XDCAM FAQs | Some common XDCAM questions answered here.
XDCAM BASICS | XDCAM HD422 | TECHNOLOGY & MEDIA | LASER PICKUP | CAMCORDERS | DECKS

Q: What is the XDCAM HD422 camcorder?

A: This is a new XDCAM HD camcorder, the PDW-700, which uses three 2/3-inch type CCDs.

Current XDCAM HD camcorders use 1/2-inch type CCDs. All things being equal, larger image sensors enable higher sensitivity, lower noise, and shallower depth of focus for selective focus effects. (Note that in real-world comparisons of actual camcorders, "other things" are hardly ever "equal".)

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Q: Why is Sony introducing an XDCAM HD422 camcorder?

A: To answer the customer demand for higher-end production equipment that also delivers the workflow advantages of tapeless recording.

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Q: Does this replace HDCAM™ recording?

A: No. The HDCAM system retains advantages in bitrate and remains well accepted in the high-end production community.

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Q: What codec does the PDW-700 camcorder use?

A: The PDW-700 camcorder uses a 50 Mbps version of the MPEG-2 Long GOP Codec, 4:2:2 Profile at High Level (422P@HL).The camcorder also offers legacy format support for XDCAM HD and SD assets.

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Q: Is the XDCAM HD422 camcorder supported by a studio deck?

A: Yes, the PDW-HD1500.

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Q: Do the PDW-F700 and PDW-HD1500 support both single-and dual-layer Professional Disc™ media?

A: Yes.

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Q: What are the basic specifications of the PDW-700 camcorder?

A. The camcorder offers the following features:
  • Three 2/3-inch type Power HAD™ FX image sensors with 2.1 million effective pixels (1920 x 1080)
  • 1080/720 switchable recording
  • MPEG-2 422P@HL codec
  • Legacy format support for XDCAM SD and HD assets
  • 4-channel audio (the PDW-HD1500 deck supports 8-channel audio)
  • Support for dual-layer (50 GB) and single-layer (23.3 GB) Professional Disc™ media
  • Thumbnail operation
  • Proxy and Metadata origination
  • 3.5-inch LCD monitor (viewable area, measured diagonally)
  • Dual HD/SD-SDI output and composite/HD-Y output
  • Built-in HD/SD up and downconversion
  • Built-in 1080-720 cross conversion
  • Optional pool feed input (HD/SD-SDI and composite)
  • Ethernet 100Base-TX interface
  • i.LINK®* interface

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