The New Sony PXW-X400: The Classic Full-Sized 2/3″ ENG Camcorder, Re-imagined

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Beautifully balanced on your shoulder

With a properly designed electronic newsgathering (ENG) camera, your right hand helps aim the camera, trigger recording and operate the lens. But it doesn’t need to bear much weight. When properly balanced, the camera places the main weight on your shoulder – not on your wrist. That’s exactly what the PXW-X400 accomplishes. We took popular ENG lenses and achieved perfect balance for all-day shooting comfort. Naturally, you can fine-tune the balance by sliding the shoulder pad for a custom fit.

Built-in streaming and networking

If you can’t wait for the whole world to see what you’re seeing, the PXW-X400 streams via a built-in wireless module. Sony’s unique Quality of Service (QoS) technology dramatically improves the clarity that’s possible on a single, affordable cellula! r channel. You can stream de facto standard MPEG-TS and transfer proxy or full-res files with bit-for-bit accuracy. The camera connects to outboard bonded cellular transmitters via the Ethernet port. You can control your camera right from a tablet or smartphone. And you’ll even be able to connect your device with the convenience of NFC one-touch communication (with future firmware upgrade, expected early 2016).

Learn more about streaming.

Nobody does three 2/3-inch sensors like Sony

Sony is the world leader* in image sensors. And it shows. Thanks to three of Sony’s 2/3-inch CMOS sensors, the PXW-X400 achieves the trifecta of picture quality: high resolution (Full HD), high signal-to-noise ratio (62 dB) and high sensitivity (F12 at 1080/60i). Of course, the 2/3-inch type B4 lens mount is the de facto standard for TV news and sports. So you can choose from an incredible assortment of compatible servo zoom lenses, including the glass you may already own.

* Sony is the world’s No. 1 manufacturer of image sensors for digital cameras and video recorders (based on Sony research from April 2014 to March 2015 that shows Sony has a 50% market share).

Recording well beyond the ordinary

Where conventional ENG cameras are limited to 1080/60i, the PXW-X400 excels with 1080/60p. Older cameras are limited to 8-bit grayscale, which can exhibit “contouring” artifacts, particularly when stressed by color grading. The PXW-X400 goes further with supple, 10-bit grayscale. And where many previous cameras are limited to 4:1:1 or 4:2:0 color sampling, the PXW-X400 delivers twice the color information with rich, 4:2:2 sampling. It’s all made possible by Sony’s highly efficient XAVC™ Intra and XAVC Long codecs, which capture incredible imagery at money-saving data rates (as low as 25 Mbps). For compatibility with legacy production systems, the camera also offers MPEG2 HD 422, MPEG2 HD 420, MPEG IMX®, and DVCAM® (MXF wrapper) recording.

You can’t find a better view

A breakthrough camera deserves a breakthrough viewfinder, exactly what Sony has achieved with the HDVF-EL20 and HDVF-EL30, both sold separately. Thanks to Sony’s OLED technology, you get an amazing combination of benefits: Full HD resolution, superb contrast, high brightness and ultra-fast pixel response. In fact, the camera connects to a full range of viewfinders, sold separately, via both 20-pin and 26-pin interfaces.

Get connected

This is one well-connected camera. For recording an external source when only one camera is allowed in the room, the X400 has Pool Feed. Sony accommodates audio with a slot for a wireless mic receiver, AES/EBU digital inputs and 5-pin XLR output. And the camera supports live production with a 50-pin interface for a fiber or triax adaptor, sold separately.

PXW-X400 key features

• Three 2/3-inch type CMOS image sensors from Sony, the world leader in camera image sensors
• Full HD 1080/60p resolution in all three sensors, plus Full HD 1080/60p recording with XAVC™ Intra and XAVC Long codecs
• Excellent sensitivity: F12 in 1080/60i mode, F13 in 1080/50i mode
• Superb picture clarity: 62 dB signal-to-noise ratio
• Perfect front-rear balance optimized for use with popular ENG lenses; achieves ideal shoulder mount ergonomics; shoulder pad adjusts for a custom fit
• 960 x 540 color LCD monitor with 1,555,200 dots for beautifully detailed menus and monitoring
• Powerful networking includes wireless streaming with Sony’s proprietary Quality of Service (QoS), de facto standard MPEG TS streaming, FTP transfers, RJ-45 LAN interface, Wi-Fi remote control from a smartphone or tablet and, in a future firmware upgrade, NFC one-touch communication
• Sony’s Quality of Service (QoS) wireless streaming maximizes picture quality on a single, affordable cellular channel; transmits to Sony’s PWS-100RX1 receiver (QoS streaming via Wi-Fi is to be offered in a future firmware upgrade, expected early 2016)
• De facto standard MPEG TS wireless streaming to compatible receivers and PCs
• RJ-45 LAN interface for wired 100Base-TX Ethernet, particularly useful for connecting to third-party bonded cellular transmitters
• Smartphone remote control via Sony’s Content Browser Mobile app for Android® or iOS® devices; remote viewfinder, remote content browsing and playback via Wi-Fi from a smart phone or tablet
• NFC one-touch communication with compatible smartphones and tablets (in future firmware upgrade, expected early 2016)
• ONLINE button for easy network operations; depending on the context, triggers Network Client Mode on/off, Auto Clip Transfer on/off, or Streaming on/off
• XAVC Intra and XAVC Long recording at up to 1080/60p; combines superb picture quality with money-saving data rates as low as 25 Mbps

• Two SxS® card slots compatible with Sony’s high-speed, high-reliability professional media cards
• 10-bit recording with XAVC Intra and XAVC Long codecs retains nuanced grayscale that stands up well to postproduction
• 4:2:2 color captures twice as much color information as conventional 4:1:1 or 4:2:0 sampling, for higher resolution,
  cleaner compositing
• Choice of codecs includes XAVC Intra, XAVC Long, MPEG2 HD 422, MPEG2 HD 420, MPEG IMX®, and DVCAM®
  (MXF wrapper) recording
• Proxy Recording on an SD card slot creates a lightweight asset for fast file transfers from the field to the station or production office
• Pool Feed input for events where only one camera is permitted in the room; 1.5G SDI input
• Interval recording for powerful time lapse effects
• 50-pin interface supports live production via Sony’s CA-FB70 fiber adaptor or CA-TX70 triax adaptor, sold separately
• 26- and 20-pin viewfinder interfaces support a full range of Sony’s viewfinders, sold separately; these include spectacular, OLED viewfinders with Full HD resolution: the HDVF-EL20 and HDVF-EL30
• GPS module captures locations as metadata in HD recordings
• Standard Gamma, HyperGamma and User Gamma modes for powerful control of grayscale and effective highlight handling
• AES/EBU digital audio inputs
• 5-pin XLR audio output
• Wireless mic receiver slot for Sony’s DWX Series receivers, sold separately; enables the camera to control mic attenuator and low-cut filter; enables viewfinder display of transmitter battery status
• x2, x3, x4 Digital Extender gets you even closer to the subject with no sacrifice in sensitivity
• Low power consumption, just 22 Watts, body only

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UPCOMING EVENT: Open House with the Sony PXW-X400.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS and RSVP

Sony PXW-X400 Shoulder Camcorder (Body Only) $16,500.00

Sony PXW-X400KC Manual Focus Zoom Lens Kit $21,000.00

Sony PXW-X400KF 16x Auto Focus Zoom Lens Camcorder Kit $20,600.00