Well, it's increased the value of 1/2 lens now! Mal
Nice one Sony - Puts to bed the 1/3" challengers for time being.


SONY REDEFINES THE CAPABILITIES OF SOLID-STATE
PRODUCTION WITH NEW XDCAM EX CAMCORDERS

Shoulder-mount models now Available with ½-inch and 2/3-inch
Imagers to Address Specific Needs of Production Community

LAS VEGAS (NAB Booth #C11001) April 11, 2010 – The expanding family of Sony’s XDCAM EX™ video products now includes two shoulder-mount camcorders that deliver new levels of creativity and flexibility for solid-state digital production.

The products include Sony’s 2/3-inch CMOS memory camcorder, the PMW-350, and now a ½-inch version, the PMW-320.

“Since it was first introduced, Sony designed the XDCAM EX series to be flexible enough to grow and expand as our customers’ production needs change,” said Bob Ott, vice president, Sony Electronics’ broadcast and professional audio/video products business. “These new products redefine solid-state production, with improvements achieved in features, performance, and ergonomics.”

Both camcorders have three Exmor™ full HD 1920x1080 CMOS imagers, and are studio-configurable, with timecode in/out, genlock in, and HD-SDI and HDMI out. The PMW-350 camcorder features a DVCAM recording and playback as an option; with both features offered as standard on the PMW-320.

Users can choose between the lens-packaged models, PMW-350K and PMW-320K, or versions without lenses, PMW-350L or PMW-320L. To enhance editing interoperability with Sony’s XDCAM HD 422 camcorders, both the PMW-350 and PMW-320 camcorders feature 1440x1080 recording mode at 35Mbps.

Both camcorders can also be used in studio configurations, using the optional 50-pin adapter CBK-CE01, as well as the camera adapter, XDCA-55, and camera extension unit, XDCU-55.

Sony is also delivering new solid-state memory choices to complement these new camcorders. An affordable series of Sony’s SxS™ memory cards, SxS-1™ (model SBS-32G1, 32 GB) offers compact and high speed transfer and supports a wide range of motion.

The cameras are also available with an adapter, MEAD-MS01, for using Sony’s Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo™ HX Series media, which can be used as an “emergency” recording option. An adapter is also available for SanDisk Class 10 SDHC card use (MEAD-SD01). Current owners of Sony’s PMW-EX1, PMW-EX1R as well as PMW-EX3 can use the MEAD-MS01 or MEADS-D01 by upgrading the camera’s firmware.

A hard-disk recording unit, model PHU-120R, offers a recording capacity of 120 GB. The new PXU-MS240 mobile storage unit can be used to transfer data from SxS memory cards to the unit for nearly continuous back-up or off-load of video clips. The unit stores content on a removable hard disk drive (HDD) cartridge, model PXU-HC240, which can store up to 240 GB of data or up to 17 hours of content in SP mode.

The following is suggested list pricing ($US) and planned availability for the new products:
• PMW-320K, $14800, availability in August
• PMW-320L, $12800, available in August
• MEAD-MS01, $120, now available
• MEAD-SD01, $110, now available