Sony DSR-PDX10 3-CCD Mini DVCAM Camcorder


(more pics at bottom)

Going where no other 3-chip widescreen camera has gone before, the DSR-PDX10 is the smallest, lightest video camera that will capture images with beautiful lifelike color in the 16:9 aspect ratio. The DSR-PDX10 would be perfect for the new range of home theatre displays including televisions, projectors, and plasma screens. It is also capable for use as a "B" camera in professional news gathering productions.

Weighing less than 3 pounds, the 3 chip (.213 inch or 1 / 4.7") the DSR-PDX10 offers a 14-bit Digital Signal Processor for highly reliable color and contrast, optical image stabilization, progressive recording, the DVCAM professional format and a whole bunch more. The DSR-PDX10 offers new opportunities in a variety of professional applications.




Key Features
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Widescreen CCDs, Analog to Digital Converter and Digital Signal Processing

The DSR-PDX10 is a special camera. Being a 3 CCD design put it in the range of professional acquisition devices. Having 16:9 native chips puts it with only the highest range of video cameras today. It is perfect as a "B" camera along side a widescreen broadcast, Digital Betacam or HDTV camera.

The DSR-PDX10 uses a 14-bit analog to digital converter, which eliminates rounding off errors in lesser bit rate processors. And for a DSP, the camcorder uses a 14-bit design for capturing rich detail in the brightest and darkest portions of the scene.

The camcorder is switchable into 4:3 mode also, making it one of the smallest, lightest camcorders for any type of viewing requirements. The DSR-PDX10 packs a big punch for professionals who don't have room to spare.

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DVCAM / DV Formats for Universal Systems Integration

Using mini size cassettes only, the tiny DSR-PDX10 records in the professional DVCAM format that utilizes 8-bit component 4:1:1 color sampling, 5:1 intra-frame compression at 25 mega-bits per second. DVCAM locks together the audio to video for drift-free long duration acquisition. The camcorder will also record and playback the universal DV format. Maximum record time is 40 minutes in DVCAM and 60 minutes in DV.

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Optical Image Stabilization

What good is an image stabilizer if the process degrades the image it is stabilizing? A digital circuit that reduces hand-shake is still another digital process that removes the image further from its initial high quality. The DSR-PDX10, with its 12 times 3.6mm (its widest angle) zoom lens, uses an optical system that corrects for shaking by gently and minutely moving the lens to counter-act the vibration. Since this process occurs before any video acquisition, it doesn't degrade the images.

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LCD Monitor

A high quality 3.5 inch active matrix LCD screen is built into the side of the camcorder. This convenience feature is appreciated by shooters who would like not to keep an eye on the eyepiece for extended periods. The LCD monitor makes scrolling through the menus easier and faster than through the viewfinder. Additionally, the screen is also touch sensitive for specific internal menu options like Spot Focus and Spot Auto-Exposure.

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Zebra Exposure Patterns for Accurate Exposure Information

Professionals don't guess when it comes to broadcast standard set-up. The DSR-PDX10 offers 2 Zebra modes, 70% and 100% referring to 100 IRE allowable video output for broadcast. Those producers that like to generally under-expose will probably like the 70% mode, while those that like colors saturated and images bold will probably appreciate the 100% option.

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Professional Balanced XLR Audio Connectors

The DSR-PDX10 accepts 2 professional microphones with its XLR adapter box. This unit gives line-level and mic-level switchability as well as phantom power.

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Professional Time Code / User-bits

The DSR-PDX10 stripes professional SMPTE Time Code. The operator can preset the Time Code information hours, minutes, seconds, frames. This feature lets you identify the tape cassette with continuity by the Hour. You may also choose to name the tape by date or any alpha-numeric code that you prefer with the user-bits.

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Memory Stick Recording for Web-Streaming Video and Still Images

The DSR-PDX10 comes standard with a small capacity, 8mb Memory Stick. Moving pictures and audio can be recorded on the memory stick media card in the MPEG-1 format. The image size can be chosen from Presentation mode (320 x 240) or Video Mail mode (160 x 112). On a 128 MB Memory Stick, you can record up to 85 minutes in the low resolution mode. With the supplied 8 megabyte stick, you will get about 5 minutes.

Still images may also be recorded by the DSR-PDX10. Two image sizes, 640 x 480 or 1152 x 864 may be selected. Three resolution options, super-fine, fine, or standard can be selected. The still pictures can be captured on tape or Memory Stick

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Manual Features

  • Audio Levels
  • Exposure
  • Shutter Speed
  • White Balance
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Automatic Exposure Features

  • Soft Portrait
  • Sports Lesson
  • Beach and Ski
  • Sunset and Moon
  • Landscape
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Other Features

  • SMPTE Bars
  • USB Port
  • Audio Dub in DVCAM
  • Index Marking
  • Analog Video In and Out
  • Battery Info in Viewfinder
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Input and Output Connectors

  • Firewire- 4-Pin (x 1 input and output both)
  • S-Video- 4-Pin (x 1 input and output both)
  • Composite Video- RCA (x 1 input and output both)
  • Mic Audio- XLR (x 2 input)
  • Line Audio- RCA (x 2 input and output both)
  • Headphone- Mini Stereo (x 1)
  • Remote Control- Mini Stereo (x 1)
  • USB- Mini B (x 1)
  • DC Power- Proprietary for AC Adapter (x 1)