yields
motion at 40 percent normal speed. These effects can
be played back in the camera or on a Sony optical
deck, without the need for any additional special
processing through a non-linear editing system or
converter.

The PDW-F350 also enables true 24P, 25P and 30P image
capture, without any additional conversion required.

The XDCAM HD products offer the flexibility of
recording 1080i video in three data recording rates:
25 Mbps, plus 35 Mbps and 18 Mbps. The system records
high-definition content to Sony's existing
Professional Disc single-layer media using an HD
MPEG-2 Long GOP video compression codec.


The camcorders use three half-inch CCD 1.5 megapixel
imagers with a variety of lenses from major
manufacturers available.

The PDW-F70 and PDW-F30 decks enable high-speed data
transfer between compatible nonlinear devices. Both
decks up-convert XDCAM standard definition content
recorded in the DVCAM™ format to 1080i high definition
at output, and all XDCAM HD camcorders and decks can
down-convert HD material to standard definition in
anamorphic, letterboxed or 4:3 format.

Based on blue-laser technology, the XDCAM system's
Professional Disc media offers unique benefits in
terms of split-second random access to footage in the
field or during the post process, and multi-format
flexibility and flexible record times (approximately
120 minutes or more of HD content at 18 Mbps or 85
minutes of SD DVCAM at 25 Mps).

The Sony Professional Disc media is re-usable up to
1,000 read/write cycles and up to 10,000 read/write
cycles in ideal conditions, based on Sony's own
testing. The greater number of repeat recordings
possible with the XDCAM Professional Disc allows a
production crew to re-use it more often than a
videotape and without experiencing degradation after
multiple uses of the media.


Additional features of the new XDCAM HD products
include:

* Expand function - takes a clip that has been initially
tagged as a thumbnail and divides it into 12 even time
intervals. Each interval also contains its own
thumbnail for easy identification. This expand
function can be applied up to three times, making it
easier to search rapidly for scenes within a long
clip, and also allows an operator to drill down into a
clip and quickly locate the desired editing point.

* Freeze mix - enables a videographer to switch
seamlessly between pre-recorded material and live
footage by showing these images on the LCD screen or
viewfinder. This function also helps adjust the
camera's position to set the same framing for the next
shot.

* Slow shutter -allows a maximum of 64 frames to be
accumulated. In low light levels this produces clear
and noiseless video, and provides a "fantasy" video
effect with a ghost image.


Since 2004, the standard definition version of the
XDCAM system has been adopted by news organizations,
videographers and for television production,
especially in the reality TV genre. Corporations,
educational and government facilities, houses of
worship and major sports teams have also implemented
Sony's optical technology.


The following XDCAM HD products are planned to be
available in March 2006, with suggested list pricing
of:
* PDW-F350 camcorder: $25,800
* PDW-F330 camcorder: $16,800
* PDW-F70 deck: $15,990

The PDW-F30 deck is planned to be available in June,
with a suggested list price of $9,500. The PFD-23
Professional Disc media is available for approximately
$30 per disc, with a capacity of 23.3 GB per disc.



© Copyright 2003 by YourSITE.com