. 4K recording is 8-bit 4:2:0 instead of 10-bit 4:2:2. 4K recording is limited to 24/25/30 frames per second. A 60fps option would be nice. It can only output 4K to two destinations at a time. So you can output via HDMI and the LCD monitor at the same time until. Sony has announced the PXWZ150 and it has arrived to our shores. Its a new compact 4K camcorder similar in size with the HXR-NX100. The first question regarding this video camera was, what's the difference between the PXW-Z100 which has been around for a while now and the Z150? Both are 4K camcorders but the newer model the Z150 is cheaper. My quick overall opinion on the Sony PXW-Z90 is this little 4K camera is a straight-up documentary / ENG/ grab and go camera designed to be fast and quick to grab those important documentary moments needed to tell an emotional story.
Sony Pxw Z100
The Sony PXW-Z150, Sony’s latest fixed lens video camera, was released at BVE last week. Aimed at END news-gathering, documentary, and video productions, this new HD and 4k camera sits in the “mid-range”—just below the FS5. It boasts some impressive features for a camera around the $3,500 mark which made me very keen to take a look! Because now Sony introduces the PXW-Z100, the one-piece handheld camcorder that makes the phenomenal imagery of 4K available to anyone, anywhere, for any application. With the PXW-Z100 you can shoot incredibly rich, superbly robust 1080p HD, then switch over to 4K (4096 x 2160) or 4K TV-friendly Quad Full HD (3840 x 2160) whenever you need them.
Here we go! Before you read one more word watch the video. It really is stunning. make sure you change the settings to original first to see it in YouTube 4K.
Sony has two, shall I say affordable camcorders in the 4K format. The FDR-AX1 is retailing for $4,500. Its using the XAVC S format by capturing video in MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Long GOP and audio in linear PCM saved in an “MP4 wrapper. Got that? A 64GB card will get you 2 hours of 4K video. The FDR-AX1 uses a 1/2.3 Exmor R CMOS sensor and a 20x optical zoom (31.5-630mm) G lens, and has built in ND filters. I think the days of no internal ND filters is finally over.
The more prosumer PXW-Z100 retails for $6500. It has 1/2.33-inch type Exmor R CMOS sensor 4K compact XDCAM camcorder recording on XAVC format. More on specs below. This camera would be a good fit for documentary work since it has a much more robust codec options. The small sensor wont get you that shallow depth of field look but for event shooting this might be a better choice.
I think this is a smart move for Sony since they need consumers to have 4K content in order to want to buy a new 4K television, and if they can create their own with a high end camera then the need would be more pressing to get a new display. This train has left the station and in order to get more people on board it has to be affordable. I’m sure we are going to see a lot more 4K offerings in this price range soon from Panasonic. They have been so quite they must be getting something going soon.
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Sony Pxw Z100 4k Review 2018
Here is the info on the PXW-Z100
Professional handheld camcorder records 4K using the XAVC format on to XQD solid state memory cards.
Sony Pxw Z150 Specs
The PXW-Z100 professional 4K handheld XDCAM camcorder features a 1/2.33-inch Exmor R CMOS sensor with 16 million pixels. The camcorder is ideal for creating stunning 4K content (4096 x 2160) at 50 fps (frames per second) or 60 fps. The camcorder makes it easier for everyone from high-end cinema to entry-level productions to work in the 4K world.
Stunning 4K, QFHD or HD images in lightweight camcorder
The PXW-Z100, together with the fixed 4K-compatible high-performance G Lens, weighs less than 3kg. It uses the XAVC recording format first used in the PMW-F55 CineAlta camera. As with the F55, 4K (4096 x 2160, 50fps or 60fps. 4:2:2, Intra-frame,10-bit recording in MXF file format) is possible at a high-bit rate of 500Mbps or 600Mbps. QFHD (3840 x 2160) and HD (1920 x 1080) resolutions can also be selected, both of which are compatible with most 4K TV’s.
4K (4096 x 2160) 50fps or 60fps shooting
The camcorder provides good sensitivity due to the back-illuminated Exmor™ R CMOS sensor. With 8 million effective pixels, the 1/2.33″ sensor captures 4K images at 50fps or 60fps. The inbuilt high-performance G Lens offers maximum shooting flexibility, including a wide angle of 29.5mm (equivalent to 35mm) and 20x powerful optical zoom.
XAVC recording format at 4K 50fps/60fps, 4:22 10-bit at 500/600Mbps, HD at up to 223Mbps
The PXW-Z100 uses Sony’s XAVC recording format first employed in the PMW-F55 CineAlta 4K camera. MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 compression is used for HD (1920 x 1080), QFHD (3840 x 2016) and 4K (4096 x 2160) content. Image sampling is 4:2:2 10-bit, with an intra-frame system that compresses each frame individually at a maximum bit rate of 500Mbps or 600Mbps during 4K 50fps or 60fps recording respectively and 223Mbps during HD 50fps or 60fps recording. The XAVC format is ideal for those looking to implement a high-quality, secure and worry-free workflow.
A free firmware update is planned for the middle of 2014 to support the LongGOP mode for extended 4K recording time and to add support for AVCHD recording, a format that until now has been compatible with the playback environment of Blu-ray Discs.
XQD Memory Card recording
The XQD Memory Card* is a new standard of solid state memory, which was recently defined by several industry leading companies. XQD uses the ultra-fast PCI Express interface and Sony’s unique camera processor to enable stable video recording at 500Mbps or 600Mbps. The PXW-Z100 features two XQD Memory Card slots. Multiple cards can be used in various ways, such as for relay recording. When the first card becomes full, recording continues on the second card without a break.
* XQD cards have a write speed of up to 800Mbps. The use of S Series cards with 180MB/s writing speed is recommended.
HDMI interface for 4K output and 3G HD-SDI interface for HD output
The HDMI interface on the PXW-Z100 can output 4K as a 50fps/60fps signal. When the PXW-Z100 is connected to a Sony 4K-compatible BRAVIA TV, the recorded 4K image can be displayed in 4K 50fps/60fps quality. A future firmware upgrade is planned to provide compatibility with the new HDMI 2.0 standard and enable 4K 50fps/60fps output to a wider range of devices. Other features include a 3G HD-SDI interface that supports output to an SDI of up to HD 60fps. It also supports HD output during 4K recording.
Paint function for more creative freedom
The PXW-Z100’s paint function enables multiple image parameters to be adjusted including gamma curve, black level, skin detail and colour. The range of settings is similar to those in the PMW-F55. Together with other setting options, parameter settings can be recorded as a camera profile onto a memory card. The recorded camera profile can then be used to set the same parameters in another PXW-Z100 to enable the matching of quality and image tones when using a multi-camera setup.
Remote control with WiFi
Focus, zoom, aperture settings and ‘record start/stop’ can be remote controlled using the browser function of a smartphone or tablet.
Filed in: 4K • New Release • Sony
The PXW-Z100 is Sonys affordable entry-point to 4K and includes a lot of new technologies and features in a compact, reassuringly familiar package. Whilst the market is still weighing up 4K, the Z100 brings it into the reach of a far wider professional audience.
It sounds a little familiar when I think back: Long, long ago, in a time before HD
Sony launched the HVR-Z1E – a remarkable camcorder that brought HD to the corporate, event and videography market. You could record HDV, but finding a method to play it back could be tricky – HD screens were hard to come by. We found that the HDV had some tricks up its sleeve: it could make great Standard Definition video, by shrinking blocky colour pixels you could achieve chromate, and we could make 720p video for playback on computer screens – the corporate world was introduced to HD through PowerPoint. At the same time, we got FireWire, SD features like anamorphic 16:9, in-camcorder down convert of HDV rushes so we could file away our HDV masters and continue to work in the comfort and safety of DV.
The Z1 is dead – long live the Z100
I feel the same way about the PXW-Z100 as I did about the Z1. It brings many new exciting technologies that seem to be ready for the long term. It certainly challenges my current workflow in the same way HDV did back then, and its headline feature – 4K – is deservedly the centre of attention at launch. Well look at what 4K can bring to the videography market, but we also need to introduce the alphabet soup of new abbreviations and acronyms that accompany the camcorder. There are some features borrowed from its bigger brethren that are new to this class of camcorder and present intriguing opportunities to the corporate and industrial market.
There’s one thing that this review isnt able to provide in its first iteration – a review of the actual video. Sadly, this review was based around an early prototype and whilst many of the functions were up and running, the picture quality had been dialed back to allow debugging. It would be unfair to show the images I shot with its beta software, but I saw enough to be very enthused with the power of 4K. As time goes on, more and more examples of both 4K and 4K down sampled to 1080p will appear, but the first few samples have been impressive.
So, to start at the beginning, we need to establish whether the PXW-Z100 is suitable as a videographers tool. By videography, I refer to people who generally edit what they shoot, who tend to work alone or in a 2 person team, with a balance of Run & Gun, formal and lit interviews or pack shots, and voxpop or candid style filming. They mostly need to get a wide range of shots and lots of coverage in a short space of time. Generally speaking, videographers cannot control their environment and must make do in terms of lighting, sound and even camcorder placement.
Because of the amount of rushes a videographer generates, and that most finished work is destined for the web or PowerPoint rather than the cinema or broadcast TV, theres a preference for a compressed video encoding system, but the flexibility to use less compression and more colour resolution is certainly appreciated – especially when using chromakey or covering events with very strong coloured lighting setups (theatrical, music, event).
Videographers want a neat, compact camcorder that doesnt consume lots of batteries or require the juggling of expensive media; something that can be pulled from a bag and be shooting in seconds; something that doesnt have frighteningly shallow depth of field but can still generate a good quality image. So thats a long, drawn out way of saying youre probably not going to shoot a feature film or big TV drama on the Z100. The F5, F55 and F65 mop up that end of the market. Youre probably not going to find this the ideal camcorder for traditional Electronic News Gathering, high end documentary or sports coverage – though Im sure it will be used in those categories usually given to Sonys PMW and PDW range of camcorders. Beyond videography, the PXW-Z100 is great for independent documentary, and will crop up on general production too.