Sony PDW-F800 CineAlta camcorder
Sony is introducing a new camcorder and recording deck to its XDCAM HD422 series line of products.
The new PDW-F800 CineAlta camcorder and PDW-F1600 deck expand the capabilities of the MPEG HD422 codec, with both offering a frame rate of 23.98P natively in 1080 mode and multiformat recording flexibility, including standard-definition recording to support legacy formats including MPEG IMX, DVCAM and 4:2:0 HD content. They also provide multiformat (1080i, 720p) recording, as well as HD/SD conversion and cross-conversion during playback between 1080i and 720p.
Users can record HD content (approximately 95 minutes at 50 Mbps) to the dual-layer 50GB version of Sony’s optical Professional Disc media, model PFD50DLA. The camera and deck can also handle content on PFD-23A single layer discs.
Sony PDW-F1600 deck The PDW-F800 adds variable frame rate recording for slow and quick motion capabilities. It also uses three of Sony’s new 2/3-inch Power HAD FX progressive CCDs that can produce a resolution of 1920x1080 effective pixels, delivering high quality, four-channel 24-bit audio recording.
The PDS-F1600 XDCAM HD422 recording deck builds upon the features of the PDW-HD1500 model and can be used for file-based recording in studio and field operations. A GigE data drive can write any flash memory file format from any codec onto the optical disc media and files can then be previewed using a Web browser, transferred over IT networks and easily archived and accessed by multiple persons simultaneously. The new deck also adds an insert/assemble editing capability that allows it to operate as a recorder in a linear editing system—just like a conventional VTR.
The PDW-F800 camcorder and PDW-F1600 deck are both expected to be available in June at suggested list prices of $41,990 for the PDW-F800 and $27,990 for the PDW-F1600.
