Sony PMW-EX3 - A Semi-Shoulder Full-HD Camcorder With SxS PRO Recording, for an Evolving Era of HD

The PMW-EX3 follows on from the successful launch of the new PMW-EX1 and offers all the great features of the PMW-EX1 in a new semi-shoulder design. In addition to this new design the camcorder also features an interchangeable lens system, genlock, timecode and remote control capability for real added flexibility, offering a low-cost HD studio solution.

The PMW-EX3 combines a state-of-the-art, non-linear XDCAM workflow with simply the best HD quality yet seen in a semi-shoulder camcorder. It is also the first semi-shoulder camcorder to carry the legendary CineAlta 24P brand with multiple frame rate recording capability such as 59.94i, 50i, and native 23.98P, as well being 1080i/720P switchable.

There is also a choice of a 35Mb/s High Quality mode or a 25Mb/s, HDV 1080i compatible mode. To take advantage of this high performance recording capability, the PMW-EX3 uses the same imaging system as the PMW-EX1, consisting of three ½-inch type CMOS sensors, each with an effective pixel count of 1920x1080. In addition, there's a purpose-built interchangeable Fujinon Professional HD ½-inch 14x lens and a unique dual focus ring mechanism. Included in the package is a ½-inch lens adaptor to allow use of other ½-inch lenses, plus the ability to use other optional lens adaptors for 2/3rd-inch, cinema-style and digital SLR lenses.

To maximise recording time, the PMW-EX3 has two memory card slots which means with a pair of 16 GB SxS PRO memory cards, it can record up to 140 minutes of HD footage.

A wide variety of accessories are also available, including a USB Reader/Writer, a wide-conversion lens, battery and charger.

The PMW-EX3 HD compact camcorder is the ideal solution for a wide range of customers from broadcasters through to independent videographers and film makers who want exceptional HD picture quality and state-of-the-art workflow from an affordable semi-shoulder camcorder.

Features:

• New Nonlinear Recording Media, "SxSPRO" - For Greater Efficiency, Operability, and Reliability
• 1920 x 1080 HD Recording Using the "MPEG-2 Long GOP" Codec
• Selectable Bit Rates: 35 Mb/s (HQ mode) or 25 Mb/s (SP mode). The HQ mode supports both 1920 x 1080 and 1280 x 720 resolutions. The SP mode supports 1440 x 1080 resolution at 25 Mb/s
• Long Recording Time
• Multiple-format Recording - 1080/720 and Interlace/Progressive Switchable Operation
• Genlock and Timecode Interfaces
• High-quality Uncompressed Audio Recording
• Remote Control Capability via standard Sony 8-pin control interface. This allows use of Sony optional RM-B150 and RM-B750 remote control units
• IT Friendly: recordings are made as data files in the "MP4" format
• New Semi Shoulder Design
• Immediate Recording Start and No Overwriting Footage
• Instant-access Thumbnail Search with "Expand" Function
• 1/2-inch type Three Exmor-CMOS Sensors
• Interchangeable Lens System with Wide-angle Fujinon 14x Zoom Lens included
• Unique Focus Operation - Professional Manual Focus and Auto Focus
• In addition to the unique focus ring, the PMW-EX3 supplied lens is equipped with independent rings for zoom and iris adjustment.
• Expanded Focus: the center of the screen on the LCD monitor can be magnified to about twice normal size, making it easier to confirm focus settings during manual focusing.
• Selectable Peaking on the Viewfinder
• Optical Image Stabilizer
• 23.98P Native Recording
• Slow & Quick Motion Function
• Slow Shutter Function
• Selectable Gamma Curves
• Interval Recording Function
• Frame Recording Function
• Shutter Angle Settings
• Depth-of-field Indicator
• Brightness-level Display
• Histogram Indicator
• 3.5-inch Hybrid Colour LCD Screen / Viewfinder
• Four Assignable Buttons
• Long Operating Time
• Wide Array of Interfaces, including HD-SDI output, down-converted SD-SDI output, i.LINK (HDV) input/output, USB2 and analogue composite/component output
• ATW (Auto Tracing White Balance)
• Built-in ND filter wheel: 1: Clear, 2: 1/8ND, 3: 1/64ND
• Selectable gain: -3, 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 dB
• High-speed picture search: x4, x15
• Freeze Mix function
• Skin-tone Detail control
• Low-key saturation
• IR Remote Commander unit