First Impressions of the Sony XDCAM PMW-350 2/3″ HD Camera

Sony EX350 First Impressions

I received my Sony XDCAM PMW-350 2/3” HD Broadcast camera last week Dec 23 2009. It turned out to be an early Christmas gift for my company since I was expecting the camera mid Jan 2010.

Sony has two 350 cameras so from this point forward I will call this camera the EX350. It is the big brother to the EX1, EX1R (new), EX3, which are all great. I have been using the EX1 in my business for two years with excellent results.

I pre-ordered my EX350 after it was announced by Sony in October. The camera was purchased from Abel Cine Tech my store of choice. Besides being a fantastic rental house they are a first class broadcast video retail store. If you need the best gear on the market and advice from educated staff give them a call. No, I do not work for Abel I just appreciate their staff and service, and have a strong loyalty to people who treat me with respect, while offering very competitive product line and pricing.

On 3 December I traveled to Abel’s release of the EX350 and EX1R in NYC. Abel had asked me to bring along footage I shot with my EX1 over the last year to have as one of the three shooters highlighted during the night. I put together two reels about three minutes each running on their incredible 40” Sony broadcast monitor. One reel was native 35Mbps from the SxS cards and the other was clips from the Convergent Design Nano I have been recording too since last summer. This was a fantastic event with a lot of free flowing information from some top shooters. And once I held the EX350 that night I knew it was the next best step for my company.

The first thing I noticed when the camera arrived was the body is very lightweight. This is due to no spinning drives or motors to run tapes or disk, recording is solid-state Sony’s SxS cards. Once I installed the lens, battery, VF, stock shot gun mic, and Nano the camera weight is 16.2lbs (7.4kg). Light for a full size camera with a 16x lens.

I installed the shotgun mic that came with the camera since I did not have an XLR 3 pin to 5 pin cable for my Rode NTG-3. The audio plug up front is 5 pin XLR and the two on the back of the camera are 3 pin XLR. Cable ordered since I like my Rode NTG-3 shotgun better then the stock shotgun.

I have using my Marshall V-LCD70P-3GSDI hooked up for ease of menu viewing. Also with thumbnail play back this has been nice to review the footage in the field. Normally the monitor will only be used when on the tripod for framing and focus.

Speaking of Tripods you need a beefy one to support the camera with the type of outdoor shooting I do. So expect to spend a lot if you use long glass and shoot outdoors. I ordered a Vinten Vision 100 head, Vinten Fiber Tech sticks, and Vinten mid-level spreaders. Thanks to Chris Soucy on DVinfo for his advice in purchasing a great setup.

I read the manual cover to cover and spent a day shooting and here are my first impressions.

Pros over my EX1:
1. Nice to have a full size camera on my shoulder with needed controls at my fingertips.
2. D-Tap on the front right side of the top handle can pull 50W continuous power. So even my Zylight 90, which pulls 30W, can be hooked up to the D-Tap.
3. I purchased Switronix Pro-X XP-L130S batteries, which have a D-Tap on the battery. This way I can power my monitor with a battery on the back of it, my Zylight on D-Tap, and Nano on D-Tap. The camera only draws 15-18 watts so my 130w/h batteries last a long time. Think of the bunny with a drum.
4. Quick and easy to switch in WB while moving with camera on the shoulder between inside and out between presets or a new WB.
5. 4 ND filters nice.
6. Shoulder pad adjustment is easy with a big range.
7. Color VF is sharp with easy adjustments to dial in fit, and peaking, contrast, brightness knobs within reach.
8. Power up is quick 2.5 sec (This is FAST)
9. Menu system is easy to follow after using the EX1
10. Black balance is a quick adjustment
11. Cool on camera light options. You can put the switch on auto and leave the light’s switch on when the camera starts recording the light comes on. Or you can go full manual.
12. Nice strong shoulder strap hooks. I went for a Portabrace strap but a stock one comes with the camera.
13. Lots of audio control that seems sensitive for the 4 channels of audio. Audio out the back for an Audio person on the set or in the field.

Cons:
1. Cost, don’t let the retail price deceive you. When you purchase a camera this size you will spend 2-3 times the cost of the camera to be properly outfitted, unless you have most of the gear needed.
2. No 1080p over cranking
3. Second ¼ -20 support on back of handle.
4. Color space 4.2.0 (solved by Convergent Design Nano, which is 4.2.2 and loads of bit rate options. Don’t buy an EX350 with out a Nano IMHO!
5. Some type of Image Stabilization. I know full size camera operators will get all over me about this but for my shooting it is needed. So I will buy a Canon or Fujinon lens that supports their Optical Stabilizers for helicopter, on water, and rough shoulder shooting.

Most of the Pros I have listed from the EX350 go hand in hand with other full size broadcast camera. But with regard to picture quality the PMW-350 blows away the PDW-3xx. But that is to be expected. The EX1/3 have better picture then the PDW-3xx cameras and the EX350 blow away the EX1/3. With bigger more sensitive chip (two more stops) and better DOF being 2/3” over ½” the EX350 wins. Also this is the sharpest video I have ever seen from a camera. It could be too sharp at times.

I am keeping my EX1 as my B camera. With proper shoulder support the EX1/3 are great cameras. But from my first test they can not match the sharpness, latitude, low noise, and better DOF the PMW-350 offers. Add to this having the endless choice of B4 lens options for your shooting style.

The EX line of cameras just keeps getting better and the EX350 is nice move by Sony!

There are times when I will not be able to use the EX350 and the EX1 will be in my hands quickly for the shot. Nano hooked up to both and there you go, a great kit to capture all the shots.

There has been some concern with the EX camera line zoom control by rocker or top switch not being smooth at times. My zoom testing so far with the EX350 and stock lens has been very smooth with a nice range of speed control.

Once my tripod arrives this week I will be out shooting test.

My first impression of the EX350: This camera with the Nano and proper 2/3” glass is a winner all the way.

More once I have shoot some test and taking the camera on a job next week in the helicopter.