Sony unveils the EX3 successor: PMW-300

[Bernd Eller]

Press release:
Sony introduces the PMW-300 semi-shoulder mount camcorder ? bringing a new workhorse to Broadcast, Productions & Corporate Events. : Presse : Sony Professional

Better photo:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...64816081_o.jpg

[Per-Axel Gjores]

Sony has now announced the successor to the EX3, the PMW-300:

Sony introduces the PMW-300 semi-shoulder mount camcorder ? bringing a new workhorse to Broadcast, Productions & Corporate Events. : Press : Sony Professional

On sale in October, two Sony lens options will be offered and it will be upgradable to XAVC recording!

[Glen Vandermolen]

We knew this was coming! Really nice!

[Andy Wilkinson]

At last! Just bought a rMBP this morning - now with this news I'll probably have to start saving up yet again!

[Jack Zhang]

Hopefully the XAVC mode forthcoming supports 1080p60 and 1080p50. If not, it would be behind Panasonic and AVC Ultra by the time 1080p60 shoulder cams come out.

Also, very nice to see the rotary hand grip making a comeback.

[Ronald Jackson]

Given, hooray, that it has the same lens mount as the EX3 (and others) I'll be interested to see what stock lenses are offered. The Fujinon on my EX3 is too short for most of my needs.

Ron

[Glen Vandermolen]

Originally Posted by Jack Zhang

Hopefully the XAVC mode forthcoming supports 1080p60 and 1080p50. If not, it would be behind Panasonic and AVC Ultra by the time 1080p60 shoulder cams come out.

Also, very nice to see the rotary hand grip making a comeback.

Panasonic already announced an AVC-Ultra 1080/60P shoulder cam - the PX5000. But it's going to cost a lot more than this camera, around $27,000 - without a lens. The cheaper HPX600 won't be able to upgrade to 60P, as far as I know. If you're waiting on a cheaper Panny shoulder-mount 60P camera, it may not happen.
I don 't know if giving the 300 the XAVC codec will make it 60P capable.

And technically, the rotating hand grip never went away, at least not on the EX3/ PMW-300s.

I see the PMW-300 as a very versatile, do-all camera. True broadcast codec using the popular XDCAM & XAVC, small size, 1/2" sensors, Wifi, HD/SDI, HDMI, timecode - all the professional connections you'd need. Semi shoulder is sort of meh, but it's not a show stopper.

I was seriously looking at the HPX600, but now I might have to wait until the price of this one comes out. I'm guessing around $8,200, if Sony follows its practice of pricing the new cameras about the same as the cameras they're replacing. ex- the PMW-200 is priced about the same as the EX1R.

[Glen Vandermolen]

Originally Posted by Ronald Jackson

Given, hooray, that it has the same lens mount as the EX3 (and others) I'll be interested to see what stock lenses are offered. The Fujinon on my EX3 is too short for most of my needs.

Ron

Stock is 14x, with a 16x as an option. A more expensive option, I'm guessing.
Yes, same lens mount.

[David Heath]

Which leaves a missing link in the chain - when will we see the PMW320 get the "50Mbs makeover"? It's happened to the PMW350 (the 400), the EX1 (the 200) and now the EX3. So when an upgraded 320?

I bought a PMW320 last year and at the price I wanted to pay, then at the time it was easily the best choice for me - still is. Only comparable competition that was a serious rival was the HPX370 - but the 1/2" v 1/3" chip size made all the difference.

That said, the one advantage the 370 had is undeniably a full broadcast spec codec. To me, that's far less of an issue than the chip size differences, but without question a PMW320 with 50Mbs recording would have been even more attractive.

[Glen Vandermolen]

Interesting, David, as you know the codec is far more important to me over chip size. I picked the Canon XF305 over the EX1R because of that reason.
This camera has both, win-win overall.

[Robin Probyn]

The new EX3.. PMW300.. looks like another winner.. and a decent VF at last..

[Andy Solaini]

If the PMW300 is good in low light I might very well sell my XF300 and buy one.

Being an interchangeable lens camera like the EX3 is a massive advantage for me when I shoot wildlife as I could use an adaptor and Nikon lenses and utilise the crop factor.

[Les Wilson]

I see that the rotating grip lives on apparently due to popular demand: "Based on customer feedback the PMW-300 features an innovative semi-shoulder design that has a rotary hand grip, allowing comfortable recording over long periods of time."

[Mark OConnell]

This is excellent news!

[Glen Vandermolen]

Originally Posted by Les Wilson

I see that the rotating grip lives on apparently due to popular demand: "Based on customer feedback the PMW-300 features an innovative semi-shoulder design that has a rotary hand grip, allowing comfortable recording over long periods of time."

If they really listened to customer feedback, they'd have made it a full shoulder design.