New professional camcorder with AVCHD codec: Sony NXCAM

18 November 2009 – Sony introduced a new professional camcorder series today: The NXCAM is Sony's first pro camcorder to record videos with the AVCHD codec to Memory Stick PRO Duo cards.

The NXCAM will utilize Sony's "G Lens" with a 20x optical zoom and it will include three 1/3-inch CMOS Sensors. As far as specs and features go, the NXCAM is essentially the same camcorder as Sony's HVR-Z5U—except in place of the tape deck are two Memory Stick card slots. An optional 128GB flash memory unit can also be used with the NXCAM, which offers up to 11 hours of AVCHD recording at 24Mbps.

Full 1920 x 1080 HD recording is available on the NXCAM with a variety of bit rate settings (24Mbps maximum). The camcorder can record using either 50i or 25p frame rates for 1920 x 1080 recording and also offers a 720/50p option. In addition to high definition recording with AVCHD, the Sony NXCAM can also record standard definition MPEG-2 video (at 9Mbps).

The LCD on the Sony NXCAM appears to be identical to the one featured on the consumer model, Sony HDR-XR520V, and it is positioned in the same way as the LCD on the Sony HVR-Z5U. The LCD is 3.2 inches in size and has a resolution of 921,000 pixels. The camcorder also has a 0.45-inch EVF.

Sony is planning a worldwide release for the NXCAM in early 2010. A list price has not yet been announced, but it is likely the camcorder will retail at a similar price to Sony's HVR-Z5U. When asked about any future additions to the NXCAM family, specifically a model that offers interchangeable lenses, Bob Ott, vice president of Broadcast & Professional Audio/Video products group at Sony Electronics responded, "anything is possible".