I vaguely remember that one. I found a pic.

And now... for the amateur question of this thread. I don't suppose this camcorder has optical image stabilization? I know this is supposed to be a professional camcorder, but it is sort of straddling the line and looks a little bit like my VX 2000.

Oh dear...I thought the Z1 was ALREADY too big. It's no fun to shoot one handheld; should've been a shoulder-mounted form factor.

We seem concerned about the camera's specs, design, ergonomics, price, availability,etc. I think we need to be a little patient here. Sony just announced the intro of this new XDCAM Ex camcorder. It's obvious Sony is still working on this cam.

We may know it's a new format camcorder which records on a SxS flash card, in various forms of HD and framerates. But, the chipset hasn't finalized. Everyone keeps asking if it's CMOS or CCD, is it a fixed lens or what?? Hell, I've noticed this model doesn't even have a name yet. When Sony released their other new format cams, like their HDV cams, they already had thier names as well, the HDR-FX1, HVR-Z1U, HDR-HC3, etc. I know most XDCams go under the lettering PDW, like PDW-330, but, PDW-what for this cam??

It's obvious Sony is still working on this cam, they don't even have a name for it yet.

Ozzy

It most likely won't have a PDW designator. It's not a new format, it's the XDCAM format being written onto flash, rather than optical. That's the beauty of it. Owners of XDCAM HD cameras will be able to have a smaller form factor camera that records with the same codec so they won't have to work as hard to intercut between large and small camera anymore. It IS a fixed lens camera. That much is for certain. I had the camera in my hands yesterday and it does power up. I just didn't have anything to record onto.

The rear viewfinder is color and the LCD screen tucks under the handle and swivels out to the left, then rotates into viewing position.

-gb-

I like the Z1 form factor. I think it's a very comfortable camcorder to use. Do you think Sony will change the EX into an HD100/HD200 type shoulder mount cam? That would be pretty cool - 1/2" 3-chip, fixed manual lens, shoulder mount mini-PDW camcorder. Or maybe they'll introduce both - shoulder mount and Z1 form factor. Either way, it's the camera a lot of us have been waiting for.

Do you remember the FX1 when it was first shown at IBC and NAB? Everyone felt it was a mockup and not a real camera. Whether it was or not, when they finally released the FX1 (about 6 months later IIRC) it looked just like the one they first showed.

Personally I think Sony will release a camera that looks like the one we saw at NAB, and they will want to differentiate it from the larger XDCAM series by giving it a fixed lens.

I think one of the reasons for the XDCAM EX having a fixed lens is because it’s cheaper to manufacture this way. You end up paying less for the camcorder which is a good thing.

Zoom Ratio on XDCam EX
 

Has anyone herd what the zoom ratio is on the new XDCam? I'm hoping 20x...

Joel

I remember someone saying 14X.

I would love to see this camcorder with a zoom ratio of 20X as well but with 1/2" imagers, it seems unlikely unless they make the lens bigger.

Greg, if you don't mind, since you had the oportunity to play with this pre-production unit, did you have a chance to look at both the LCD monitor and viewfinder with the camera switched on? How did it look to you? Sharp enough to eye focus? Can you compare it to the HVX200 if you've used one before? Of course it might still be up for change, but let's assume it's not for discussion's sake.

Have not handled the HVX200 so I can't compare. I was specifically looking at the color VF to determine focus capability. It seemed okay, but I've gotten used to the BW viewfinder on my F350 with the peaking to help determine focus (IOW, I've gotten spoiled). I didn't have a chance to look for any type of focusing aid (2x or focus assist) like the JVC HD100 has.

-gb-

Greg, another important question to you: can the EX talk to the PDW-U1 directly, so that dumping from SxS cards to the Pro Disc is possible in field, without a computer?

Saw that question earlier and honestly, I don't know as yet. The only interface I know of on the PDW-U1 is a USB2 connection. We had asked Sony for firewire but for some reason they went with USB2. Keep in mind Piotr, that the drive won't be able to write to disc until 2008.

-gb-

Greg, 2008 is OK with me if the EX with 2 SxS cards, plus the PDW-U1 with a bunch of disks is all I need when away from my office! I think this exciting camera should go with the PDW-U1 as naturally as my V1 goes with the HVR-DR60 disk drive.