XDCAM FAQs | Some common XDCAM questions answered here.
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Q: Do XDCAM hardware and media work well in humid environments?

A: Incredibly well. Thanks to non-contact recording and playback, the XDCAM system has nothing that would cause the sticking that interferes with videotape operation. Sony specifies operating humidity up to 90%.However, in Sony's own tests the camcorders have been shown to operate as long as there is no condensation or dew on the surface of the disc. Should condensation exist on media while in a camcorder or deck, the user will be prompted with a HUMID alarm. In case of dew, if you allow the disc to acclimate to room temperature and humidity (68°F/40%RH) you can resume recording. One other hidden benefit of the media type is that even when moisture appears on the surface, there are no permanent effects. With other media types utilizing pins for contact, often when those pins come in contact with moisture, they have a tendency to short out, causing loss of data.

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Q: Is there shock and vibration resistance built into XDCAM camcorders?

A: Yes, Sony XDCAM camcorders use rubber dampers to hold the disc drive block in place, thereby minimizing the effect of any shock or vibration. In addition, a tracking system, based on the best Sony servo technologies, reduces the chance of the optical head recording off track. In the event a shock exceeds the servo's capacity, causing the head to move off track, recording continues in a buffer memory until the head is positioned properly. Once the head is back on track, the buffered information is recorded to disc. A substantial amount of buffering is built into the camcorder to operate in harsh environments.

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Q: What happens if the camcorder battery is removed or power is suddenly lost from an AC adaptor while recording?

A: The emergency recovery system is designed to restore as much AV data as possible even if the file system is not closed properly. If power is suddenly lost during a recording, the AV data can be recovered automatically once power is reapplied. When this type of recovery occurs, the duration of a lost recording is a maximum of four (4) seconds from the time just before power was lost.

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Q: What if a battery runs out while recording?

A: The system controller automatically stops recording and closes the file system before the full exhaustion of the battery. The camcorder also provides customizable battery settings for notifying the operator when battery power is below a desired level.

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Q: What is the time from power on to being able to record, if the disc is already in?

A: Approximately 3.5 seconds. Tape camcorders take around four seconds.

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Q: What is the time from pushing the EJECT button to full ejection of a disc?

A: The EJECT button on the camcorder does not abort the recording process. Whether an EJECT is done shortly after a REC STOP or while the camera is idle, the EJECT process is completed in approximately 5 seconds.

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