Sony PMW-320K XDCAM EX HD Camcorder W/16x Zoom Lens

Sony's XDCAM EX lineup continues to expand and improve with the PMW-320K Full HD Camcorder. Nearly identical to the larger-sensor PMW-350L, this professional shoulder-mount camera boasts three 1/2"-type full-HD CMOS sensors, solid state SxS workflow and an impressive set of advanced features, setting new standards for affordable, high-end videography. With a chassis based on the XDCAM HD422, the PMW-320K also manages to be one of the lightest--and most well-balanced--camcorders in its class (even factoring in the included 16x interchangeable Fujinon lens).

But comfort and portability are only the beginning. Pressing the Record button reveals what the PMW-320K is really about: topnotch image quality. And this camcorder comes by it honestly, whether in its High Quality 35Mbs HD setting or using the optional 25Mbs DVCAM recording mode. Either way, your images are captured quietly and efficiently to SxS PRO or the new, lower-cost SxS-1 memory cards--storing up to 280 minutes of MPEG-2 HD video on two 32GB cards. You can even record uncompressed 4:2:2 video by capturing to an external recorder via the camera's HD-SDI output.

Exceptionally low power consumption (down to 15W) means the PMW-320K can run on a single 90Wh battery for up to 5 hours, which is not only good for the environment, but fewer batteries mean less weight (and lower costs) on long-distance shoots. Other features--some passed down from Sony's higher-end F900R and PDW-700--are also worth highlighting, including scene file settings, adjustable gamma, and Matrix settings that can be stored on memory cards. Four channels of audio and a viewfinder that incorporates the EX1/EX3's entire high-resolution LCD screen (and adds image flip) make the shooter's job even easier. With the introduction of the PMW-320K, Sony reaffirms its XDCAM EX cameras as serious high-definition contenders.

Three 1/2"-type Exmor CMOS Sensors

The PMW-320K is equipped with three newly developed 1/2"-type Exmor CMOS sensors, each with an effective pixel count of 1920 (H) x 1080 (V). These deliver superior picture performance with full-HD resolution. This 1/2"-type image sensor allows the camcorder to provide an excellent sensitivity of F10 in 60Hz mode (F11 in 50Hz), a remarkable signal-to-noise ratio of 54dB, and a high horizontal resolution of 1000 TV lines (in 1920 x 1080/59.94i mode). In addition, the large sensors can capture images with a shallower depth of field, giving users more freedom of creative expression.

What's more, the Exmor CMOS sensor's unique design deploys an A/D converter to each column of pixels, resulting in a much lower clock speed than conventional CMOS sensors. This makes it possible to greatly reduce power consumption of the camcorder.

1920 x 1080 HD Recording Using the "MPEG-2 Long GOP" Codec

The PMW-320K records 1920 x 1080 full HD images using the "MPEG-2 Long GOP" codec, which conforms to the MPEG-2 MP@HL compression standard. "MPEG-2 Long GOP" is a mature codec--also adopted by the XDCAM HD and HDV 1080i series of products--which enables users to record stunning HD video and audio with highly efficient, reliable data compression.

Selectable Recording Modes Including DVCAM Recording

The PMW-320K offers a choice of bit rates--either 35Mbs (HQ mode) or 25Mbs (SP mode)--depending on the desired picture quality and recording time. The HQ mode supports 1920 x 1080, 1440 x 1080 and 1280 x 720 resolutions. The 1440 x 1080 mode is new to the PMW-320K, ensuring native integration of XDCAM EX footage into an XDCAM HD Professional Disc workflow. By supporting 1440 x 1080, 35Mbs recording, material can be utilized with no transcode, just a rewrap to MXF for NLE and archiving.

The SP mode supports 1440 x 1080 resolution at 25Mbs, which provides compatibility with HDV 1080i products. Footage recorded in this SP mode can be seamlessly integrated into HDV-compatible editing systems by transferring the stream from the camcorder via the i.LINK (HDV) interface.

The PMW-320K also supports 25Mbs DVCAM recording in either PAL or NTSC modes, again providing seamless integration into existing DVCAM workflows, offering ultimate flexibility worldwide.

Robust Nonlinear Recording Media, "SxS PRO" & "SxS-1"

The XDCAM EX series adopts high-speed SxS PRO and SxS-1 memory cards for its recording media, developed specifically for professional content creation applications with a number of key features:

• Compatible with ExpressCard/34 interface slot which is common on modern Windows PCs and Macs
• Uses PCI Express interface and achieves an extremely high "read" speed of 800 Mbs*
• Large storage capacity: SBP-16 (16 GB) and SBP-32 (32 GB) memory cards are available.
• Can record up to 140 minutes of HD video and audio (using one 32-GB memory card)
• Compact size: approx. 75 x 34 x 5 mm (excluding the projecting parts)--half the size of the older PC Card standard
• Low power consumption
• Highly reliable: can resist shocks (up to 1500 G) and vibrations (up to 15 G)
• Affordability: SxS-1 media (introduced in late 2009) provides users with a lower cost alternative to SxS PRO media that offers the same high performance, but with an estimated 5-year life span when recording at full capacity once per day. Users can check the card life on their PMW-320K camcorder and even see an alarm when the data rewriting limit is reached.
• SDHC and Memory Stick media can now be used with MEAD Adaptors.

*This data-transfer speed is a theoretical value. Actual data-transfer speed depends on the file type and the performance of the PC.

Fujinon 16x 1/2" HD Lens

The PMW-320K comes equipped with a Fujinon HD lens with 16x zoom. And since the camera offers a standard 1/2" bayonet lens interface, the user can also choose from a wide variety of optional lenses in the existing 1/2" HD lens line-up.

Long Recording Time

Utilizing a mature and highly efficient compression format together with high performance SxS memory cards, the PMW-320K can record superb quality HD images for an exceptional 140 minutes* on a single 32GB SxS card. As the PMW-320K features two memory card slots, this recording time is easily increased to 280 minutes (with two 32GB cards) and when recording across two cards, the transition is seamless without any frame loss. This feature makes the PMW-320K an ideal camcorder for a wide variety of content production applications, including wedding and event videography, that require a long recording time.

*When recording in HQ (35Mbs) mode, recording time may be more than the above specified figure depending on the actual bit rate that is adopted during VBR encoding.

Multiple-format Recording

The PMW-320K offers a wide array of recording formats for multiple content creation applications. In HD mode, scanning is switchable between 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, and 1440 x 1080 resolutions. Frame rate is also selectable from interlace and progressive: 59.94i, 50i, 29.97P, 25P, and native 23.98P.*

In addition, 59.94P and 50P progressive recording is available in 1280 x 720 mode. In SD mode, both 50/60i and 25P/30P modes are supported.

*In 1440 x 1080/23.98P (SP) mode, images are handled as 23.98P and recorded as 59.94i signals through means of 2-3 pulldown.

4-Channel Audio

The PMW-320K is the first XDCAM EX camcorder to record four channels of 16-bit, 48-kHz, linear PCM uncompressed audio. Each channel level can be controlled by an independent individual level controller. (When an SxS memory card with four-channel audio is replayed by the PMW-EX1, PMW-EX1R, PMW-EX3, or PMW-EX30, only CH-1/2 or CH-3/4 can be replayed.)

Wide Choice of Optional Microphones

Although the PMW-320K is equipped with a shotgun microphone, three optional microphones--the ECM-680S, ECM-678, and ECM-673--are also available. As well as the supplied microphone, the ECM-680S can operate in either stereo or monaural (uni-directional) mode. These modes can be selected from the switch on the microphone or from the PMW-320K itself.

The camcorder is also equipped with a slot to accommodate a DWR-S01D digital wireless microphone receiver, which provides two-channel audio with stable and secure transmission. The WRR-855 Series microphone receiver can also be used in this slot.

IT Friendly

With the XDCAM EX series, recordings are made as data files in the "MP4" format, which is widely used in a number of recent electronic portable devices and has been standardized by ISO.

The file-based recording allows material to be handled with great flexibility in an IT-based environment--easily available for copying, transferring, sharing, and archiving. All these operations are accomplished without any "digitizing" process required.

File-based data copying allows for degradation-free dubbing of AV content, which can be performed easily on a PC. The file-based recording system also allows for material to be viewed directly on a PC--simply by inserting the SxS memory card into the ExpressCard slot on a PC or Mac, or by linking a PC/Mac to the XDCAM EX unit via a USB2 connection. This works in the same way as a PC reading files on an external drive. The file-based operation can dramatically improve the efficiency and quality of professional video applications.

Immediate Recording Start and No Overwriting Footage

By virtue of recording on flash memory cards, the PMW-320K can start recording virtually the instant the camcorder is turned on. Moreover, the PMW-320K system automatically records on an empty area of the card--there's no danger of overwriting existing content.

This is extremely convenient, as camera operators do not have to worry about accidentally recording over good takes, and they don't have to search through footage for the correct position to start the next recording. In short, it means the camera is always ready for the next shot!

Instant-access Thumbnail Search with "Expand" Function

Each time a recording is started and stopped on the PMW-320K camcorder, the video and audio signals are recorded as one clip. During playback, users can cue-up to the next or previous clip simply by pressing the 'Next' or 'Previous' button, as you would do on a CD or DVD player.

Furthermore, thumbnails are automatically generated for each clip as a visual reference, allowing operators to cue-up to a desired scene simply by guiding the cursor to a thumbnail and pressing the 'Play' button.

For further convenience, the 'Expand' function allows one selected clip in the thumbnail display to be divided into 12 even-time intervals, each with their own thumbnail identifier. This is useful if you want to quickly search for a particular scene within a lengthy clip.

One-push Auto Iris

A One-push Auto Iris button allows the user to go into Auto Iris mode only when this button is pushed.

Expanded Focus

At the touch of a button, the center of the screen on the viewfinder can be magnified to about twice normal size, making it easier to confirm focus settings during manual focusing. When the switch is released, the center of the screen goes back to normal size.

Selectable Peaking

The Peaking function can help operators adjust the camera's focus more accurately by altering the way pictures are displayed on the LCD monitor and viewfinder. It can enhance the outline of the image, which the camera focuses on most, and change its color to make it more visible. Enhance levels can be selected from a choice of "HIGH," "MIDDLE," and "LOW," and the outline color from "RED," "WHITE," "YELLOW," and "BLUE."

ALAC (Automatic Lens Aberration Compensation)

This feature decreases any chromatic aberration caused by the lens, which is active only with the PMW-320K's supplied lens and with certain third-party lenses that incorporate compensation data. Please check with your lens supplier for ALAC support.

Optical ND Filters and Electrical CC Filters

The PMW-320K comes equipped with optical ND (Neutral Density) filters and electrical CC (Color Correction) filters. The optical ND filters are controlled via a built-in ND filter wheel--Clear, 1/4ND, 1/16ND, and 1/64ND. And with the electrical CC filters, users can easily obtain the desired color temperature by setting the mode--3200K/4300K/5600K/6300K--on a camcorder-assignable switch. Users can select the four values cyclically, or choose one preset value. This is also available via an assignable switch. This is useful when a sudden change occurs during shooting, and a quick and direct setting is required.

23.98P Native Recording

All XDCAM EX camcorders are part of the legendary Sony CineAlta family and offer native 23.98P* recording which, in combination with advanced creative features such as selectable gamma curves, makes this camcorder ideal for cinema production.

*In 1440 x 1080/23.98P (SP) mode, images are handled as 23.98P and recorded as 59.94i signals through means of 2-3 pulldown.

Slow & Quick Motion Function

The PMW-320K offers a powerful Slow & Quick Motion function--commonly known as 'over-cranking' and 'under-cranking' in film shooting--that enables users to create unique 'looks' or special effects with slow- and fast-motion images.

The PMW-320K can capture images at frame rates selectable from 1 fps (frame per second) to 60 fps in 720P mode and from 1 fps to 30 fps in 1080P mode, in increments of 1 fps. For example, when viewed at 23.98P, images captured at 60 fps will appear 2.5 times slower than normal. Conversely, images captured at 4 fps will appear six times faster than normal.

With the Slow & Quick Motion function of this camcorder, images are recorded natively without interpolating the frames. This means the quality of the slow- and fast-motion images is extremely high and incomparable to those created in the editing process. In addition, these slow- and quick-motion images can be played back immediately after shooting, without using any converters or processing on non-linear editing systems.

Image Inversion Function

When a cine-style lens or a stills camera lens is attached to the camcorder with a DOF (Depth of Field) adapter, the image is usually rotated by 180°. The Image Inversion function normalizes the image for easy picture monitoring. This will also negate the need to flip the image in post-production.

Slow Shutter Function

The PMW-320K offers a Slow Shutter function for capturing clear images in low-light environments. This allows the shutter speed to be extended to a maximum of 64 frames. The Slow Shutter function not only increases camera sensitivity but also produces a special blurring effect when shooting a moving object, for enhanced shooting creativity. The shutter speed is selectable from 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, 16-, 32-, and 64-frame periods.

Selectable Gamma Curves

The PMW-320K camcorder offers a wide variety of gamma curves to flexibly handle contrast and give a specific 'look' to an image. In addition to six types of standard gamma curves, there are four types of Hyper Gamma which are identical to those on high-end CineAlta camcorders. Operators can select the best-suited preset gamma curve, depending on scenes.

Cache Recording Function

Once enabled, Cache Recording continuously streams audio and video through the camcorder's internal memory. Once the Record button is pushed, the content buffered in the camcorder's memory is recorded onto the memory media at the start of the recording clip. The caching period can be adjusted for up to 15 seconds, so in a situation such as monitoring a developing situation, Cache Record enables capturing an event up to 15 seconds before the record button is pressed.

Interval Recording Function

The PMW-320K offers an Interval Recording function that records signals at predetermined intervals. This is convenient for shooting over long periods of time, and also when creating pictures with special effects of extremely quick motion.

Frame Recording Function

Frame Recording is a special feature of the PMW-320K camcorder that is especially useful for stop-motion/clay animation shooting. Using this function, images for predetermined frames are recorded every time the Record button is pressed.

Shutter Angle Settings

In addition to the electronic shutter speed controls, the PMW-320K also has a "shutter angle" control--which is familiar to film users. By setting the shutter speed to "angle," the PMW-320K automatically operates with the proper exposure time, determined by the selected frame rate and the shutter angle.

Total Level Control System (TLCS)

By activating TLCS, the correct exposure is automatically set for normal, dark, and very bright shooting environments by controlling the lens iris, electronic shutter, and Auto Gain Control.

Scene File System

The Scene File feature of the PMW-320K allows camera operators to easily call up customized picture-tonal settings--such as the parameters of matrix, color correction, detail, gamma, and knee--to suit particular shooting conditions, rather than having to readjust the camera each time. This gives users greater operational efficiency. SxS memory cards can be used for storing and loading scene files.

Turbo Gain

The Turbo Gain function can boost the camera gain up to +24 dB, which helps reproduce images in very low-light environments.

Camera Metadata (HD Format Only)

The camera setting data such as iris, focus, zoom, macro, capture fps, shutter, gain, white balance, and gamma are recorded as acquisition metadata for future utilities.

Viewfinder with 3.5" Color LCD

The PMW-320K is equipped with a large, easy-to-view, color LCD with a high resolution of 1920 x 480 pixels, which simplifies focusing. The viewfinder can also be used to instantly review recorded footage, as well as access the camera's set-up menus, view thumbnails, and display status indications.

When the elbow block is opened up, the screen can be monitored directly, while menu setting and thumbnails are easily accessed using switches on the inside panel. The PMW-320K also has an interface for the DXF-20W and DXF-51 viewfinders.*

*The supplied viewfinder and DXF viewfinder cannot be used concurrently.

Depth-of-field Indicator

A Depth-of-field Indicator can be displayed on the viewfinder to help camera operators easily recognize the depth-of-field of a scene, and thereby produce their desired images.

Brightness-level Display

The average brightness level of the center of a frame can be displayed on the LCD monitor and viewfinder as a percentage. This is useful when a waveform monitor is not available for shooting.

Histogram Indicator

The Histogram Indicator can be displayed on the LCD monitor and viewfinder, allowing operators to easily evaluate the distribution of brightness on currently captured images. This enables proper exposure control of iris, gain and gamma.

Six Assignable Buttons

Frequently used functions can be programmed onto six assignable buttons, allowing operators to make rapid changes when working in the field. The color temperature button and lens RET button also can be utilized as additional assignable buttons.

Adjustable Shoulder Pad

The position of the shoulder pad can be adjusted--either forwards or backwards--to provide users with optimum weight balance. This is particularly useful when the camera is docked with a different lens or camera adapter. In addition, no tools are required for this adjustment. For those who prefer a soft shoulder pad, there is the optional CBK-SP01.

ATW & Hold Function

The ATW (Auto Tracing White Balance) function of the PMW-320K automatically adjusts the camera's color temperature according to changes in lighting conditions. This function is useful when recording outside for long periods, as lighting changes gradually over time. The PMW-320K also has an ATW Hold function, which allows the operator to hold auto tracing at a desired color balance via an assignable switch.

Wide Array of Interfaces

The PMW-320K comes equipped with a wide range of interfaces optimized for a variety of operational needs. These include an HD-SDI output, downconverted SD-SDI output, i.LINK (HDV 1080i and DVCAM stream) input/output, USB2 and analog composite output. Timecode In/Out and Genlock in are also supported. An HDMI output (Type A) allows the user to show the picture on a consumer display or professional monitor equipped with an HDMI input. Noncompressed video and two channels of audio can be output. When HDMI output is selected, other outputs are not available.

Digital Extender Function

For future expandability, the PMW-320K has a 50-pin interface option (available Autumn 2010), which offers a Digital Extender function to digitally double images in size. Unlike lens extenders, the Digital Extender function performs this doubling without any loss of image sensitivity, often referred to as the F-drop phenomenon.

Affordable MPEG TS for Field & Satellite Transmission

The HDCA-702 MPEG TS adapter, which can be directly docked onto the PMW-320K, transmits an MPEG Transport Stream (TS) of MPEG via a DVB-ASI output. This can be done simultaneously as the PMW-320K records onto SxS memory card. This function is also available using the 50-pin interface option (which will be available in Autumn 2010).

Camera Remote Control

A Sony 8-pin remote interface is supplied with the PMW-320K. Various camera settings can be remotely controlled using an optional RM-B150 RM-B750, RCP-750, RCP-751, RCP-920, or RCP-921 Remote Control Unit via its 8-pin remote connector (please note that not all controls on the remote control units are supported by the PMW-320K). Composite output is always available for monitoring purposes, regardless of HD/SD output selection.

Other Features

• High-speed picture search: x4, x15
• Freeze Mix function
• Skin-tone Detail control
• Low-key saturation

Additional Information

Only SxS PRO and SxS-1 are guaranteed for use with XDCAM EX camcorders. Sony HX Series Memory Stick are supported with MEAD-MS01 Adapter as well as SDHC media (class 10 or above) with the MEAD-SD01 Adapter.