Sony recently announced three New 4K Camcorders by the names of XDCAM PXW-Z90, NXCAM HXR-NX80 and Handycam FDR-AX700. They all feature the new generation 1″ inch Exmor RS Cmos Sensor technology, and this chip has 273 phase-detection AF points that cover approximately 84% of the shooting area, built in. I believe this is a modified version of the sensor found in the new RX10 Mark IV, that was just announced.

The New Sony XDCAM PXW-Z90, NXCAM HXR-NX80, and Handycam FDR-AX700 all offer 4k video, the next generation 1″ Sensor, and a new HDR Feature Sony is pushing in this product launch.

If you are looking for a video oriented solution to your “capture the world” needs, then the camcorder is totally worth considering over a regular photography camera. Camcorders still offer a better user experience for video, because they are designed for extended recording. The camera body is completely different when compare to a photography camera and it can handle the heat, plus a much larger variable power zoom lens. In addition, the default battery life is far superior to the photography cameras and the LCD Screen is generally a little larger.

I learned a fair amount about the camcorder when I reviewed the FDR-AX100 which you can watch here >>, but I still have a lot to learn in this area of the market for sure…

Sony PXW-Z90 4K HDR XDCAM

Key Features:

• Single 1″ Exmor RS CMOS Sensor
• UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) up to 30p
• Phase-Detection Auto Focus (AF)
• 4K HDR with Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG)
• Zeiss 12x Optical / 18x Clear Image Zoom
• Full HD to 120 fps/Super Slow to 960 fps
• XAVC HD / QFHD & MPEG2HD Recording
• S-Log3/S-Gamut3 Imaging Options
• 3G-SDI Output, 2.4 / 5 GHz Streaming
• 2 x SD Card Slots
• Relay & Simul Modes
• Price = $2799

Sony HXR-NX80 Full HD XDCAM

Key Features: 

• Single 1″ Exmor RS CMOS Sensor
• XAVC S 4K (3840 x 2160) at 100 Mbps
• Phase-Detection Auto Focus (AF)
• 4K HDR with Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG)
• Zeiss 12x Optical / 18x Clear Image Zoom
• Full HD to 120 fps/Super Slow to 960 fps
• XAVC-S (4K/HD) & AVCHD Recording
• 2.4 / 5 GHz Streaming
• 2 x SD Card Slots
• Relay & Simul Modes
• Price = $2299

Sony FDR-AX700 4K Camcorder

Key Features:

• 4K HDR Video Recording
• 1″-Type Stacked CMOS Sensor
• Bionz X Image Processor
• 273-Point Phase Detection Autofocus
• Zeiss Vario Sonnar T* Lens
• 12x Optical Zoom & 18x Clear Image Zoom
• Optical SteadyShot Image Stabilization
• 0.39″ OLED EVF / 3.5″ XtraFine LCD
• High Speed 120 fps Recording
• S-Log and S-Gamut Picture Profiles
• Price = $1900

Here is the official press re-lease:

The new XDCAM® PXW-Z90, NXCAM® HXR-NX80 and Handycam® FDR-AX700, equipped with 1.0-type stacked Exmor RS^TM image sensor,offer an optimal choice to a wide range of users from professionals to video enthusiasts.
Sony has today announced three new 4K HDR¹camcorders: the XDCAM® PXW-Z90, the NXCAM ®HXR-NX80 and the Handycam® FDR-AX700. Featuring Sony’s ground-breaking Fast Hybrid AF system, all three palm camcorders combine a fast and reliable autofocus (AF) function adapted for shooting with a 1.0-type stacked Exmor RS CMOS image sensor, delivering stunning image clarity alongside a range of versatile shooting features. The new camcorders all support an instant HDR (High Dynamic Range) workflow, enabling users to produce breath-taking HDR content with minimum post-production to suit a range of content creation scenarios and applications.
The Fast Hybrid AF system ensures highly accurate focusing and tracking during shooting, delivered by 273 phase-detection AF points that cover approximately 84% of the shooting area, high-density placement of autofocus points and a newly developed AF algorithm. This reduces the burden of focusing, especially when accurate focusing is required for shooting 4K[i] films. In movie recording mode, the appearance of phase-detection AF frames indicates the focused area and easily allows users to monitor a subject that is in focus. The new camcorders feature a high-resolution OLED viewfinder (0.39-type OLED, 2,359k dots) and advanced touch screen operation, on the 3.5-type large LCD screen (1,555k dots), to allow users to quickly switch focus from one subject to another, while the AF Drive Speed, Tracking Depth Range and Subject Switching Sensitivity can all be configured as required for different subjects and content styles.
The new camcorders support 4K HDR¹ recording with HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma), offering an instant HDR workflow. This enables users to reduce the post-production work and produce high-quality HDR content without grading, which usually requires a highly skilled technique and specialist knowledge. They also have the following key technology features to support versatile shooting, including;

• 4K²full-pixel readout without pixel binning, using an enhanced BIONZ X™ image processing engine
• Super Slow Motion[ii]recording up to 960fps[iii], which is industry leading among palm categories and Slow & Quick Motion[iv]Full HD recording up to 120fps[v]
• S-Log3/S-Gamut3 capabilities for users to create and work with images as they desire.
• 29mm[vi] (35EQ)wide-angle ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T* 12x optical zoom lens and 18x Clear Image Zoom[vii]
• Less image distortion (rolling shutter phenomenon), in comparison to conventional models when shooting subjects in motion

Workflow efficiency benefits such as Proxy recording, relay recording and simultaneous backup recording are also delivered thanks to the new camcorders’ dual memory card slots and multi-camera operation capabilities supported by TC (time code)/UB (user bit). The three new camcorders also have REMOTE terminals, Multi-Interface Shoe™, and HDMI Type A to ensure enhanced operability.
“We strongly believe in empowering customers to tell amazing stories, whether it’s a journalist out in the field covering a breaking news event, or a freelancer working under the tight deadline pressures of a one-day corporate shoot” explained James Leach, European Product Manager, Sony Professional Solutions Europe. “Our new palm camcorders do exactly that. By minimising the efforts required to focus on a subject in-frame and streamlining the post-production workflow, we’re helping users concentrate on what they do best: storytelling.”
In addition to the above key features as series, the XDCAM® PXW-Z90 and NXCAM® HXR-NX80 also feature dual XLR audio input, a detachable handle, and access to Content Browser Mobile – a supporting smartphone application to enable Wi-Fi® monitoring, Camcorder remote control and wireless timecode sync[viii] between multiple cameras.
The PXW-Z90 also includes several features to suit broadcast-specific requirements including XAVC®format recording, which provides high-quality images at 4:2:2 10 bit (HD) and 4:2:0 8 bit (QFHD) in addition to conventional broadcasting MPEG2HD⁹ format recording, 3G SDI connectivity for compatibility with existing broadcasting equipment, and networking functions to support news reporting, such as compatibility with XDCAM® air, the Sony cloud-based ENG subscription service.
NXCAM® HXR-NX80 and Handycam® FDR-AX700 adopt XAVC S®[ix],an extended format of XAVC for consumer use which can record high-defined 4K² films.
The XDCAM® PXW-Z90, NXCAM® HXR-NX80 will be available in December and Handycam® FDR-AX700 will be available in October. For more information on Sony visit www.pro.sony.eu, or visit stand 13.A10 at IBC 2017.
#SonyIBC17
[i] 3840 x 2160 pixels
[ii] 4K recording is not available. Sound cannot be recorded. A class 10 or higher SDHC/SDXC memory card is required.
[iii]960fps in NTSC, 1000fps in PAL
[iv] Sound cannot be recorded. UHS-I (U3) SDHC/SDXC memory card is required
[v]120fps in NTSC, 100fps in PAL
[vi]35mm equivalent
[vii]18x(4K), 24x(HD)
[viii] Optional licences required
[ix] A Class 10 or higher SDHC/SDXC memory card is required to record movies in the XAVC S format. UHS-I (U3) SDHC/SDXC card is required for 100Mbps

Closing Remarks

Sony continues to re-lease some pretty awesome products and these new camcorder style video cameras should please those people in the market for this type of unit. Three different models at three different price points all aimed at the 4k video market.

So what do you guys think about these new Sony video cameras? Any interest? No interest? Please let me know below in the comments area, so I can accommodate the level of interest if necessary…
That is about it for this article and I really appreciate you stopping by!

Please have a great day and I’ll catch up with you later,
Jay