Three 2/3-inch type Exmor™ CMOS Sensors
The PMW-350 is equipped with three newly developed 2/3-inch type Exmor™ CMOS Sensors, each with an effective pixel count of 1920 (H) x 1080 (V). These deliver superior picture performance with full-HD resolution. This 2/3-inch-type image sensor allows the camcorder to provide an excellent sensitivity of F12 in 60Hz mode (F13 in 50Hz), a remarkable signal-to-noise ratio of 59 dB, and a high horizontal resolution of 1000 TV lines*. In addition, the large 2/3-inch-type image sensors can capture images with a shallower depth of field, giving users more freedom of creative expression.
What's more, the Exmor CMOS sensor is a unique design that deploys an A/D converter to each column of pixels, resulting in a much lower clock speed than conventional CMOS sensors. This makes it possible to greatly reduce power consumption of the camcorder.
*In 1920 x 1080/59.94i mode
1920 x 1080 HD Recording Using the "MPEG-2 Long GOP" Codec
The PMW-350 camcorder records 1920 x 1080 HD images using the "MPEG-2 Long GOP" codec, which conforms to the MPEG-2 MP@HL compression standard. "MPEG-2 Long GOP" is a mature codec - also adopted by the XDCAM HD and HDV 1080i series of products - which enables users to record stunning-quality HD video and audio with highly efficient, reliable data compression.
Selectable Recording Modes including DVCAM Recording
The PMW-350 camcorder offers a choice of bit rates - either 35 Mb/s (HQ mode) or 25 Mb/s (SP mode) - depending on the desired picture quality and recording time. The HQ mode supports 1920 x 1080, 1440 x 1080 and 1280 x 720 resolutions. The 1440 x 1080 mode is new to the PMW-350 ensuring native integration of XDCAM EX footage into a XDCAM HD Professional Disc workflow. By supporting 1440 x 1080, 35Mb/s recording, material can be utilised with no transcode, just a re-wrap to MXF for NLE and archiving.
The SP mode supports 1440 x 1080 resolution at 25 Mb/s, which provides compatibility with HDV 1080i products. Footage recorded in this SP mode can be seamlessly integrated into HDV-compatible editing systems by transferring the stream from the camcorder via the i.LINK™ (HDV™) interface.
The PMW-350 also supports 25Mb/s DVCAM recording in either PAL or NTSC modes, again providing seamless integration into existing DVCAM workflows offering ultimate flexibility worldwide. (SD DVCAM Recording and Playback requires Optional Hardware Key, CBK-DV01.)
New Nonlinear Recording Media, "SxS PRO" - For Greater Efficiency, Operability, and Reliability
The XDCAM EX series adopts high-speed SxS PRO and SxS-1 memory cards for its recording media, developed specifically for professional content creation applications with a number of key features:
1. Compatible with ExpressCard/34 interface slot which is common on modern Windows PCs and Macs
2. Uses PCI Express interface and achieves an extremely high "read" speed of 800 Mb/s*
3. Large storage capacity: SBP-16 (16 GB) and SBP-32 (32 GB) memory cards are available. One SBP-16 (16 GB) memory card is supplied with the PMW-EX1R
4. Can record up to 140 minutes of HD video and audio (using one 32-GB memory card)
5. Compact size: approx. 75 × 34 × 5 mm (excluding the projecting parts) - half the size of the older PC Card standard
6. Low power consumption
7. Highly reliable: can resist shocks (up to 1500 G) and vibrations (up to 15 G)
8. Affordability: SxS-1 media (introduced in late 2009) provides users with a lower cost alternative to SxS PRO media that offers the same high performance, but with an estimated 5-year life span when recording at full capacity once per day. Users can check the card life on their PMW-EX1R and PMW-350 camcorders and even see an alarm when the data rewriting limit is reached.
*This data-transfer speed is a theoretical value. Actual data-transfer speed depends on the file type and the performance of the PC.
Long Recording Time
Utilising a mature and highly efficient compression format together with high performance SxS memory cards, the PMW-350 can record superb quality HD images for an exceptional 140 minutes* on a single 16GB SxS card. As the PMW-350 features two memory card slots, this recording time is easily increased to 280 minutes (with two 32GB cards) and when recording across two cards, the transition is seamless without any frame loss. This feature makes the PMW-350 an ideal camcorder for a wide variety of content production applications, including documentary and event shooting, that require a long recording time.
*When recording in HQ (35 Mb/s) mode, recording time may be more than the above specified figure depending on the actual bit rate that is adopted during VBR encoding.
Multiple-format Recording - 1080/720, PAL/NTSC and Interlace/Progressive Switchable Operation
The PMW-350 camcorder offers a wide array of recording formats for multiple content creation applications. Scanning mode is switchable between 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, and 1440 x 1080 resolutions. Frame rate is also selectable from interlace and progressive - 59.94i, 50i, 29.97P, 25P, and native 23.98P*.
In addition, 59.94P and 50P progressive recording is available in 1280 x 720 mode. In SD mode, both 50/60i and 25P/30P modes are supported (SD mode requires optional CBK-DV01 accessory).
*In 1440 x 1080/23.98P (SP) mode, images are handled as 23.98P and recorded as 59.94i signals through means of 2-3 pull-down.
Four-channel Audio
The PMW-350 is the first XDCAM EX camcorder to record four channels of 16-bit, 48-kHz, linear PCM uncompressed audio. Each channel level can be controlled by an independent individual level controller. (When an SxS memory card with four-channel audio is replayed by the PMW-EX1, PMW-EX1R, PMW-EX3, or PMW-EX30, only CH-1/2 or CH-3/4 can be replayed.)
Wide Choice of Optional Microphones
Although the PMW-350 is equipped with a shotgun microphone, three optional microphones – the ECM-680S, ECM-678, and ECM-673 – are also available. As well as the supplied microphone, the ECM-680S can operate in either Stereo or Monaural (Uni-directional) mode. These modes can be selected from the switch on the microphone or from the PMW-350 itself.
The camcorder is also equipped with a slot to accommodate a DWR-S01D digital wireless microphone receiver, which provides two-channel audio with stable and secure transmission. The WRR-855 Series microphone receiver can also be used in this slot.
IT Friendly
With the XDCAM EX series, recordings are made as data files in the "MP4" format, which is widely used in a number of recent electronic portable devices and has been standardized by ISO.
The file-based recording allows material to be handled with great flexibility in an IT-based environment - easily available for copying, transferring, sharing, and archiving. All these operations are accomplished without any "digitising" process required.
File-based data copying allows for degradation-free dubbing of AV content, which can be performed easily on a PC. The file-based recording system also allows for material to be viewed directly on a PC - simply by inserting the SxS memory card into the ExpressCard slot on a PC or Mac, or by linking a PC/Mac to the XDCAM EX unit via a USB2 connection. This works in just the same way as a PC reading files on an external drive. The file-based operation can dramatically improve the efficiency and quality of professional video applications.
Immediate Recording Start and No Overwriting Footage
By virtue of recording on flash memory card, the XDCAM EX can start recording virtually the instant the camcorder is turned on. Moreover, the XDCAM EX system automatically records on an empty area of the card - there's no danger of overwriting existing content.
This is extremely convenient, as camera operators do not have to worry about accidentally recording over good takes, and they don't have to search through footage for the correct position to start the next recording. In short, it means the camera is always ready for the next shot!
Instant-access Thumbnail Search with "Expand" Function
Each time a recording is started and stopped on the XDCAM EX camcorder, the video and audio signals are recorded as one clip. During playback, users can cue-up to the next or previous clip simply by pressing the 'Next' or 'Previous' button, as you would do on a CD or DVD player.
Furthermore, thumbnails are automatically generated for each clip as a visual reference, allowing operators to cue-up to a desired scene simply by guiding the cursor to a thumbnail and pressing the 'Play' button.
For further convenience, the 'Expand' function allows one selected clip in the Thumbnail display to be divided into 12 even-time intervals, each with their own thumbnail identifier. This is useful if you want to quickly search for a particular scene within a lengthy clip. * In HD-SDI, HQ 1080 mode.
Lens Package Choice
There are two different models of the PMW-350. One is the PMW-350K, which comes equipped with a Fujinon HD lens with 16x zoom. The other is the PMW-350L, which comes without a lens. Both models have a standard 2/3-inch bayonet lens interface, and the user can choose from wide variety of optional lenses in the existing 2/3-inch HD lens line-up.
Unique Focus Operation - Professional Manual Focus and Auto Focus
The supplied lens for the PMW-350K adopts a unique focus ring mechanism, which offers two types of manual focus, plus an auto focus operation. The lens is equipped with two independent focus wheel mechanisms, which can be switched by sliding the focus ring itself back and forth.
When the focus ring is in the front position, the lens works in the same way as a typical auto focus lens on a handheld camcorder. In this case, either manual or auto focus mode can be selected by the AF/MF switch on the lens. On the other hand, when the focus ring is set to the back position, the lens has an absolute focus position, and works in the same way as interchangeable-lens cameras, which professional users are familiar with.
Three Independent Rings
In addition to the unique focus ring, the PMW-350K’s supplied lens is equipped with independent rings for zoom and iris adjustment. These are located adjacent to the focus ring, in the same layout as is common on shoulder-type camcorders. This gives users a high level of operational comfort and control.
AF Assist
The AF (Auto Focus) Assist function enables operators to manually change focus positions using the focus ring during AF mode. This means that AF reference focus positions can be shifted to manually changed positions.
MF Assist
The MF (Manual Focus) Assist function helps to precisely focus on the target subject when shooting in MF mode. When the MF Assist is turned on, auto focus is momentarily activated and finely focuses on the subject closest to the focal point of the lens at that time.
One-push Auto Iris
A One-push Auto Iris button allows the user to go into Auto Iris mode only when this button is pushed.
Expanded Focus
At the touch of a button, the center of the screen on the viewfinder can be magnified to about twice normal size, making it easier to confirm focus settings during manual focusing. When the switch is released, the center of the screen goes back to normal size.
Selectable Peaking
The Peaking function can help operators to adjust the camera's focus more accurately by altering the way pictures are displayed on tviewfinder. It can enhance the outline of the image, which the camera focuses on most, and change its colour to make it more visible. Enhance levels can be selected from a choice of "HIGH", "MIDDLE", and "LOW", and the outline colour from "RED", "WHITE", "YELLOW", and "BLUE".
ALAC (Automatic Lens Aberration Compensation)
This feature decreases any chromatic aberration caused by the lens, which is active only with the PMW-350K’s supplied lens and with certain third-party lenses that incorporate compensation data. Please check with your lens supplier for ALAC support.
Optical ND Filters and Electrical CC Filters
The PMW-350 camcorder comes equipped with optical ND (Neutral Density) filters and electrical CC (Colour Correction) filters. The optical ND filters are controlled via a built-in ND filter wheel -- Clear, 1/4ND, 1/16ND, and 1/64ND. And with the electrical CC filters, users can easily obtain the desired colour temperature by setting the mode – 3200K/4300K/5600K/6300K – on a camcorder-assignable switch. Users can select the four values cyclically, or choose one preset value. This is also available via an assignable switch. This is useful when a sudden change occurs during shooting, and a quick and direct setting is required.
23.98P Native Recording
All XDCAM EX Camcorders are part of the legendary Sony CineAlta™ family and offer native 23.98P* recording which, in combination with advanced creative features such as selectable gamma curves, makes these camcorders ideal for cinema production.
*In 1440 x 1080/23.98P (SP) mode, images are handled as 23.98P and recorded as 59.94i signals via a 2-3 pull-down. .
Slow & Quick Motion Function
The PMW-350 offers a powerful Slow & Quick Motion function - commonly known as over-cranking and under-cranking in film shooting - that enables users to create unique 'looks' or special effects with slow- and fast-motion images.
The PMW-350 can capture images at frame rates selectable from 1 fps (frame per second) to 60 fps in 720P mode and from 1 fps to 30 fps in 1080P mode, in increments of 1 fps. For example, when viewed at 23.98P, images captured at 60 fps will appear 2.5 times slower than normal. Conversely, images captured at four fps will appear six times faster than normal.
With the Slow & Quick Motion function of this camcorder, images are recorded natively without interpolating the frames. This means the quality of the slow- and fast-motion images is extremely high and incomparable to those created in the editing process. In addition, these slow- and quick-motion images can be played back immediately after shooting, without using any converters or processing on nonlinear editing systems.
Image Inversion Function
When a cinema-style lens or stills camera lens is attached to the camera with a DOF (Depth of Field) adaptor, the image is rotated 180 degrees. Image Inversion is the function that normalises the image by reverse scanning.
Slow Shutter Function
The PMW-350 camcorder offers a Slow Shutter function for capturing clear images in low-light environments. This allows the shutter speed to be extended to a maximum of 64 frames. The Slow Shutter function not only increases camera sensitivity but also produces a special blurring effect when shooting a moving object, for enhanced shooting creativity. The shutter speed is selectable from 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, 16-, 32-, and 64-frame periods.
Selectable Gamma Curves
The PMW-350 camcorder offers a wide variety of gamma curves to flexibly handle contrast and give a specific 'look' to an image. In addition to six types of standard gamma curves, there are four types of Hyper Gamma which are identical to those on high-end CineAlta camcorders. Operators can select the best-suited preset gamma curve, depending on scenes.
Cache Recording Function
Once enabled, Cache Recording continuously streams audio and video through the camcorder’s internal memory. Once the Record button is pushed, the content buffered in the camcorder’s memory is recorded onto the memory media at the start of the recording clip. The caching period can be adjusted by menu setting up to 15 seconds, so in a situation such as monitoring a developing situation, Cache Record enables capturing an event up to 15 seconds before the record button is pressed.
Interval Recording Function
The PMW-350 camcorder offers an Interval Recording function that records signals at pre-determined intervals. This is convenient for shooting over long periods of time, and also when creating pictures with special effects of extremely quick motion.
Frame Recording Function
Frame Recording is a special feature of all XDCAM EX camcorders that is especially useful for stop-motion/clay animation shooting. Using this function, images for pre-determined frames are recorded every time the Record button is pressed.
Shutter Angle Settings
In addition to the electronic shutter speed controls, the PMW-350 also has a "shutter angle" control - which is familiar to film users. By setting the shutter speed to "angle", the PMW-350 automatically operates with the proper exposure time, determined by the selected frame rate and the shutter angle.
Total Level Control System (TLCS)
By activating TLCS, the correct exposure is automatically set_for normal, dark, and very bright shooting environments by controlling the lens iris, electronic shutter, and Auto Gain Control.
Scene File System
The Scene File feature of the PMW-350 allows camera operators to easily call up customised picture-tonal settings – such as the parameters of matrix, colour correction, detail, gamma, and knee – to suit particular shooting conditions, rather than having to readjust the camera each time. This gives users greater operational efficiency. SxS memory cards can be used for storing and loading scene files.
Turbo Gain
The Turbo Gain function can boost the camera gain up to +42 dB, which helps reproduce images in very low-light environments.
Camera Metadata (HD Format Only)
The camera setting data such as iris, focus, zoom, macro, capture fps, shutter, gain, white balance, and gamma are recorded as acquisition metadata for future utilities.
Viewfinder with 3.5-inch* Colour LCD
The PMW-350 is equipped with a large, easy-to-view, colour LCD with a high resolution of 1920 x 480 pixels, which simplifies focusing. The viewfinder can also be used to instantly review recorded footage, as well as access the camera's set-up menus, view thumbnails, and display status indications.
When the elbow block is opened up, the screen can be monitored directly, while menu setting and thumbnails are easily accessed using switches on the inside panel. The PMW-350 also has an interface for the DXF-20W and DXF-51 Viewfinders
*Viewable area measured diagonally.
** The supplied viewfinder and DXF viewfinder cannot be used concurrently.
Depth-of-field Indicator
A Depth-of-field Indicator can be displayed on the LCD monitor and viewfinder to help camera operators easily recognize the depth-of-field of a scene, and thereby produce their desired images.
Brightness-level Display
The average brightness level of the centre of a frame can be displayed on the LCD monitor and viewfinder as a percentage. This is useful when a waveform monitor is not available for shooting.
Histogram Indicator
The Histogram Indicator can be displayed on the LCD monitor and viewfinder, allowing operators to easily evaluate the distribution of brightness on currently captured images. This enables proper exposure control of iris, gain and gamma.
Six Assignable Buttons for Quick Access to Desired Functions
Frequently used functions can be programmed to six assignable buttons on the PMW-350, allowing operators to make rapid changes when working in the field. The colour temperature button and lens RET button also can be utilised as additional assignable buttons.
Adjustable Shoulder Pad
The position of the shoulder pad can be adjusted – either forwards or backwards – to provide users with optimum weight balance. This is particularly useful when the camera is docked with a different lens or camera adaptor. In addition, no tools are required for this adjustment. For those who prefer a soft shoulder pad, there is the optional CBK-SP01.
ATW & Hold
The ATW (Auto Tracing White Balance) function of the PMW-350 automatically adjusts the camera’s colour temperature according to changes in the lighting conditions. This function is useful when recording outside for long periods, and the lighting changes gradually over time. The PMW-EX1R also has an ATW Hold function, which allows the operator to hold auto tracing at a desired colour balance via an assignable switch.
Wide Array of Interfaces
The PMW-350 camcorder comes equipped with a wide range of interfaces optimised for a variety of operational needs. These include an HD-SDI output, down-converted SD-SDI output, i.LINK (HDV 1080i and DVCAM stream) input/output, USB2 and analogue composite output. Timecode In/Out and Genlock in are also supported. A HDMI output (Type A) allows the user to show the picture on a consumer display or professional monitor equipped with an HDMI input. Non-compressed video and two channels of audio can be output. When HDMI output is selected, other outputs are not available.
Digital Extender function
For future expandability, the PMW-350 has a 50-pin interface option (available Autumn 2010), which offers a Digital Extender function digitally doubling images in size. Unlike lens extenders, the Digital Extender function performs this doubling without any loss of image sensitivity, often referred to as the F-drop phenomenon.
Affordable MPEG TS Option for Field and Satellite Transmission
The HDCA-702 MPEG TS adaptor, which can be directly docked onto the PMW-350, transmits an MPEG Transport Stream (TS) of MPEG via a DVB-ASI output. This can be done simultaneously as the PMW-350 records onto SxS memory card. This function is also available using the 50-pin interface option (which will be available in Autumn 2010).
Camera Remote Control
A Sony 8-pin remote interface is supplied with the PMW-350. Various camera settings can be remotely controlled using an optional RM-B150 RM-B750, RCP-750, RCP-751, RCP-920, or RCP-921 Remote Control Unit via its 8-pin remote connector (please note not all controls on the remote control units are supported by the PMW-350). Composite output is always available for monitoring purposes, regardless of HD/SD output selection.
Other Features
1 High-speed picture search: x4, x15
2 Freeze Mix function
3 Skin-tone Detail control
4 Low-key saturation
Additional Information
Only SxS PRO and SxS-1 are guaranteed for use with XDCAM EX Camcorders. Sony HX Series Memory Stick are supported with MEAD-MS01 Adaptor for certain functions (please see accessory page for details). USB based memory cards might work with the XDCAM EX range in some cases, but Sony does not guarantee that all the functions will operate. The performance of USB based memory cards can vary
