One of Sony’s most notable IBC announcements is the XDCAM HD product family, previously covered by Digital Production. Prices are now available. The PDW-F330 camera records in the XDCAM HD format to Blu-ray media. XDCAM HD stores 1080i as long-GOP MPEG-2 at selectable data rates of 18, 25 or 35 Mbit/s. Recording uses the MXF format on Blu-ray media, which can be processed immediately in editing applications, removing the need to capture the video data first. The higher data rate is intended to deliver substantially better quality than HDV. The camera is expected to cost around €20,000 without a lens and become available next month. The accompanying PDW-F70 recorder will cost around €15,000, while Sony prices the PDW-F30 player at €9,500.
In the prosumer segment, Sony is presenting the HVR-A1E HDV camera, which is now available for around €2,500. It is a development of the HDR-HC1E and adds around 40 functions that position the product close to the professional market.
To underline the performance of its HD products, Sony also released sales figures at IBC. The company says 9,000 HVR-Z1E HDV cameras have been sold since the model’s market launch around six months ago.
