Digital Video - November 2007 - (Page 8) DV UPDATE Sony unveiled its XDCAM EX (below) at IBC, while previewing a new tapebased HDV camera, slated for 2008 release. DELIVERING THE GOODS GEAR VENDORS FULFILL THEIR NAB PROMISES AT EURO BROADCASTERS’ CONFAB. BY DAVID E. WILLIAMS O n location in Amsterdam for the 40th annual International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) Sept. 6-11, DV met with a variety of industry leaders to discuss what’s new. Here are a few of the most notable product introductions and upgrades. SONY’S XDCAM EX AND BEYOND It seems almost quaint that Sony’s new SxS cardbased unit, the XDCAM PDW-EX1 HD— designed around half-inch CMOS sensors and MPEG-Long GOP codecs—has been branded in some press materials with the “Handycam” name, which the electronics giant introduced in 1985 with its Video8 consumer camcorders. The moniker reeks of “prosumer” (after all, Video8 units were doomed to a homemovie existence), but in this instance, it seems to be a misnomer. Although the EX is the new “budget” entry in Sony’s XDCAM line, it seems suitable for a wide range of users, and could serve disparate masters ranging from major broadcast companies to one-man-band outfits. In other words, it would have been as at home at WEVA in Las Vegas in August as at September’s IBC show in Amsterdam, where the camera made its debut. Not surprisingly, “Handycam” does not appear on the camera itself, but the CineAlta logo does. While we have yet to get an EX in the hands of a reviewer— and DV has put in the requests—”unauthorized” reviews of the camera began springing up on the Net as the EX was used to shoot IBC-related promotional material (see www.ingenioustv. com/xdcamex.asp). It will be interesting to see how the experiences of “legit” sources jibe with those of the Web-based critics. 8 dv november 2007 www.dv.com http://www.ingenioustv.com/xdcamex.asp http://www.ingenioustv.com/xdcamex.asp http://www.dv.com
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