Sony has unveiled the PXW-Z300, a handheld XDCAM camcorder featuring 0.5in 4K 3-CMOS Exmor R sensors, the latest BIONZ XR image processing engine, and a dedicated AI-processing unit. This model comes equipped with a professional lens system that includes three independent manual control rings. Ideal for a wide range of applications including news, sports, corporate, faith, events, documentary, live programming, and reality. It is planned to be available in September 2025.
The PXW-Z300 combines a 17x optical zoom lens and Electronic Variable ND filter, with versatile operational capabilities. In addition to high-quality 4K60p recording, it features AI-powered subject recognition for precise autofocus performance. The camera introduces a new articulating flexible LCD arm for adaptable capturing styles and a side V-Mount that allows smartphones or data transmitters to be securely attached.
It is said to be the world’s first camcorder to embed digital signatures directly into video files, enabling content authentication to address the evolving needs of the content creation industry, including the growing demand for content authenticity.
The PXW-Z300’s network functionality has been enhanced through improved communication device integration, which supports modern production workflows that utilise 5G and cloud technologies. This enables live streaming from shooting locations and efficient file transfer over networks.
“This latest camcorder has new enhancements, including content authenticity capabilities, that will be very beneficial for those in the news and production industry, whether they’re capturing action-packed content, breaking stories, or producing educational documentaries,” said Anthony Kable, CCS group manager, Sony Australia.
By utilising the digital extender function, individuals can achieve 1.5x zoom in 4K mode and up to 4x zoom in HD mode with minimal degradation, making the camera suitable for a wide range of capturing scenarios, including news gathering and event documentation.
Additionally, the camera is equipped with an Electronic Variable ND filter that seamlessly adjusts transmission from 1/4 to 1/128, along with optical image stabilisation. This allows for smooth brightness adjustment and stable capture when moving between locations with varying light conditions, such as from bright outdoor areas to dim interior spaces.
The PXW-Z300 incorporates a dedicated AI-processing unit in addition to its image processing engine. This enables high-precision subject (human) recognition based on face, eye, skeletal structure, and posture information. The system can maintain autofocus on subjects even when they are facing away from the camera or wearing facial coverings. It also features an auto-framing function that automatically adjusts composition to keep human subjects centred in the frame.
The camera features a 17x optical zoom lens with F1.9 constant maximum aperture and three independent manual control rings for traditional camera operation. It also has a 3.5in high-brightness LCD monitor with approximately 2.76 million dots. It incorporates the newly developed Flexible LCD Arm with three-axis movement, which allows flexibility in adjusting the monitor’s position and angle. This enables the camera to accommodate various shooting styles. Operators can adjust the viewing distance when capturing content with the camera on their shoulder, position the LCD monitor at the camera’s optical centre for stable waist-level capture, or flip it forward for self-recording.
The camera supports new workflows utilising 5G and cloud technologies, allowing immediate transfer of recorded material from shooting locations and live streaming through smartphone or WiFi/wired LAN connections. Recorded content can be transferred via network to cloud-based media sharing services or on-premises storage in high-quality, efficient formats. For proxy material transmission at lower resolutions, the camera newly supports the HEVC codec, enabling higher quality and compression rates. Additionally, it can transfer clips in chunk format (segmented recording) during shooting. This eliminates the need to remove media and transfer material after shooting, allowing editing to begin as material arrives.
The camera supports common video streaming protocols including RTMP/RTMPS and SRT, enabling live broadcasting from remote locations.
Furthermore, the PXW-Z300 utilises cloud services such as Ci Media Cloud, a cloud-based solution for media collaboration. This allows the camera to support more immediate and efficient video production workflows with material sharing and collaboration among project members, and live streaming with multiple cameras when combined with Sony’s M2 live cloud switcher.
The PXW-Z300 supports various recording formats. It offers standard support for MXF file recording in formats adopted by the XDCAM series, such as MPEG HD422, XAVC Intra (4K/HD 4:2:2 10bit), and XAVC Long (4K 4:2:0 8bit/HD 4:2:2 10bit), as well as MP4 proxy recording in HEVC.
The camera also accommodates diverse looks. In addition to S-Cinetone, ITU709, and 709tone available in Sony’s Cinema Line series, XDCAM, and HDC series, it supports HLG Live, HLG Mild, HLG Natural, and user 3D LUTs. Users can import custom 3D LUTs (.cube files) from memory cards. It also supports the C2PA standard for recording authenticity information.
Additionally, the camcorder enables the recording of up to four channels of audio – including shotgun microphones and Sony’s UWP-series of wireless microphones – via XLR inputs and the Multi Interface shoe. Future support will provide proxy 4-channel audio recording.
