Sony today launched the compact PMW-100, which it dubbed “the smallest and lightest camera in the XDCAM family”.

Adding to yesterday’s unveiling of the NEX-FS700 and the HXR-NX30E, the PMW-100 has been designed to address the need among journalists and videographers for a portable device.

Sony Europe strategic marketing manager Bill Drummond said: “The development of the PMW-100 is a natural step in the progression of the XDCAM range and is a direct response to our customers requirements.

“Long-time XDCAM users requested a light and compact camcorder that will not only work seamlessly on its own, but also alongside other XDCAM cameras.”

Sony said that although advancements in digital imaging technology enabled professional journalists and videographers to cover stories with portable devices such as mobile phones, DSLRs and consumer camcorders they can lead to a “significant gap” in image quality, ease of editing and data management when compared with shoulder mount camcorders.

The PMW-100 has a newly developed 1/2.9-inch Exmor CMOS sensor.

It shoots 1080i, 1080p and 720p up to 50 Mbps. Recording and playback is based on MPEG HD422 codec with MPEG HD 422 Long GOP compression.

It can also be switched to MPEG HD420 35/25Mbps or DVCAM 25Mbps and users can record to SxS memory card as well as memory stick, SD card and XQD.

The camera captures 24-bit four-channel audio at an uncompressed 48kHz.

The PMW-100 will ship in May.

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