Sony announces XDCAM EX prosumer camcorder

NAB brings the prosumer a new choice in camcorders this morning with this, Sony's XDCAM EX. This tapeless MPEG-2 recorder will snag images captured by a trio of half-inch imagers to a pair of Sony's (and Sandisk's) new SxS 16GB ExpressCard flash modules for up to 120 minutes of high-definition video. It's switchable between 1080/60i and 720/60P, and capable of recording at 1080/50i/30P/25P/24P and 720/50P. No official word on dates or pricing yet but they'll probably slip in around the time the SxS cards hit which is sometime "later in 2007." Picture of the SxS flash card after the break.

[PEZ @ Apr 16th 2007 6:39AM]

3 half inch sensors.. mmm. I wonder if they are CMOS or CCD. Sony has been making alot of ClearVid stuff, lately. But, I dont know much about the prosumer market. Im more of a consumer for thiss tuff.

[Darren Wilson @ Apr 16th 2007 6:56AM]

I could definately do with one of these myself! Was thinking of buying one of the Canon 'pro-sumer' HD cameras, but nowhere seems to stock them locally (and I am not buying blind). The Sony range is stocked in most of the stores local to me anyway within a couple of days of launch so I may just hold out and check it out (unless any of the local stores get the Canon's in stock for me to look at).
I just hope that these are not in the 'silly' price bracket close to actual pro-cameras.

[Porkchop Flavored Cupcake @ Apr 16th 2007 9:58AM]

I bet it will have a pretty big price tag.
Closer to 10g than 5g, for sure.
Sony isn't really bringing the fire like they used to.
Even though the 1/2" chips are interesting, and the move to flash cards a bit of a surprise, I'll reserve final judgement on this camera until more deets are released along with footage, and how it measures up against newer offerings from Panny and Canon. As history has shown, the Sony will hold its own, but when compared to whatever Panasonic and Canon have in store, the Sony will just fizzle out.

[Chuckles McGee @ Apr 16th 2007 10:39AM]

Hurrah for more proprietary media by Sony.

[lungnut @ Apr 16th 2007 2:05PM]

It's NOT proprietary, dude--it's an ExpressCard.

[Will @ Apr 16th 2007 3:29PM]

Sony's following Panasonic's steps in solid state only cameras. Thank god they're smart enough to not use out dated things such as PCMCIA cards. Hopefully this camera won't suck like the rest of the Sony Prosumer stuff. But yeah, if the HVX200 from Panasonic is an indicator, this camera will be in the $6-8,000 range and the card media will be in the range of $1500 for 4 gig at launch. Half way to a RED, why not save up?

[Guy @ Apr 17th 2007 11:23AM]

This looks very much like the camera I have been waiting for. The cheapest 720/60p camera on the market is the JVC GY-HD200 (unless they hit NAB with something very soon) and that isn't exactly a cheap camera and its only 1/3".

I now want to find out more about its sensor and codec used (eg data rates etc).

Its a good start but it could be crippled some way yet.

[Matthew @ Apr 18th 2007 7:53PM]

I was at a NAB special event on the camera and they said available in Sept for a suggested MSRP of 8,000. It is going to be very affordable for the editor that is also the cameraman.

[justin @ May 30th 2007 8:34PM]

idk i dont think im really feeling it just because i really dont like the whole flash drive memory thing...im a big fan of the mini DV tape.....thats just my opinion though

[tom Lowe @ Jun 26th 2007 5:58PM]

RIGHT, you'd not save up for a RED because they're aimed at totally different markets. It IS CMOS sensors, and also is NOT a prosumer device, like the FX1 and FX7 offerings, as this carries the pro CineAlta logo as it records 24P native, at 35, 25, and 18Mbps as do the other XDCAM HD products.