According to the Sony Europe Facebook page the Sony Pro Europe are making an important announcement on July 26th.

http://www.facebook.com/SonyProfessionalEurope

Anyone care to guess?

I'll bite. How about a new F3 - aptly named the F4 that does 4K and high speed.

Won't be an F4, maybe an F5. Sony don't do even numbers, unlucky I believe.

OK - I'll bite as well. I can't help wondering if the fact it's the day before the Olympic opening ceremony is no co-incidence? Something Olympic related?

That aside, the more likely possibility must be more formal anouncements of what the 4k upgrade to the FS700 will consist of?

Ha, even is bad luck? Okay, how about the Sony F5 with 5K on-board recording via SSD.
Heck, RED's doin' it. We know Sony could if it wants to.

A EX1 or EX3 with 4:2:2 & 1080p60?

Possibly a more professional (maybe XDCAM) camera using the high frame rate advances of the FS700.

Hopefully with better ergonomics... in case I haven't said that enough times already! ;)

Please not in the F3 body, at least let's see a decent EVF in a usable position!

Sony don't do even numbers, unlucky I believe.

Four is unlucky in Japanese culture. Four is pronounced "shi", which also means "death".

As I understand it, that's why we had the D1, D2, D3... and D5 tape formats.

5k,4k, ssd, high speed, bla bla.

You are not going to get any of those things in this announcement I will put money on it, history has proven nothing is going to change that quickly and they are not willing to give these things to the masses either as those in power don't want the masses having those kinds of powers in their affordable cams.

4's and 5's superstitious stupidities. I remember when I worked at Toyota none of the Asians would accept a car if we got them their plates
with any 4's or 5's in them, unreal.

Obviously a Firmware update for the EX1R to record 50mbps 422 :) PLEASE!!!

The only thing I am sure of is that it is related to this:

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/sony-xdcam-ex-cinealta/509450-new-big-sony-xdcam-announcement-next-week.html

Sony | Micro Site XDCAM (http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/micro-xdcam/)

Most obvious, a 4K recorder to way out there, an OLED based EVF with a proper mounting system that will work across existing cams in their XDCAM lineup.

A follow up to the F3 announcement seems to be ill timed at the end of July based on previous release cycles.

Or as an EX5: A semi-shouldermount camcorder with 2/3"chips and 422 50 Mbps :-)

Or an EX1R with the NX70's waterproof housing?


But, looking back at how long they are on the market and how slow they sell nowadays I do more expect an update of the 1/2"XDCAM disc recorders PDW-F335 and F355. One with progressive framerates and one without, providing 422 sampling and 50 Mbps. Targeted to fill the gap between the PMW-320/350 and the PDW-680/700. There are still a lot of broadcasters around that solely use discs as their workflow and Sony distributors tell these clients discs will survive SxS in the end.

And @AlisterChapman, Sony does no even numbers? What about PMW-100, PMW320, PMW-350 ?

I am thinking a new Super 35 camcorder in the price range between the FS700 and F3, recording to SxS cards with the XD Cam EX codec. I think that would be the next logical step for Sony, that is if they are announcing a camera at all.

New motorized zoom lenses for nex cameras ;)

Something to steal Balckmagic's Cinema Cam "end of July release" thunder?

whatever it is, please no AVCHD

I was just about to order a fs700, might be wise to wait a while then?

Ex5 please!!!!!!!!!

EX5 with slow-mo and larger chips and 4:2:2 and a detachable shoulder mount

And @AlisterChapman, Sony does no even numbers? What about PMW-100, PMW320, PMW-350 ?

But they don't do 2, 4, 6 or 8.

It won't be firmware to do 50Mb/s in an EX1 and I doubt you'll get 2/3" sensors in anything smaller than full shoulder mount, too bulky and power hungry.

To Raul, this is about XDCAM, not NEX.

EX5 with slow-mo and larger chips and 4:2:2 and a detachable shoulder mount

EX5 with same 1/2" or newer/better 1/3" chips that are lower noise. 1080p60 or 720p120 recorded at 100 Mbps MPEG2 LongGOP or 300-600 Mbps MPEG2 I-Frame only. SSD drive with 15 seconds of pre-buffering. Also, lens focus controls (including push-auto) that break out to an off-camera controller as well as more metering and focus aids on the LCD. Higher rez viewfinder and LCD .

or ex5 with no rolling shutter issue

Don't forget to add a longer kit lens, at least 18x, and to make it interchangeable. Oh yeah....

Won't be an F4, maybe an F5. Sony don't do even numbers, unlucky I believe.

But they don't do 2, 4, 6 or 8.

How do you explain the PDW-F800 and PDW-680?

whatever it is, please no AVCHD

Well, since it's an announcement from Sony's XDCAM folks, it certainly will not be AVCHD.
It'd be great to say more right now, but like Alister, I'm under NDA as well.

New camera with quad layer disc technology to increase XDCAM bit rate to 100 mb 4:2:2.

-gb-

How do you explain the PDW-F800 and PDW-680?

Maybe it's just the single digit, they've also had BVW 400 and the F65.

Won't be an F4, maybe an F5. Sony don't do even numbers, unlucky I believe.
About the even numbers: There was a time, not too long ago, when Sony could have camcorders like the VX2000.

Peik,

The FX1000 and AX2000 are present prosumer models and still sold new as well....

* Maybe a new XDCAM codec, 10 Bit, 4:2:2.
* Hybrid XDCAM Camera: Quad Layer Optical Disc recording, & additional XQD, or SXS card slot for dual recording (optical disc & card). Reducing the need for external recorders.
* Longer battery life with optical disc based camera.
* USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt port for faster file transfer.

OK, I obviously wasn't precise enough. I have never seen Sony use the single even digits 2, 4, 6 or 8 which is why you probably won't ever see an EX2, F4, Z8 or whatever.

XDCAM is based on Mpeg2 which is an 8 bit codec, so it would not be XDCAM as we know it if it is 10bit.

Like Doug I'm under NDA so you'll have to wait until Thursday for the news.

Nikon don't seem to have any problems using the No. "4"...:)

In recent years they only roll out memory camcorders, so I don't believe it's going to be any new disc based. Due to competition anything new should be 50Mbit.
Recently they have introduced a 1/3 50Mbit and not so long ago 2/3 50Mbit memory based camcorders.
So either an upgrade of their 1/2 line to 50Mbit or an upgrade of F3 to 50Mbit.
Since they emphasize on "Big" in their announcements I'll bet is the latter.
Taking into account the trajectory of the NXCAM lineup from FS100 to FS700, my prediction is a more expensive version of F3 with 50Mbit and 4K option, possibly with SSM as well.

How about an "affordable" 10-bit external recorder? This seems to be the only area Sony doesn't have they're fingers in. A new camera at this time of year seems unlikely.

Now it seems to be an XDCAM announcement, that tends to rule out my earlier guess of something for the 4k abilities of the FS700.

The XDCAM range seems pretty filled at the moment, and it's difficult to see what else could come along. Most obvious would have been extending the 50Mbs codeec into the rest of the range - But Alisters more or less ruled that out ("It won't be firmware to do 50Mb/s in an EX1 ......") - though I suppose that doesn't rule out an EX1 successor which DOES do 50Mbs?

One obvious gap may be a camera with the PMW350 front end and 50Mbs recording? And I wonder about a higher end (and XDCAM) version of the FS700?

But does "big announcement" really sound like a new camera? It makes me think of something a bit more general, something applying to the system as a whole. A new extension to the codec is an obvious possibility, or what about a simplified low cost archiving system? A few years ago there was talk of solid state memory that was permanent - one write, no posssibility of erasing, but indefinite storage. (Over years the charge may slowly "leak" with conventional rewritable solid-state.) If cheap enough, that really could be revolutionary (and worthy of being a "big announcement"!). No need for backing up, and apart from camera rushes could have a big use as permanent archive storage of edited material.

Oh well, we'll see in a few days......

David,

A PMW-350 with 50 MB/s? That's coming a bit too close to the PMW-500 in my opinion. I think the chance of a successor to the outdated PDW-F335 and F355 is a lot more bigger. I think the trick they did with the PDW-680 (just providing interlaced framerate, convenient for ENG and thus saving costs) will be extracted over a wider line of cameras.

Gabor

A PMW-350 with 50 MB/s? That's coming a bit too close to the PMW-500 in my opinion.
Maybe, but I suspect there's a lot of people who may want the 50Mbs codec to get full acceptability, but would actively PREFER the 350 front end to the 500. The 500 may be superior in absolute image quality terms, but for many the difference in power consumption may be by far the deciding factor, and I believe the PMW350 is also better in low light?

But even if such was about to be announced, would it really class as a "big" announcement? That's why I'd tend to suspect something more than just a single new camera model.

The PDW-680 uses the 350 front end and records to optical disc at 50Mb/s. Optical disc appears to be making a bit of a come back right now as some broadcasters have actually moved from solid state back to optical for archive reasons.

Optical disc appears to be making a bit of a come back right now as some broadcasters have actually moved from solid state back to optical for archive reasons.
Doesn't surprise me, not just for archive, but for a cameraman to be able to handover media and not worry about it being returned quickly for reuse. I've now heard a lot of stories about files on solid state being prematurely wiped by error!

I just feel its very dissapointing for Sony not to upgrade the EX1/3 to 50Mbps 422. Its been a great industry workhorse and deserves it.

Pmw200....

...PMW200 (HD22 50 Mbps) indeed. If Sony has the technology to do 240FPS at S35mm-like sensor (albeit line-skipped), imagine what can be done with almost 20 times smaller, 1/3" ones :)...
I'd imagine super slow motion, built-in 10X Zoom lens (hopefully wider than PMW100's 40mm) and a pricetag just below $6000

Still the image quality from a 1/3 sensor wouldn't beat Sony's own RX100 but this is another story at completely different league.

Exiting times,
T

Yes, convincing pictures of a PMW-200 XDCAM are starting to appear on the web - in the last few hours.

I won't post a link to them as I know Chris doesn't do rumor sites etc. Just think bigger than the PMW 100 and with proper ND filters/XDCAM 422 at 50Mbps etc.

Looks more like an upgraded EX1. Looks good in the 3 views I've seen so far!

I wonder if they'll announced an upgraded EX3 too (mine's exactly 4 years old this week!). The EX1r and EX3 badly need an upgraded codec to match Canon's XF300 "desirable broadcast spec." etc., so it would make sense. A PMW 200 was an inevitable step after the PMW 100 announcement a while ago (in my opinion). Maybe a PMW 300 will be the EX3 replacement too - announced on 26th July, or in the future?

Not long until we know for sure!

I feel a bout of gear lust and upgrade fever coming on....

PMW-200 XDCAM the looks of the lens and EVF are very very similar to ones in EX1R.

It is the one we are talking about?

I don't know about the performance but the form design is very disappointing.

Well, since it's an announcement from Sony's XDCAM folks, it certainly will not be AVCHD.

Oh, thank God!
i mean Doug

This PMW 100 seems to have an EX1 lens. It's supposedly a 1/2 inch sensor too.

The big questions are this:

3 sensors or just 1?
10 bit SDI out or 8bit?

If it is a 3 sensor with 10bit out than its clearly a replacement for the EX1r.

I got a feeling in my gut that Sony will make this. Single 1/2 inch with 8 bit SDI only. Mostly because they still have the EX3 floating out there. A 3 sensor, 10bit PMW 200 could replace the EX1 but not the EX3 and it would be strange to leave it hanging out there all alone 4:2:0 like that.

Who knows?

A 3 sensor, 10bit PMW 200 could replace the EX1 but not the EX3 and it would be strange to leave it hanging out there all alone 4:2:0 like that.
Well, there might be a "PMW300" out before too long to replace the EX3......? As far as specs go, I think you're focussing on the wrong things, it's the internal codec that most people feel could do with the upgrade, rather than the HD-SDI out. In that case, what's realistically needed is XDCAM 422 50Mbs - it's what people have been asking for, and it's why some EX1 sales have been lost to Canon and the XF305. If the rumours are to be believed, things are looking good.

Put a fully approved codec with 3 1/2" chips into a package this size and it becomes a clear winner over both the XF305 and Panasonics HPX250, both of which have been able to claim a codec advantage in the past to partly offset their front end disadvantages.

Except for the most noise free cameras (nothing in the 1/3" or 1/2" realm) then 10 bit doesn't really offer a lot - all it does is waste 20% of the bitrate. And if you've got the fully approved codec onboard, then less need to use an external recorder, so even less point. 10 bit really only comes into it's own with something like s-log, something intended to need grading
Who knows?
We all will in a couple of days time! :-)

Agreed.

I do hope this is a 3 sensor camera. It seems that using a 4:2:2 codec behind a small, single bayer sensor is defeating the purpose by a little bit. In the PMW 100, the codec seems to be the biggest selling point. Sony didn't even decide to use it's "best" (by Sony marketing materials) EXMOR sensor. The PMW 100 only carries a small EXMOR, not the back illuminated EXMOR-R sensor. As we all know, a larger EXMOR-R sensor is used on many Handycams today as well as the NX30 and NX70. A smaller and older technology sensor was chosen for the PMW 100 and I cant understand why. (unless the Sony marketing materials that state how back illuminated -R sensors are that much better,....are not at all true)

Lately, I have been playing with Avid DNxHD 10 bit files compared to XDCAM EX. When stretching and pulling colors in post, I have noticed a noticeable difference between the two. Especially while using noise reduction plugins. Off my EX1r, I cant say it's a "drastic" difference but it's easily "noticeable".

I'm very excited about this PMW 2000. Let's see how Sony protects it's upper models from this baby. Let's see how far they went in crippling that PMW 200. It's a necessary tactic and one that Sony does very well.

I'm also curious to see if this is the intended replacement for the EX1r.

I can't wait for Alister to get his hands on it! ;-)

Cliff