Sony’s new HVR-Z1U professional HDV format camcorder, part of a complete HDV production system, records HDV, DVCAM and DV images at 60i, 50i, 30-, 25- or 24fps, in either SD or HD.
Sony has introduced a new HDV-format camera as part of a low-cost production system that can create and distribute HD video content. Company executives said it expects the HDV format to surpass Sony’s DVCAM.
The new HVR-Z1U camcorder and HVR-M10U VTR represent the core of an entry-level HD acquisition and playback solution designed to provide flexible and affordable migration from standard-definition infrastructures to HD. The camera captures 1080i widescreen images on standard DV tape, although Sony also announced a new 63-minute DigitalMaster digital videotape series that it said is ideally suited to HDV production.
The camcorder can record HDV, DVCAM and DV images at 60i, 50i, 30-, 25- or 24fps, in either SD or HD. It uses three Super HAD, 1/3in, 16:9 native CCDs and includes a built-in 12x Optical Zoom Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lens and Sony's new 14 bit A/D with Digital Extended Processor (DXP).
The camera offers more than 40 new features, including CineFrame and CinemaTone functions for cinema-like recordings (30-, 25- and 24fps); Hyper Gain; manual iris control with 24 steps; SMPTE timecode with user presets; color correction; built-in HD to SD downconversion playback; two balanced audio XLR input connectors with selectable phantom power and simultaneous use of viewfinder and LCD display (selectable).
The HVR-M10U VTR is a compact HDV deck that records and plays back 1080i HDV, DVCAM and DV SP material, and can play video recorded in the 720/30P HD format. In addition to allowing backward compatibility with SD in DV world, the 1080 recorded image can also be downconverted to SD output mode directly from the VTR or camcorder in the digital or analog domain.
For more information visit www.sony.com/professional.
