Sony has launched the PXW-X160, the latest addition to the manufacturer’s XDCam range of camcorders.

Billed as the follow-up to the HXR-NX5E and PMW-150, the PXW-X160 features three 1/3” HD Exmor CMOS sensors and a newly developed 25x optical zoom G-Lens. It records in XAVC Intra and Long GOP, as well as MPEG HD422 at 50Mbps.

The PXW-X160 differs from the previously announced PXW-X180 in the omission of features such as wireless functionality, NFC, and GPS, which Sony said would “maintain the same high level of performance” at a lower price point, although the manufacturer was unable to confirm the price of the X160.

PXW-X160 features:

The new 25x Sony G Lens offers a 26mm angle of view at the wide end of its 25x zoom range.

Sony’s  Exmor 3CMOS Sensor system provides independent 1/3” CMOS image sensors for the red, blue, and green colour channels, each with 2.07 effective megapixels (16:9).

In addition to XAVC Intra/Long GOP, the PXW-X160 can record in MPEG2, AVCHD, and DV format.

The MXF file format is used for XAVC recording, compressing full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution using the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 codec.

Image sampling is 4:2:2 10-bit with Intra-frame compression at 112 Mbps, or high-efficiency Long-GOP compression at 50/35/25 Mbps.

The PXW-X160 features two SxS memory card slots for high-speed read/write capability. An XQD card adaptor allows recording to XQD memory cards, and an SD card adaptor enables recording to SD memory cards for maximum economy when shooting for extended periods.

The PXW-X160 is the first professional Sony camcorder to feature a continuously variable ND filter.

The system electronically controls density for continuous adjustment from 1/4 ND to 1/128 ND via a dial operation.

Sony said that in conjunction with iris and shutter speed settings that control depth of field and brightness, the filter facilitates shooting techniques such as the use of slow shutter in daylight and other bright conditions. The camera also includes a standard four-position switch.

The PXW-X160 is equipped with a 3.5 type QHD LCD panel (960 x 540 x RGB, 16:9).

Topics