Sony PMW-300K1 Handheld XDCAM HD Camcorder with Interchangeable Lens System

The Sony PMW-300K1 XDCAM HD Camcorder from Sony is designed to meet the demands of field video productions and professional studio applications.The PMW-300K1 camcorder is equipped with three 1/2-inch Exmor™ full-HD CMOS sensors, capable of delivering high-quality images even in low-light environments. The camcorder features the same rugged metal construction, interchangeable EX lens mount, and 14x Fujinon HD lens as the PMW-EX3, but introduces advanced signal processing technology for low-noise and clearer images. The PMW-300K1 also features a 3.5" 960 x 540 LCD viewfinder, built-in ND filters, and 8 assignable function buttons.

Moreover, the PMW-300K1 offers a convenient remote-control and multi-camera operation capability, which allows use with high-end camera systems. There are two SxS memory card slots, taking SxS Pro or SxS-1 cards, as well as having SDXC card compatibility (exFAT recordings only)*. The camcorder’s user menu is also customisable and can be password locked to prevent unnecessary changes*.

XAVC 10-bit HD 422 and MPEG HD 422 50 Mbps Recording
The PMW-300K is able to record XAVC 10-bit HD422 recordings, including XAVC Intra frame 10-bit HD 422 100 Mbps and XAVC Long GOP 10-bit HD 422 (low bit rate). It also records 50Mbps HD material in MPEG-2 HD422, meeting broadcast standards around the world, including the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) requirements on HD broadcast acquisition for long form program making. Standard Definition recording includes DVCAM format and MPEG IMX SD up to 50Mbps. MPEG IMX format offers exceptional visual quality for SD recording that is comparable to Digital Betacam broadcast standard. The high bit rate ensures excellent capture of fast moving objects, while its chroma subsampling feature is perfect for a wide range of video encoding areas such as VFX and green screen applications. The camcorder can also support Sony’s revolutionary XAVC codec, extending the lifecycle of the product to ensure maximum return on investment.

Interchangeable Lens System
The PMW-300K1 features the same EX-mount interchangeable lens system as the PMW-EX3, making it compatible with a wide range of 1/2-inch and 2/3-inch lenses (with optional ACM-21 adaptor). The camcorder also comes with two auto-focusing zoom lens packages, one for a 14x (PMW-300K1) and the other a 16x zoom lens (PMW-300K2). Both lenses include a focus ring for quick switching between auto and manual focus.

Multi-camera operation with 8-pin remote control
The camcorder has a Genlock In and Timecode In/Out interface, so that it can link together with other cameras for multi-camera operation capability and 3D configurations. The 8-pin 700-Protocol remote control interface allows for remote adjustment from the RM-B170* or RM-B150** remote control, sold separately. The RM-B750 and the RCP remote control cannot be connected due to the power supply capacity of the PMW-300.

Wide range of frame rates
The camcorder has standard recording modes of 1920 x 1080/25P or 50i and can additionally record at 59.94i, 23.98P and 29.97P in MPEG-2 HD 422 mode. At 1280 x 720, the camcorder can record 25P as well as 23.98P, 29.97P, 50P and 59.94P. Further recording modes are also possible at MPEG-2 HD 420 and DVCAM.

Semi-shoulder robust design with metal body
The PMW-300K1 features an innovative semi-shoulder design with an extendable chest pad mechanism and rotary hand grip, allowing comfortable recording over long periods of time. Its magnesium metal body ensures the camcorder is robust and, like its predecessor, the PMW-EX3, can withstand even the harshest production environments.

Cache recording
Utilizing a 15 second cache recording function, the PMW-300K1 can help prevent the loss of important scenes or events that occur up to 15 seconds before the camcorder’s REC start button is pressed.

Customisable menu with lock function
This feature allows you to pick and organize frequently used menu items. By using this feature, you can save a lot of time with no need to repeatedly search for specific menu items. In addition, the user menu can be locked with a 4-digit passcode to ensure there are no unnecessary changes.

Multiple Language System
The PMW-300K1 has multiple language system. The language for the menu and warning messages can be selected among English, Chinese, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian and Indonesian.

Power on Quick
If the camcorder power is turned on while pushing a REC button, the ‘Quick Rec’ mode is activated. By accelerating the power on process, the camcorder can start up and start recording more quickly than normal.

Continuous recordings
This mode allows users to create a single, large clip with multiple starts and stops in recording. The benefit of this mode is a faster transport speed for single clips – there is no overhead for the file open/close process. Please note this function works only in UDF (MXF) mode.

Wireless workflows
The PMW-300K1/K2 allows full High Res and Proxy wireless operations in combination with the CBK-WA100 wireless adapter. Clip metadata management, XAVC proxy recording on SD-HC card, streaming to tablet/smartphone and Wi-Fi remote for camera and lens are provided. The CBK-WA101 allows secure file transfer of recorded content by FTP-push to cloud services or on-premises servers via Wi-Fi, 3G/4G /LTE. Content Browser Mobile free Android/iOS application gives you full control to wireless operations.

3 ½” Exmor CMOS Full HD Sensor
The 3 ½” Exmor Full-HD CMOS sensors delivers high light sensitivity and low image noise. As a consequence, it delivers clear high-resolution images even when filming in low-light conditions. The camcorder also includes Sony’s 3Dimensional Noise Reducer technology (3DNR), which reduce noise between frames and thus creates noticeably clearer images.

3.5” Color LCD Viewfinder
An enhanced HD-resolution 3.5-inch color LCD viewfinder (960x540 pixels) enables precision focusing for HD camcorder work, while the 8-pin remote-control and multi-camera operation capability allows the PMW-300K1 to be used in 3D configurations and high-end camera systems.

HD/SD-SDI and HDMI interfaces
The PMW-300K1 has an SDI interface so that it can connect with broadcast infrastructures and professional equipment. It’s also possible to down-convert from HD to SD. There is also an HDMI interface making it possible to link to consumer products, including a standard consumer TV. SDI and HDMI interfaces are available in the same time.

Slow and quick motion
Slow motion shooting is possible with up to 60 frames per second (fps) recording in 720P or 30 fps recording in 1080P, when used with the SxS Pro or SxS-1 memory card. Quick motion can be obtained by slowing the frame rate down to 1 fps.

Wi-Fi remote control with optional Wi-Fi adaptor
In addition to the 8-pin remote control interface, Apple iPads or Android mobile devices can be used as simple remote controllers. By attaching the optional CBK-WA01 or IFU-WLM3 Wi-Fi adaptor, the remote can control zoom, focus, iris and white balance as well as the recording functions such as recording trigger.

Card and XDQ card options
The PMW-300 has two SxS memory card slots and, using two 64GB SxS memory cards, this allows for around four hours of continuous recording, with two hours of HD 422 50 Mbps recorded on each card. Content can also be copied between the two slots. The camcorder can use either SxS Pro or SxS-1 cards. In addition, SDXC cards can be used to record exFAT files only. The camcorder will also accept consumer recording media, including Memory Stick, SD card and XDQ card with an appropriate adaptor for emergency use.

Planning metadata automatically recorded
By loading a pre-recorded Planning Metadata file (XML file) to the PMW-300K1, either from an SxS memory card or a USB memory, the metadata is automatically generated and recorded as described in the XML file while recording. Also the filename of a clip is automatically set as described in the XML file.

4-channels 24-bit 48 kHz Audio Recordings
The PMW-300K1 is equipped with two XLR connectors, which connect to Sony’s range of professional microphone products.24-bit 48kHz audio can be recorded in HD 422 50 Mbps, with up to four channels of audio recorded.

4-Neutral Density filters
The PMW-300K1 is equipped with four built-in ND (Neutral Density) filters – Clear, 1/4, 1/16, 1/64 – that help to vary the depth of field with iris control.