Sony PXW-Z280 4K Professional Camcorder
A comprehensive overview of the Sony PXW-Z280, detailing its advanced features, professional capabilities, and technical specifications.
Key Features
The Sony PXW-Z280 is a professional camcorder designed to redefine handheld shooting image quality and workflow. It boasts industry-leading features for broadcast and production environments.
World's First 4K 3-Chip Camcorder with 1/2-inch Exmor R™ CMOS Sensor
This camcorder features a groundbreaking 4K 3-chip system with a 1/2-inch Exmor R™ CMOS image sensor. This combination delivers exceptional image quality, deep depth of field, high resolution, and F12 high sensitivity (at 59.94p). The 4K 4:2:2 10-bit recording capability ensures vivid images and fine color gradation.
Industry-Leading Handheld 4K 50p/60p Performance
Capture stunning visuals with the PXW-Z280's ability to record in 4K 50p/60p. The 1/2-inch 3CMOS sensor provides excellent image quality and depth of field, crucial for professional productions.
Instant HDR Workflow
The PXW-Z280 supports an instant HDR workflow using HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma). This allows users to shoot, edit, and view HDR content without the need for extensive post-production color grading. It also offers compatibility with S-Log3 for flexible grading options.
Built-in Electronic Variable ND Filter
Sony has integrated a revolutionary electronic variable ND filter, offering quick and flexible shooting adjustments. This filter provides linear control from 1/4ND to 1/128ND, allowing seamless transitions between different lighting conditions, such as moving from indoors to bright sunlight. The ND filter can be set to fully automatic, or manually adjusted while maintaining fixed exposure by the camcorder, even when changing gain or shutter speed.
17x Professional Zoom Lens with Three Independent Control Rings
The camcorder is equipped with a 17x professional zoom lens, offering a focal range from 30.3mm to 515mm (equivalent to 35mm). The 1/2-inch lens features three independent control rings for manual adjustment of focus, zoom, and iris, enabling precise and rapid adjustments. In HD mode, image magnification is available without quality degradation, and sensor cropping can provide an equivalent of 34x zoom.
Face Detection Autofocus (AF)
For demanding 4K shooting scenarios, such as interviews or speeches, the Face Detection AF function ensures subjects remain in sharp focus continuously.
Revolutionary Network Functions
Leveraging Sony's cloud-based "XDCAM air" service, the PXW-Z280 offers advanced networking capabilities. Dual-link connectivity enables high-quality live broadcasting. Users can assign scheduled content and browse/retrieve footage from remote broadcast stations via the cloud. Integrated Wi-Fi and Ethernet support hybrid wireless/wired data transmission, allowing remote control and monitoring via smartphones, tablets, or computers, enhancing production flexibility.
Complete Professional Package
The PXW-Z280 supports a range of professional recording formats including XAVC-Long (4K QFHD/HD), XAVC Intra, MPEG HD422, MPEG HD, and DVCAM, catering to diverse workflows. It offers flexibility with recording media via SxS cards and SD cards (with optional adapters). The camcorder features four-channel audio recording with independent volume dials for precise control of external audio sources and microphones connected via the MI (Multi-Interface) hot shoe. Its 12G-SDI output supports long-distance transmission of 4K 50p/60p signals over a single BNC cable. The dual MI hot shoe allows wireless connection with Sony UWP-D series wireless microphone receivers and simultaneous use of lighting accessories.
Dual SxS Media Slots
Equipped with two SxS memory card slots, the camcorder supports Simul, Relay, or Backup recording modes. Simul mode records simultaneously to both cards, supporting formats like MPEG HD exFAT and UDF for archiving. Relay mode automatically switches recording to the second card when the first is full, extending recording time. Backup mode allows users to independently start and stop recording on each card while simul recording is active, using the camcorder's physical record start/stop buttons.
Specifications
Detailed technical specifications for the Sony PXW-Z280 camcorder.
General
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Weight | Approx. 2.6 kg (body) / Approx. 5 lb 11.7 oz (body) Approx. 3.0 kg (with lens hood, viewfinder, BP-U30 battery, SxS memory card) / Approx. 6 lb 9.8 oz (with lens hood, viewfinder, BP-U30 battery, SxS memory card) |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 178.4 × 202.0 × 426.3 mm (including accessories (lens hood, viewfinder), excluding grip strap, including protruding parts) / 7 1/8 x 8 x 16 7/8 inches (including accessories (lens hood, viewfinder), excluding grip strap, including protruding parts) |
| Power Requirements | DC Input: 12V / Battery: 14.4 V |
| Power Consumption | Approx. 24W (when recording without external devices, LCD off, EVF on) / Approx. 36W (when recording with external devices, LCD on, EVF on) |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F) |
| Storage Temperature | -20°C to +60°C (-4°F to +140°F) |
| Battery Operation Time | BP-U30 battery: Approx. 1 hour 5 minutes (without external devices, LCD off, EVF on) BP-U60 battery: Approx. 2 hours 10 minutes (without external devices, LCD off, EVF on) BP-U90 battery: Approx. 3 hours 15 minutes (without external devices, LCD off, EVF on) |
Recording Format (Video)
| Format | Specification |
|---|---|
| XAVC-I QFHD | MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, CBG, up to 600 Mbps |
| XAVC-I HD | MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, CBG, up to 222 Mbps |
| XAVC-L QFHD | VBR, up to 150 Mbps, MPEG-4 H.264/AVC |
| XAVC-L HD 50 | VBR, up to 50 Mbps, MPEG-4 H.264/AVC |
| XAVC-L HD 35 | VBR, up to 35 Mbps, MPEG-4 H.264/AVC |
| XAVC-L HD 25 | VBR, up to 25 Mbps, MPEG-4 H.264/AVC |
| MPEG HD422 | CBR, up to 50 Mbps, MPEG-2 422P@HL |
| MPEG HD420 HQ | VBR, up to 35 Mbps, MPEG-2 MP@HL |
| DVCAM | CBR, 25 Mbps, DVCAM |
Recording Format (Proxy Audio)
| XAVC Proxy | AAC-LC, 128 kbps, 2 channels |
Recording Format (Proxy Video)
| XAVC Proxy | AVC/H.264 Main Profile 4:2:0 Long GOP, VBR |
Frame Rate
| Format | Specification |
|---|---|
| XAVC-I QFHD | 3840×2160/59.94p, 50p, 29.97p, 23.98p, 25p |
| XAVC-I HD | 1920×1080/59.94p, 59.94i, 50p, 50i, 29.97P, 23.98P, 25P 1280x720/59.94P, 50P |
| XAVC-L QFHD 150 | 3840x2160/59.94P, 50P, 29.97P, 23.98P, 25P |
| XAVC-L HD 50 | 1920×1080/59.94P, 50P, 59.94i, 50i, 29.97P, 23.98P, 25P 1280x720/59.94P, 50P |
| XAVC-L HD 35 | 1920×1080/59.94P, 50P, 59.94i, 50i, 29.97P, 23.98P, 25P |
| XAVC-L HD 25 | 1920×1080/59.94i, 50i |
| MPEG HD422 | 1920x1080/59.94i, 50i, 29.97P, 23.98P, 25P 1280x720/59.94P, 50P, 29.97P, 23.98P, 25P |
| MPEG HD420 HQ | 1920×1080/59.94i, 50i, 29.97P, 23.98P, 25P 1440x1080/59.94i, 50i 1280x720/59.94P, 50P |
| DVCAM | 720x480/59.94i, 29.97PsF 720x576/50i, 25PsF |
Recording/Playback Time (with SBP-128B 128GB)
| Format | Time |
|---|---|
| XAVC-I QFHD | Approx. 22 minutes |
| XAVC-I HD | Approx. 57 minutes |
| XAVC-L QFHD 150 | Approx. 86 minutes |
| XAVC-L HD 50 | Approx. 230 minutes |
| XAVC-L HD 35 | Approx. 310 minutes |
| XAVC-L HD 25 | Approx. 420 minutes |
| MPEG HD422 | Approx. 215 minutes |
| MPEG HD420 HQ | Approx. 330 minutes |
| DVCAM | Approx. 405 minutes |
Lens
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Lens Mount | Fixed |
| Zoom Ratio | 17x (optical), servo/manual |
| Focal Length | f5.6, 95.2 mm (35mm equivalent: 30.3-515 mm) |
| Iris | F1.9 - F16 and OFF, auto/manual |
| Focus | 800 mm to ∞ (macro OFF) 50mm to ∞ (macro ON, wide end) 800mm to ∞ (macro ON, tele end) Selectable AF/MF/Full MF |
| Image Stabilizer | Selectable On/Off, lens shift |
| Filter Diameter | M77 mm, pitch 0.75 mm |
Camera Section
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Imaging Device | 1/2-inch type back-illuminated Exmor R 3CMOS image sensor |
| Effective Pixels | 3840 (H) × 2160 (V) |
| Optical System | F1.6 prism system |
| Built-in Optical Filters | ND Filter OFF: CLEAR, 1: 1/4ND, 2: 1/16ND, 3: 1/64ND Continuously Variable ND Filter (Approx. 1/4ND to 1/128ND) |
| Sensitivity | F12 (typical, in 1920 × 1080/59.94p mode) F13 (typical, in 1920 × 1080/50p mode) F12 (typical, in 3840 × 2160/59.94p mode, high sensitivity mode) F13 (typical, in 3840 × 2160/50p mode, high sensitivity mode) |
| Minimum Illumination | 0.0013 lx (typical) (in 1920 x 1080/59.94i mode, F1.9, +42 dB gain, high sensitivity mode, with 64 frames accumulation) |
| S/N Ratio | 63 dB (Y) (typical) |
| Horizontal Resolution | Over 2,000 TV lines (in 3840 × 2160p mode) Over 1,000 TV lines (in 1920 × 1080p mode) |
| Shutter Speed | 1/24 sec to 1/8,000 sec |
| Slow Shutter (SLS) | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 32, and 64 frames accumulation |
| Slow/Quick Motion Function | <XAVC Intra><XAVC Long>: 2160P 1-60 fps, 1080P 1-60 fps, 720P 1-60 fps <MPEG HD422>: 1080P 1-30 fps, 720P 1-60 fps <MPEG HD420 HQ>: 1080P 1-30 fps, 720P 1-60 fps |
| White Balance | Preset (3200K), Memory A, Memory B/ATW |
| Gain | -3, 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 dB, 42dB (Turbo gain ON), AGC |
| Gamma Curves | Selectable |
Inputs/Outputs
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Audio Input | XLR type 3-pin (female) (x2), selectable Line/Mic/Mic +48 V Line: +4, 0, -3 dBu / 10 kΩ Mic: -80 dBu to -30 dBu / 3 kΩ (0 dBu = 0.775 Vrms) |
| Video Output | BNC (x1), HD-Y/HD-SYNC/Composite 1.0 Vp-p, 75 Ω (selectable to Sync Lock Input) |
| Audio Output | Integrated into Multi/Micro USB jack (x1) |
| Headphone Output | Stereo mini jack (φ2.5 mm) |
| Speaker Output | Monaural output: 500mW |
| DC Input | DC jack (x1) |
| Remote Control | Stereo mini jack (φ2.5 mm) Type A (x1) |
| HDMI Output | HDMI connector (Type A) (x1) |
| Wired LAN | RJ-45 (x1), 1000BASE-T, 100BASE-T, 10BASE-T |
| SDI Output | BNC (x1), selectable 12G/3G/HD/SD |
| Timecode Input | BNC (x1) (switchable to TC Output) 0.5 V to 1.8 Vp-p, 3.3 kΩ |
| Timecode Output | BNC (x1) (switchable to TC Input) 1.0 Vp-p, 75 Ω |
| Sync Lock Input | BNC (x1) (switchable to Video Output) 1.0 Vp-p, 75 Ω |
| USB | USB Device, Multi/Micro USB jack (x1) Host: USB 3.0/2.0 Type A (x1) USB 2.0 Type A (x1) |
Media
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Type | ExpressCard/34 slot (x2) |
Wi-Fi/NFC
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Supported Formats | IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac |
| Frequency Band | 2.4 GHz band 5.2/5.3/5.6 GHz band (PXW-Z280V only) |
| Security | WEP/WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK |
| NFC | Complies with NFC Forum Type 3 Tag standard |
Included Accessories
| Lens Hood (1), pre-attached to camcorder |
| EVF Eyepiece Cup (1), pre-attached to camcorder |
| BP-U30 Battery Pack (1) |
| BC-U1A Battery Charger/AC Adapter (1) |
| AC Power Cord (1) |
| USB Cable (1) |
| Shoulder Strap (1) |
| Warranty Card (1) |
| Instruction Manual CD-ROM (1) |
| "Before Use" Guide (1) |
| *Subject to country/region regulations |
Dimensions
Visual representation of dimensions (textual description of the diagram): The diagram shows the camcorder from the side and top, with various measurements indicated in millimeters and inches. Key dimensions include height (approx. 178.4 mm), width (approx. 202.0 mm), and depth (approx. 426.3 mm).
Dimensions:
- Height: 178.4 mm (7 1/8 inches)
- Width: 202.0 mm (8 inches)
- Depth: 426.3 mm (16 7/8 inches)
Note: Dimensions are approximate and may vary based on included accessories and protruding parts.
Optional Accessories
A selection of optional accessories is available to enhance the functionality of the PXW-Z280:
- Battery Packs: BP-U60 / BP-U90
- Battery Chargers/AC Adapters: BC-U1A / BC-U2A
- Lighting: HVL-LBPC Battery Video Light
- Memory Cards: SxS PRO+ Memory Card (SBP-256E/SBP-128E), SxS-1 Memory Card (SBS-128G1C/SBS-64G1C)
- Wireless Microphone Kits: UWP-D11 / UWP-D12 Wireless Microphone Kit (requires SMAD-P3 MI Hot Shoe Adapter for wireless operation)
- MI Hot Shoe Adapters: SMAD-P3, SMAD-P3D (for wireless operation of URX-P03D)
- Microphones: ECM-VG1 Wired Shotgun Microphone
- SD Card Adapter: MEAD-SD02 XDCAM Series SD Card Adapter
- Switchers: MCX-500 Multi-Camera Live Producer
- Remote Controls: RM-30BP Remote Commander
