Sony model nomenclature at DVinfo.net

Jack Davis · December 21st, 2007, 05:45 PM

How does Sony name their cameras. XDCAM, HVR, DSR, PDW, HVR, DNW, PMW.

Thanks

Ivan Snoeckx · December 22nd, 2007, 07:13 AM

BVW-xxx = Betacam SP series (broadcast camcorders)
DCR-xxx = DV series (consumer)
DNW-xxx = Betacam SX series
DSR-xxx = DVCAM series
DVW-xxx = Digital Betacam series
EVW-xxx = Hi8 series
HDW-xxx = HDCAM series
HVR-xxx = HDV series
MSW-xxx = MPEG-IMX series
PDJ-xxx = Robotic Professional Disc Machine
PDW-xxx = XDCAM SD series + the upcoming XDCAM HD422 camcorder (PDW-700)
PDW-Fxxx = XDCAM HD series
PMW-xxx = XDCAM EX series
PVV-xxx = Betacam SP series (dockable VTR's)
PVW-xxx = Betacam SP series (broadcast VTR's)
SRW-xxx = HDCAM SR series
UVW-xxx = Betacam SP series (industrial VTR's + camcorder)

Greg Boston · December 22nd, 2007, 07:19 AM

Ivan, I think you just earned a stickie for that one! This may get moved to a more visible location in the future.

-gb-

Jack Davis · December 22nd, 2007, 02:52 PM

I second that. Great. Thanks!

Don Bloom · December 22nd, 2007, 04:08 PM

If he had that comitted to memory I think he should also get a GOLD STAR on his homework ;-)

Don

Tim Le · December 22nd, 2007, 08:42 PM

Really nice list Ivan! Btw, here are also some dockable and studio camera series you might want to add:

DXC-xxx Industrial SD dockable series
BVP-xxx Broadcast SD dockable and studio series
HDC-xxx Broadcast HD dockable, studio and POV series

Michael C. Williams · January 16th, 2008, 12:02 PM

And for those of us that have been around Sony video machines forever, you can't forget:

BVH-xxx 1" machines (I still have my portable BVH-500)
BVU-xxx 3/4" U-Matic machines

John Mitchell · April 27th, 2008, 10:02 PM

One small correction - the PVW Beta SP decks were "Professional series" not broadcast series. The Broadcast decks were the same as the cameras: BVW.

The main differences: BVW included 4 channel audio (via 2 FM tracks for 3 and 4 embedded in the video signal), a broadcast quality TBC and a higher signal to noise ratio spec on the video heads. The BVW-75 also featured slo motion (DT) heads for real time slomo playback. Ampex also brand labelled Sony BVW 70's and 75s with the nomenclature CVR-XX.

Adam Gold · May 18th, 2009, 11:46 AM

Just in case anyone still cares, we should note that HDR is for the consumer HDV series.

And we should probably also note the suffixes. There are probably more, but the ones I know are:

U = US NTSC
E = Europe PAL
P = Pacific PAL
C = China (PAL?)
J = Japan NTSC

Someone with more knowledge than I may wish to weigh in on this...

Ahmet Toca · June 24th, 2009, 12:57 PM

is there any list where we can see all model names and release dates? Like a sony online museum where they have current model infos as well.

Casey Krugman · July 22nd, 2010, 12:33 PM

HDR-HCx: Handheld consumer HDV
HDR-CXxx : Handheld consumer AVCHD Flash Memory
HDR-XRxx: Handheld consumer AVCHD HDD
HDR-FXxx: Prosumer HDV
HDR-AXxx: Prosumer AVCHD
HXR-Nxx: Professional AVCHD
HXR-MCxx: Ultracompact AVCHD
HVR-Mxxx: HDV deck

Dave Blackhurst · July 22nd, 2010, 08:44 PM

Also HDR-SRxx: handycam consumer AVCHD HDD 2008 model year, replaced by the XR with "CMOS R"

Douglas Call · December 12th, 2013, 05:03 PM

HDR-AX1 Digital 4K Video Camera Recorder
HDR-AS30V HD POV Action Camcorder
HDR-MV1 Music Camcorder
HXR-NX3 professional handheld HD camcorder

What no respect for CineAlta Cinematic Cameras?
F65 PMW-F55 PMW-F5 PMW-F3 NEX-FS700R NEX-FS100U HDWF900R :-)

December 21st, 2007, 05:45 PM	#1
Jack Davis Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Wilmington, North Carolina Posts: 63	Sony model nomenclature How does Sony name their cameras. XDCAM, HVR, DSR, PDW, HVR, DNW, PMW. Thanks

December 22nd, 2007, 07:13 AM	#2
Ivan Snoeckx Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Belgium \| Europe Posts: 441	BVW-xxx = Betacam SP series (broadcast camcorders) DCR-xxx = DV series (consumer) DNW-xxx = Betacam SX series DSR-xxx = DVCAM series DVW-xxx = Digital Betacam series EVW-xxx = Hi8 series HDW-xxx = HDCAM series HVR-xxx = HDV series MSW-xxx = MPEG-IMX series PDJ-xxx = Robotic Professional Disc Machine PDW-xxx = XDCAM SD series + the upcoming XDCAM HD422 camcorder (PDW-700) PDW-Fxxx = XDCAM HD series PMW-xxx = XDCAM EX series PVV-xxx = Betacam SP series (dockable VTR's) PVW-xxx = Betacam SP series (broadcast VTR's) SRW-xxx = HDCAM SR series UVW-xxx = Betacam SP series (industrial VTR's + camcorder) Last edited by Ivan Snoeckx; December 22nd, 2007 at 07:43 AM.

July 22nd, 2010, 12:33 PM	#11
Casey Krugman Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 135	New Ones... HDR-HCx: Handheld consumer HDV HDR-CXxx : Handheld consumer AVCHD Flash Memory HDR-XRxx: Handheld consumer AVCHD HDD HDR-FXxx: Prosumer HDV HDR-AXxx: Prosumer AVCHD HXR-Nxx: Professional AVCHD HXR-MCxx: Ultracompact AVCHD HVR-Mxxx: HDV deck

December 12th, 2013, 05:03 PM	#13
Douglas Call Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 302	Re: Sony model nomenclature HDR-AX1 Digital 4K Video Camera Recorder HDR-AS30V HD POV Action Camcorder HDR-MV1 Music Camcorder HXR-NX3 professional handheld HD camcorder What no respect for CineAlta Cinematic Cameras? F65 PMW-F55 PMW-F5 PMW-F3 NEX-FS700R NEX-FS100U HDWF900R :-)

December 22nd, 2007, 07:19 AM	#3
Greg Boston Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DFW area, TX Posts: 6,117 Images: 1	Ivan, I think you just earned a stickie for that one! This may get moved to a more visible location in the future. -gb-

December 22nd, 2007, 02:52 PM	#4
Jack Davis Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Wilmington, North Carolina Posts: 63	I second that. Great. Thanks!

December 22nd, 2007, 04:08 PM	#5
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	If he had that comitted to memory I think he should also get a GOLD STAR on his homework ;-) Don

December 22nd, 2007, 08:42 PM	#6
Tim Le Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 350	Really nice list Ivan! Btw, here are also some dockable and studio camera series you might want to add: DXC-xxx Industrial SD dockable series BVP-xxx Broadcast SD dockable and studio series HDC-xxx Broadcast HD dockable, studio and POV series

January 16th, 2008, 12:02 PM	#7
Michael C. Williams New Boot Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Kent, WA - USA Posts: 8	And for those of us that have been around Sony video machines forever, you can't forget: BVH-xxx 1" machines (I still have my portable BVH-500) BVU-xxx 3/4" U-Matic machines

April 27th, 2008, 10:02 PM	#8
John Mitchell Contributor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 873	One small correction - the PVW Beta SP decks were "Professional series" not broadcast series. The Broadcast decks were the same as the cameras: BVW. The main differences: BVW included 4 channel audio (via 2 FM tracks for 3 and 4 embedded in the video signal), a broadcast quality TBC and a higher signal to noise ratio spec on the video heads. The BVW-75 also featured slo motion (DT) heads for real time slomo playback. Ampex also brand labelled Sony BVW 70's and 75s with the nomenclature CVR-XX.

May 18th, 2009, 11:46 AM	#9
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Just in case anyone still cares, we should note that HDR is for the consumer HDV series. And we should probably also note the suffixes. There are probably more, but the ones I know are: U = US NTSC E = Europe PAL P = Pacific PAL C = China (PAL?) J = Japan NTSC Someone with more knowledge than I may wish to weigh in on this...

June 24th, 2009, 12:57 PM	#10
Ahmet Toca New Boot Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Malaysia Posts: 17	is there any list where we can see all model names and release dates? Like a sony online museum where they have current model infos as well.

July 22nd, 2010, 08:44 PM	#12
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	Also HDR-SRxx: handycam consumer AVCHD HDD 2008 model year, replaced by the XR with "CMOS R"