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Sony shows XDCAM EX, the PMW-EX1 HD Solid State Compact Camcorder (8/10/2007)

With its superb picture quality, state of the art media interface and interoperability, Sony brings the best HD workflow solution to the compact camcorder market

Sony hosted the European launch of the latest addition to its XDCAM family of tapeless acquisition tools with the launch of the exciting new XDCAM EX(tm) compact camcorder. In addition to the existing XDCAM(tm) HD optical disc-based products, the new XDCAM EX camcorder, the PMW-EX1, offers all the benefits of tapeless workflow, selectable bit rates and outstanding picture performance that users have come to expect with XDCAM HD, coupled with new creative recording features and lens features which will redefine the standard for the professional compact camcorder market. Sony will show PMW-EX1 on the booth for the first-time, allowing customers a full hands-on experience of the features of this new camcorder.

The PMW-EX1 is a highly compact, robust and high-performance camcorder that uniquely uses newly developed flash memory cards, the SxS PRO(tm), as its recording medium.

The SxS memory card, which realizes 800Mbps high-speed data transfer, enables non-linear capabilities such as instant random access and file-based operation. Equipped with two SxS memory card slots, the PMW-EX1 can record up to 100 minutes of the highest quality HD footage at 35Mbps or 140 minutes at 25Mbps using two 16-GB SxS memory cards.

The image sensor used in the PMW-EX1 camcorder is a newly developed three x 1/2 type Exmor(tm) CMOS sensor, each with an effective pixel count of 1920 x 1080, which produce images in full HD resolution. The low-light capabilities of this new sensor will be of particular interest to all those who need to be able to capture footage in limited lighting applications.

It is switchable between 1080i and 720P with multiple frame recording capability such as 50i, 59.94i, 50p, 59.94p and native 25P, 29.97p and 23.98P. What's more, the PMW-EX1 camcorder offers a "Slow & Quick Motion" capability, which is also commonly known as "overcranking" and "under-cranking" in the traditional film world, allowing users to create unique looks or special effects of slow and fast motion. Having these functions, PMW-EX1 is on the product line of Sony CINEALTA(tm).

A wide variety of accessories are also available to support effective HD production, including a SxS memory card, USB Reader/Writer, a wide-conversion lens, battery, and charger.

Further to this, in order to realize a more efficient, file based workflow solution, the following companies are planning to implement interoperability with XDCAM EX in their products below. (alphabetical order)

Adobe Systems Incorporated Adobe Premiere Pro with MainConcept MPEG Pro
Apple Inc. Final Cut Pro Studio
Dayang Technology Development Inc. D3 Edit 3000 Series
MainConcept AG 'MPEG Pro HD 3.0
Matrox Electronic Systems Ltd. Matrox Axio Matrox RT.X2
MOG Solutions Toboggan MediaTransfer
Newauto Silicon Valley Video Techmology CO.,LTD. Himaraya A1000/A1200/A1500 series
Sobey Digital Technology Co., Ltd. E7, E2000
Sony Creative Software Vegas(tm) Pro 8
Thomson Grass Valley(tm) EDIUS(tm) Pro Grass Valley EDIUS Broadcast

Bill Drummond, Senior product manager, Sony Professional Solutions Europe said, "the PMWEX1 is a truly remarkable camcorder at a very competitive price. This latest addition will encourage a complete non-linear HD workflow within the compact camcorder market."

"One of the features that really makes the XDCAM EX stand out from the crowd is its superb interoperability. Compatible with many NLE companies, the XDCAM EX provides flexibility as standard for the wide range of creators. Combining this with transferring footage via ExpressCard, the new standard of PC Card interface, makes the XDCAM EX the most reliable and flexible compact camcorder for transferring video files ready for HD production on the market. The XDCAM EX is destined to shake up this class of camera," added Drummond.

www.sonybiz.net/ibc

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