SONY INTRODUCE PMW-150, HANDHELD 4:2:2 CAMCORDER

The handheld PMW-150 joins a family of popular HD422 SxS camcorders that include the PMW-100, PMW-200 and the shoulder-mount PMW-500, making this the strongest and most versatile HD422 range in the industry.

“With fast file-based operation, codec efficiency and outstanding picture quality, XDCAM HD422 products are ideal for applications such as news gathering, when workflow speed is a key concern. They are equally invaluable when seeking a high-quality HD broadcast image without compromising production costs and efficiencies, for example in the production of TV documentaries and mainstream entertainment programs,” said Bill Drummond, Strategic Marketing Manager, Professional Solutions Europe. “With the development of not just the new PMW-50 field gear, but also the PMW-150 professional camcorder we are offering the most extensive range of broadcast quality HD422 50Mbps acquisition tools on the market today.”

PMW-150 Handheld Camcorder
The PMW-150 is equipped with three chip 1/3-inch Exmor™ CMOS sensors and delivers high sensitivity and low noise compared to similar 1/3-inch camcorders available in the market. It comes armed with a 20x zoom lens with a focal length of 29.5-590mm (35mm equiv.) and is capable of shooting wide angle (optional wide converter VCL-HG0872K available) from a distance, making it great for event productions, documentaries and more. The lens is equipped with three independent rings for focus, zoom and iris adjustment with full manual control, plus an image stabilising function.

The PMW-150 is capable of shooting in 1080/50i, 1080/25P, 720/50P, 720/25P or PAL. To meet familiar professional operational and creative shooting needs, this camcorder also features a four-position built-in ND filter switch (Clear, 1: 1/4, 2: 1/16, 3: 1/64) and a powerful Slow & Quick motion function which enables capture at 1 fps to 60 fps in 720p mode, and from 1 fps to 30 fps in 1080p mode. The PMW-150 also comes with an invaluable 15 second cache recording feature: It can use its internal memory to capture content, even before the recording button is pressed (maximum of 15 seconds), allowing users to record important moments that would have otherwise been missed.

Genlock In and Time Code In/Out interfaces make the PMW-150 ideal for multi-camera environments. The camcorder also offers users unrivalled flexibility in recording media choice, operating with Sony’s professional SxS technology as well as other media such as SD, Memory Stick and XQD cards (adaptor required). A Wi-Fi remote control (adaptor required) for the PMW-150 enhances flexibility for studio or on-location use offering white balance and playback controls via compatible mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.

Light-weight and mobile, the PMW-150 can be used for a wide variety of applications not just in broadcast and production but also in education, corporate, and event videography.

PMW-50 SxS Field Gear
The PMW-50 SxS Field Gear is compact, fast and powerful, and is a perfect portable companion for the shoulder-mount PMW-500 and the handheld PMW-100/150/200 camcorders.

The dual SxS slot, versatile connectivity and a 3.5” LCD panel allow for huge operational flexibility. Live-camera-feed recording, playback, file copying to media and external drives, in-field clip viewing, NLE editing and file transfer for DSNG transmission are just some of the functionalities the PMW-50 will offer to its users. The ability to power the deck with BP-U batteries, commonly used with the
PMW-100/150/200 handheld camcorders, and the consistency of the recording format (MPEG HD422 50Mbps (MXF), MPEG HD420 35Mbps (MP4) and DVCAM (MXF, AVI)) make the PMW-50 an invaluable asset in a multitude of applications, accommodating all the immediate needs of the operators in the field with minimal kit and investment requirements.

The PMW-150 handheld camcorder is scheduled to be available in November 2012.
The PMW-50 SxS field gear is scheduled to be available in January 2013.