Responding to the market
“A lot of people have been expecting us to make this camcorder for some time,” Lewis says, “but only with recent technology developments have we been able to do it. If you think of the F23 with the SRW-1 recorder attached, we’ve put all that technology and crammed it into a camcorder, while retaining all the features."
The F23 and F35 are film-style digital cinematography cameras designed by Sony to partner HDCAM SR decks and appeal to cinematographers who'd spent their careers working with film. Early in the development process, the decision was made to ensure the SRW-9000 wouldn't simply be an existing conventional camcorder with SR recording, but instead carry forward the approach of the F23/F35. Compared to previous Sony camcorders, the SRW-9000 has a minimum number of buttons and the camera interface is the same layout as the F35.
SRW-9000 HDCAM SR Camcorder The new SRW-9000 HDCAM SR Camcorder
“The layout of the controls, the panel indicators and the assistant panel were designed to give film camera users a familiar and intuitive user interface,” Lewis says. “Operators used to the F23 and F35 will be able to go to the camcorder and use it straight away. It is just like the F23 but with built-in recording. Although the SRW-9000 is a camcorder, it is designed for a different market to any other model. The classical camcorder design was very suitable for ENG work with many functions assigned to a button, whereas this is designed as a film camera, so it has been made as easy to control as a film camera.
“I spend a lot of time on the set of commercials, features and dramas. It is the only place where you can pick up what people like and dislike and what’s really important,” Lewis says. “As a result of the input we received from all around the world, cameras such as the F35 have been hugely successful, out-selling rival top end cameras even though the F35 has only been on the market for a few months.”
Uncompromising performance
It's also important to note that the camcorder chassis hasn't forced any compromise in performance – the SRW-9000 employs the highest quality, two-thirds inch IT CCD chips. “The camcorder has the same two-thirds inch chips as in the F23,” Lewis says. “Because of this, you get the same 800 per cent ultra-wide dynamic range as the F23, which is the widest dynamic range of any camera. This means the images have low noise and high sensitivity and you don’t lose the highlights.”
As a consequence, the kind of target applications the camcorder is ideal for include high-end TV drama, sitcoms, natural history and documentaries. When all the option cards are included, it becomes perfect for digital cinema and commercials. The camcorder is also an ideal complement to the F23 and F35 as a B-camera, particularly for Steadicam work.
“The SRW-9000 is the natural evolution from the HDW-F900R, but also implements a lot of the features of the F23, such as great highlight handling, variable frame rate and 4:4:4 RGB recording, all in a one-piece unit.
“At about 6.5kg, the SRW-9000 is much lighter than the F23 with an SRW-1 HDCAM SR attached,” says Lewis. “It also has much lower power consumption, which means it can work with the lightweight BP-L80S rechargeable Lithium-ion battery pack. This will make a massive difference for Steadicam work.”
Multiple recording formats
In standard configuration, the SRW-9000 is capable of top quality 4:2:2 10-bit recording at 1080/23.98P, 24P, 25P and 29.97P, as well as 1080/50i and 59.94i. In addition, the camcorder can record 4:2:2 720/50P and 59.94P signals, which is useful for some markets.
For users who require more choice, a variety of option cards can be added, allowing them to benefit from full-bandwidth 1080 RGB 4:4:4 capturing, SR Motion variable frame rate capturing and recording, S-Log Gamma and additional signal inputs and outputs.
By adding the HKSR-9002 Picture Capture Board, the SRW-9000 is capable of recording images at a variable frame rate from 1fps up to 60fps in 4:2:2 mode. And by combining the HKSR-9002 with the HKSR-9003, it can perform the same function in 4:4:4 mode.
The SRW-9000 accepts all types of viewfinder, including the newly introduced HDVF-C30WR, offering improved focus assist functions, a colour brightness level indicator and viewing of pre-installed look-up tables for S-Log Gamma.
Conclusion
The SRW-9000 inherits many of the qualities of the HDW-F900, offering incredible operational mobility even in harsh shooting environments thanks to its one-piece body and outstanding picture performance from the HDCAM SR recording format.
“Basically, the SRW-9000 has all the usability of the HDW-F900 but with the addition of 10-bit 4:2:2 recording up to 1080/60P,” Lewis says. “The SRW-9000 is the result of four years intensive consultation and engineering innovation, but the result is simply the best camcorder ever made. We have taken the F23 digital cinema camera and SRW-1 HDCAM SR recorder and shrunk them down and put them together in a one-piece camcorder that is lightweight, ergonomic, incredibly sensitive and produces stunning image quality.”
Sony is unveiling the next generation of digital 24P technology, the SRW-9000 HDCAM SR™ camcorder. Designed for television, commercial and motion picture production, the new model combines the format’s image quality with the versatility of a one-piece camcorder.
The full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution camcorder uses 2/3-inch CCDs with a 14-bit A/D converter and digital signal processing to capture up to 1080/60P images with a high level of detail. In standard configuration, the camcorder is capable of 4:2:2 10-bit recording at 1080/23.98P, 24P, 25P, 29.97P, and 1080/50i/59.94i. It can also record 4:2:2 1080/50P/59.94P.
“The HDCAM SR format is proven in the most demanding digital cinematography applications,” said Rob Willox, director of marketing, Sony Electronics’ content creation group. “Applying that legacy into a compact one-piece body design adds more flexibility to location work and is more ‘Steadicam®-friendly’ as a B-camera complement to the F23. This mobile and cost-effective acquisition tool can further expand the use of HDCAM SR technology to a much broader audience.”
A range of option cards are available for additional performance and features. The HKSR-9001 option board adds dual-link HD-SDI outputs and an extra AUX input port for connectivity to an external audio multiplexing device.
A picture cache board (HKSR-9002) will allow the camcorder to capture and record images with variable speed (SR Motion™ capability) from 1 to 60 fps. It also allows the camcorder to continuously record up to three seconds of video while the camcorder is in stand-by mode. When the record button is pushed, the stored images are recorded to HDCAM SR tape and the camcorder can continue recording in real time.
With the optional HKSR-9003 RGB 4:4:4 processing board, the camcorder offers full-bandwidth digital 4:4:4 high-definition RGB recording and output capability. The option also offers S-LOG Gamma, which is essentially a “digital negative,” allowing users to flexibly tailor their images during post-production in the same way they would in a film-based workflow.
Complementing all HDCAM SR technologies is Sony’s line of BCT-SR Series HDCAM SR digital videocassettes. These cassettes are designed and co-engineered to fully maximize the benefits of 4:4:4 RGB recording technology.
HDCAM SR recording media uses ultrafine high performance metal particles 50 percent smaller than those in Sony’s HDCAM tape applied in the thinnest magnetic coating, to enable wavelength recording to 0.29mm. The result is up to +7dB higher output than HDCAM tape.
The SRW-9000 is compatible with a wide range of accessories for Sony’s HDW-F900 and F23 cameras, SRW-1 deck, and ARRI camera systems. Its physical size is equivalent to Sony’s original HDW-F900 camcorder.
In addition, the SRW-9000 accepts the new HDVF-C30WR viewfinder, which is specially suited for Sony’s F series cameras, and offers the new Focus Assist Function. The new viewfinder also provides pre-installed viewing look-up tables (LUTs) for S-Log Gamma, enabling easy focus adjustment and intuitive photo-shooting operation.
The SRW-9000 HDCAM SR camcorder is planned to be available in December.