PMW-320KDiscontinued

A choice of bit rate is offered – either 35 Mbps (HQ mode) or 25 Mbps (SP mode) – depending on the desired picture quality and recording time. The camcorder records 1920 x 1080 HD images using the MPEG-2 Long GOP codec, which conforms to the MPEG-2 MP@HL compression standard.

The camcorder offers a wide array of recording formats for multiple content-creation applications. The recording mode is switchable between 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, and 1440 x 1080 resolution. The scanning system is also selectable from interlace and progressive, such as 59.94i, 50i, 59.94p, and 50p.

The PMW-320 is equipped with three Exmor CMOS sensors, which deliver superb picture performance with full-HD resolution. The PMW-320 has a 1/2-inch-type image sensor, which provides an excellent sensitivity of F10, a remarkable signal-to-noise ratio of 54dB and high horizontal resolution of 1,000 TV lines in HD-SDI, HQ 1080 mode. This high-performance sensor results in high-quality digital signals with extremely low noise. This significantly enhances shooting in low-light environments. Additionally, the large sensor can capture images with a shallower depth of field, giving users more freedom of creative expression.

Designed to be very compact and ergonomically well balanced, the PMW-320 provides a high level of mobility and comfort in various shooting situations. The camcorder has a low centre of gravity, ensuring outstanding stability on the shoulder. The low-profile design provides a wide space between the main frame of the camera and the handle, and an unobstructed view to the right-hand side of the camera operator. The position of the shoulder pad can be adjusted to provide users with optimum weight balance even if the camera is docked with any type of lens or camera adaptor.

For the PMW-320, power consumption is only 18 W* and can operate for approximately 310 minutes on a fully charged BP-GL95 battery pack.

* With supplied viewfinder, lens, and microphone while recording.

The PMW-320K comes equipped with an HD lens with a standard bayonet interface. The lens is equipped with two independent focus wheel mechanisms, which can be switched between Auto Focus mode and Full Manual Focus mode by sliding the focus ring itself back and forth. The MF Assist function helps to precisely focus on the target subject when shooting in MF mode. In this mode, Auto Focus is momentarily activated when the user stops adjusting the focus ring.

This feature decreases any chromatic aberration caused by the lens. ALAC is activated only with the supplied lens and with certain third-party lenses that incorporate compensation data. (Please check with other lens manufacturers for ALAC support).

The PMW-320 offers a native 23.98p* recording capability. This feature, accompanied by other creative features, makes the camcorder ideal for cinema production.

* In 1440x1080/23.98p (SP) mode, images are handled as 23.98p and recorded as 59.94i signals via 2-3 pull-down.

The PMW-320 offers a Slow & Quick Motion function that enables users to create unique ‘looks’ by slow- and fast-motion effects. The camcorder can capture images at frame rates selectable from 1 frame per second (fps) 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 appear two-and-a-half times slower than normal. Conversely, images captured at 4 fps appear six times faster than normal. With this function, images are recorded natively with no padded frames and at full resolution.

The maximum accumulation period is at a 64-frame shutter speed.

The PMW-320 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.

The Interval Recording function intermittently records one frame at pre-determined intervals. This is convenient for shooting over long periods of time, and also when creating special effects with extremely rapid motion.

The Frame Recording function is particularly useful for clay animation shooting.

The Auto Tracing White Balance function automatically adjusts the camera’s colour temperature according to changes in lighting conditions. If required, the user can hold auto tracing at a desired colour balance via an assignable switch.

With a DOF (Depth of Field) adaptor to attach a cinema or still camera lens to the camera, the image is rotated 180 degrees. This Image Inverter function normalises the image by reverse scanning.

The gain can be chosen from a wide range of preset values between -3 dB and +24 dB.

To realise smooth migration from current SD operation to near-future HD operation, the PMW-320 supports DVCAM format recording and playback as the standard function.

With the Picture Cache Recording function, up to 15 seconds of audio and video signals are buffered into the camcorder’s internal memory even before the record start button is pressed. This helps to prevent loss of any unexpected yet important events.

The Freeze Mix function superimposes a previously recorded image on the viewfinder. This allows the operator to quickly and easily frame or reposition a subject when a shot must be taken from the same position, or in the same framework, as a previous take.

The PMW-320 comes equipped with four channels of 16-bit, 48-kHz, linear PCM uncompressed audio recording. Each channel level can be controlled individually.

The Scene File feature allows camera operators to easily call up customised picture-tonal settings – such as the parameters of matrix, detail, gamma, and knee – to suit particular shooting conditions. This gives users greater operational efficiency. SxS memory cards can be used for storing and loading scene files.

The PMW-320 has 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 and view the camera’s set-up menus, thumbnails, and status indications. The camcorder also has an interface for the DXF-20W, DXF-51, and DXF-C50W**.

* Viewable area measured diagonally.

** The supplied viewfinder and DXF viewfinder cannot be used concurrently.

The PMW-320 is equipped with an HDMI connector.

The CBK-CE01, a 50-pin interface option, offers a Digital Extender* function, which digitally doubles images in size. Unlike lens extenders, this function virtually does not lose image sensitivity, often referred to as the F-drop phenomenon.

* The Digital Extender function can not operate with Slow & Quick function.

The CBK-CE01 also offers the PMW-320 connection to the XDCA-55, camera adaptor. This newly-designed camera adaptor and the XDCU-50, Camera Extension Unit enable control of the camcorders from a distance of 100 m, and expands the potential of these camcorders for multi-camera operation.

The HDCA-702 MPEG TS adaptor, which can be directly docked onto the PMW-320, transmits an MPEG Transport Stream (TS) of MPEG via a DVB-ASI output. This function also requires the CBK-CE01.