Official Press Release: Sony?s New PXW-X200 Expands Line of XDCAM Solid State Memory Camcorders Delivering Exceptional Image Quality & High Sensitivity | Sony (http://blog.sony.com/press/sonys-new-pxw-x200-expands-line-of-xdcam-solid-state-memory-camcorders-delivering-exceptional-image-quality-high-sensitivity/)

Doesn't specify whether it can record 1080/50p/60p internally in the release, but with XAVC 50mbps Long GOP, it might just have it.

Any speculation for price?

Also note that the zoomrange is extended. From 14x on the PMW-200 to 17x on the PXW-X200. A useful feature imho.

But hopefully with the same bayonet mount for the VCL-EX0877. Would be trivial to make a new wide angle lens just for the new camera.

Also, let's hope hard they've moved the DC IN outside the battery socket.

Nope. DC IN is still inside the battery socket. No hot-swapping, since it is essentially the same body as the PMW-200.

http://sp.sony-europe.com/da/8704/063bd3eb5cfed562c64a02fa1948961b.jpeg

In good news, the Brochure confirms 1080p/60p/50p recording.

No direct link to the brochure, but it is on this page: http://www.sony.co.uk/pro/support/brochures/1237493100744

They could've at least lost the A/V out in place of the DC IN. No one uses RCA analog anymore, and if you do want it, There's already one that's a BNC that clearly says "VIDEO OUT".

It's really stupid that Sony repeated that DC IN position on this new model. Great to hear about 1080p50/60 thought.

It looks like nothing major on the main body changed design-wise from the PMW-200 to the X200. We do have a new accessory shoe on the handle, but it will not be active till a 2015 firmware update. Plus, I'm hoping those MI shoes use standard dimensions so that standard cold shoes would still work.

They had a lost opportunity to add another notch to the ND wheel like the PMW-300.

It's also surprising that this model records MPEG IMX in SD. The only thing it lacks is AVCHD support like the X180 and X160.

Speaking of the X180 and X160, those models have a DC IN outside the battery socket... They've learned from their mistakes, so why are they re-using the flawed PMW-200 design?

The lens hood design with a screw in bayonet mount in the dimensions figures drawing on the final page of the brochure suggests you can use a VCL-EX0877 since the lens is only .2mm wider at it's widest point.

Another nice addition is the SD card slot for proxy recordings. While all this is nice, the critical thing this lacks is a proper DC IN placement. And knowing Sony, The DC IN will be artificially limited this time to 12V. Use a battery pigtail and you will almost certainly get a "High Voltage" warning like the PMW-300.

Sorry to pull up this thread from the dead but has anyone picked up this cam? Thoughts on performance, low light, quality, ergonomics etc.?

Yes, I have the PXW-X200 and I find it to be a really nice camera. Low-light shooting is superb! I use it in a 'news' environment and it has exceeded my expectations. The 'sharpness' the camera produces is very nice....and it really is a step-up from other handhelds. I've used the Canon XF-305 and others....and this camera produces a far better image than any camera that I've recently used. I edit with AVID, and the software imports the files via AMA easily. Like all the hand-helds, it is not a perfect camera.....but I'm finding the image it produces to be great to work with. You can put me in the 'favorable' column.

Thanks Larry, I'm guessing its way better than the PMW200. Have you had a chance to play with the 10bit files and seeing how they hold up to grading?

I have and haven't seen many problems. I'm shooting some projects currently at 100mbs and the files look good following grading....although I'm just beginning to do that with the current project. Our engineers were stunned at the low light capability....and they are not easily impressed. I'm still experimenting....as I go about this project, but so far, given the price point.....this camera is pretty darn impressive!

Thanks very much for that. Looking forward to owning one. Great news about the low light!

Larry, what is the iris ramping like when you zoom, I know it is f1.9 at wide angle, at what point does it reach the lowest wide pen point where it sticks? I know the x180 starts at f1.6, and ramps to f2.4 at maximum 25x telephoto. I have an x70 currently, but shooting 100% night footage, the f4.0 at 8x which stays throughout the 24x ClearImage zoom with the associated noise/grain of digital zooming is horrid.

Trying to figure out which would be better in low light between the x180 and x200. Why the heck is the x180 a pound (0.4kg) heavier than the x200?!?!!?

Paul

I was wondering about that myself. A 1/3" camera that weighs a pound more than a comparable 1/2" one. I think it's mostly the lens (25x vs 17x) and maybe the continuously variable ND mechanism which could be some sort of electronically tinting optical module inside the camera.

I haven't played with the PXW-X200 yet, but I have been using the PXW-X180 quite a bit - and it's a whole different feature set than my older PMW200. One of the big reasons for having one in the kit is of course the 25:1 zoom range - so it does get used a lot when the 14x of the PMW200 doesn't go far enough.
In many ways the x180 seems like it's designed with a huge number of advances, and of course the variable ND is one of them. Also the addition of the 'soft' gain switch is major when setting up for an event feed - you can change gain settings and the exposure 'ramps' rather than 'clicking in hard'. Proxy recording to a separate SD card, being able to record to both SxS cards simultaneously if desired, having wi-fi control/streaming options. I've also gotten surprisingly clean images at plus gain. Of course if you're going for speed alone, my guess would be to go with the larger sensor. (Of course I also bring an A7s along to get cutaways of unlit audience shots.)
Again, I don't know how the feature sets match up between the X180 and X200, so I can't compare...

I have two X200's and I'm demoing an X180, and in terms of low light the X200 has roughly 8dB more sensitivity which makes a rather noticeable difference in low light!
There are some things I'd would have liked on the X200 (from the X180), like Waveform/Vectorscope as well as the AC power input (X200 requires the battery to be removed, while the X180 can have a battery installed as well as AC, and has a power supply and separate battery charger!).
If you can afford the X200 and 17x zoom is suitable (you don't need 25x zoom), then the X200 is a worthwhile purchase.
I have a Pro's/Con's review of the X200, but waiting for the firmware 1.20 to be installed before releasing it.

I found the X180 waveform and vectorscope to be useless, at least for what I use them for. The vectorscope and waveform will not display when in the menu, where you may want to use them to adjust levels or matrix settings. They will also not display if you are set to SD SDI or HDMI output, as I need to be for my work. :(

Things I love about the X180 include the best hand feelable control layout, the amazingly cool variable ND, and the lens is 10% wider than the X200. Things not to like include made of solid lead, 12 second power up, 5 second menu lag changes, and a lower case that is tilted to the right making tripod leveling a PITA.

Sure would love an extra stop and a kg of weight loss. :)

Paul