Opinion
Sony’s new
Early adopter
SRW-9000
and PMW-350
cameras
immediately
found a home in
hire firms.
New models snapped up
Michael Burns
finds out why
Versatility and high quality, not to mention an economical use of
resources, have prompted two leading hire companies to snap up Sony’s
latest HDCAM SR and XDCAM EX offerings.
Sony’s new one-piece HDCAM SR camcorder, the SRW-9000
(pictured), has been picked up by Sony Specialist Dealer Top Teks.
According to sales director Mike Thomas, the SRW-9000 answers a
number of requirements for Top Teks customers: “It’s a camera under
the cost of an F900R and which provides higher frame rates and MICHAEL BURNS
1920x1080 resolution recording at 4:2:2.” Freelance writer
“It’s a high frame/variable rate, full resolution camcorder for natural Michael Burns is a
history and an inexpensive way of acquiring HDCAM SR footage for freelance writer with
drama,” he adds. 13 years experience
Thomas says the 9000’s appeal to a wide range of end users has already covering new media,
prompted the first interest in the camcorder to come from hire companies, broadcast and
as well as the first sale going to broadcast hire company Electra. design industries. He
“The 9000 offers investors a wide client base and good returns,” remarks contributes regularly
Thomas on the sale. He also praises the modular design of the SRW-9000 to Digital Arts, 3D
and Sony’s clear upgrade path for the model over the next two years, which World, Computer Arts
includes migration to an S35mm-sized single sensor and a new high-capacity, and Televisual and
high-speed HDCAM SR memory card. “This will give our customers also produces books
comfort that this will be a long term investment with a long shelf life.” on digital content
Another key factor in the appeal of this model is the option for S-Log creation.
Gamma: “S-Log is very important to our drama customers, with it
becoming the norm on F35 shoots, giving full use of the dynamic range
of the CCD,” explains Thomas. “It’s obviously not restricted to drama
and, with the pricing of the SRW-9000, can be used to enhance the
pictures for all types of production.”
Another versatile camcorder, the Sony PMW-350, has been an attractive
option for early adopter Pro Motion Hire. “We put in an order for four
units,” says Pro Motion md Duncan Martin, a big fan of the camera’s file-
based format. “We’ve done well with XDCAM EX, our customers like it
and the 350 is a natural successor and big brother for the format.”
Martin believes the PMW-350 is a cross-genre camera, but thinks it
will especially suit documentary style programming. “What the PMW-
350 gives you is a shoulder mounted camera. If you’re doing a fly on the
wall doc and have the budget for a proper crew then you really want to
make the most of it and have a 350.”
In the short space of time since it’s had the 350 on its books, Pro Motion
Hire has already seen a lot of interest for the model. “A lot of cameramen,
especially,” says Martin. “The PMW-350 has a broadcast size 2/3-inch
CMOS sensor so 2/3-inch broadcast lenses, such as the ENG Zoom lens,
just mount straight onto the camera. DoPs are going to see clear quality
benefits to having a broadcast lens on the camera.” in my view
Winter 2010 theproducer 9
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