Sony PXW-Z200 & HXR-NX800 Pro 4K Camcorders -- What's New???

[@christophernaunton9457]

As a Z90 user who had been looking at the z190 and z280 for a while, it didn't take me long to order (and receive) one. The z190 and z280 didn't quite look like they would be right for me. The Z200 just ticked so many boxes.. 12G SDI, Good zoom range, s-cinetone, SRT support, SD card support, variable ND and more. Anyway received it here in Aus last Thursday, took it on a job Friday. So far quite happy with it. Bit of a learning curve in the menus but far more options the the z90's.

[@ishizukahikaru643]

It's good u didn't buy the Z280. It's a complete rip off for just 1/2 sensor 17 times zoom, and all yr getting is 12G-SDI added. And compared to the Canon XF605 and Pana HC-X2 the Z280 quality was horrible. Since I work mainly in lowlight venues and concerts the Z280 really let us down so many times getting complaints from customers that we stopped using them and used Panasonic and Canon.

[@PRKDMedia]

@@ishizukahikaru643 Haven't looked that Canon or Panasonic but the Z280 just seemed to have too many downsides or extra expensive costs (media in particular) when switching from the Z90's. I am glad that I did hold off.

[@fokalestudio]

I have noise when I'm filming. Can you tell me the tips and settings I use when I'm filming in low light? I was filming with s-cinetone, 4k.

[@lavidaplena]

can you tell me how can i set up S-cinetone with the nx800??

[@pirukapekka]

Recived mines already, night and day compared to z190. Can reccommend definetly for events and so. Btw autofreiming works only for recording and hdmi out. Not sdi. 4k quality is good for 1 inch sensor.

[@djp_video]

Interesting. I know there are some configuration options for what is sent to the SDI port. Is it just an option that needs to be changed?

[@pirukapekka]

@@djp_video looked it over, if it active then no sdi output even possible. honestly bummer because for talking head it looks to work well.

[@VegasDominic]

9cam all Z150 live video coverage setup for events, wow that’s so powerful ❤👌

[@daustonian9331]

When does the FX6 II come out!!

[@kalkydra]

Great video. Noob question, are these cameras weather sealed? Meaning can they be used in light rain or humid places? Cheers.

[@djp_video]

I don't believe so. The manual warns to keep it out of the rain, damp, and dusty locations.

[@picturefifty]

Hey Doug, quick question for you since I know you use Z150s for your live productions - do you have any solution for live shading or color correction during shoots - or do you solely rely on uniform white balance and cam ops riding iris? I think the Z200 will be a fantastic camera and I am planning to build out 2 or 3 rigs with Ninja 5.2's as an upgraded viewfinder/monitor, and Sachtler Ace XL mk2 tripods. Would love to know your thoughts.

[@djp_video]

It has rarely been an issue. In the majority of the events we shoot, lighting is controlled. It's only outdoor events in the morning or evening where I've had to ask camera operators to change settings. For everything else, we set white balance and exposure during setup and don't have to touch it thereafter.

[@jeffsaffron5647]

Camcorders generally don't support RCP. The cheapest solution would probably be FX-9 with the extension unit. Which would fit into 20k budget per chain. Or entry level pro-grade cameras from Sony the HXC-FZ90, I seen those around 40k per chain. In 4K it does not get cheaper than this.

[@djp_video]

Real RCP, correct. Hopefully the Monitor & Control app will provide some of that functionality though. Compared to its predecessors, the Z200/NX800 are much more flexible in that regard.

[@LMActionsports]

So i am undecided on getting the z200 or the nx800. I am a solo shooter, and i am going to use it for ATV/DIRTBIKE off-road racing, maybe some local sporting events. I am not broadcasting it, just recording a bunch of videos in different spots, and with the built-in zoom, it is going to be great to reach the action from a distance. Do you think the nx800 would better fit my needs? I have never used timecode or any attachment with sdi. I do have a Sony a7iv and a fx30 that i rigged up for a light run and gun rig hand held and on my gimble, so i am familiar with the Sony ecosystem. I might stream a little bit of footage using my cellphone with the new camcorder, but i dont think i will need all the features of the z200. But maybe I am wrong. What do you think? I do want the 4k 120, so dont both models come with it? If the z200 would be a better option i would buy it but if its overkill for my needs the nx800 would be better. Thanks for sharing this detailed video

[@djp_video]

There are only 3 differences... SDI output, timecode input/output, and MXF file wrapper coming in a firmware update next year. If you don't need those features, the NX800 should work just fine for you. djp.li/nx800

[@LMActionsports]

@@djp_videowell I placed an order on the nx800 and used your link. Hopefully it worked right, I went through Amazon. I am super excited to get it. It said it was supposed to be here tomorrow but shipping says it’ll be here Monday. Do you have any good recommendations on a good starter shotgun xlr mic in the 150-250$ range. I have a deity d4 shotgun mic, would it be just as good to use a 3.5 to xlr adapter to plug into the xlr port to get the best audio with what already have or should I go and get XLR shotgun mic? Thank you for replying back to my previous message. And thank you for this video. It really helped me out.

[@Signcutter]

Does it have IBIS?

[@djp_video]

No. IBIS isn't a thing with camcorders. They use optical stabilization in the lens instead.

[@jpthevirgo]

Immediately, the focus is noticeably improved and enhanced. The ability to zoom while maintaining quality is impressive. However, I'm having trouble figuring out how to shoot in SLog3 without encountering distortion, something I've never experienced with the FX3.

[@djp_video]

What kind of distortion?

[@ThomasJanson-xq1jn]

Doug , is there a audio switch for phantom power on the Z-200 , the Z-150 does

[@djp_video]

Yes, it's right by the XLR input.

[@ThomasJanson-xq1jn]

@@djp_video thanks Doug

[@KhalidStudioFilms]

Please make a video on fiber optic connectivity with swtcher And is it possible we join many camera on a single wire ?

[@djp_video]

I've covered this many times on my channel. Just search for videos talking about fiber optics.

[@serhii_yuz]

Thank you very much! I own a Z 150 camera, the menu is very inconvenient, especially to adjust the white balance in Kelvin - you need to press the buttons on top 5 times. Please tell me how to adjust the balance in Kelvin in Z 200? I would like a review of the menu. Thank you!

[@djp_video]

Once I get my hands on one I can certainly do that.

[@jpthevirgo]

I just got this and it blows the fx3 out of the water. its better in every category with use. unbelievable

[@djp_video]

I'm glad you're really liking it! My impressions so far are good too. The FX3 is quite a different camera, being meant for more of a cinema workflow. Its sensor is quite a bit bigger (FF vs 1-inch), so the image coming out of it should look quite a bit different -- shallower depth of field being the biggest visual difference.

[@IndianaSRN]

i just added a ptzoptics move se camera to my live sports games to supplement my main cam -- a Canon XA35. Both are set to 1080p60. The picture quality on the ptz is much crisper and is annoying noticeable in the same broadcast. What do I need to do to get better picture quality to match the ptz? New camera recommendations are ok.

[@djp_video]

The difficult thing you're going to run into is trying to match the image on your PTZ Optics camera. Every manufacturer, and every sensor, has their own unique way to render colors and exposure, so trying to get cameras from two different manufacturers to match can be difficult, if not impossible. But, that said, moving up the camera product line from Canon, particularly to one with a 1-inch or larger sensor, should get you a much better image. Just be aware that the colors on it aren't going to match your PTZ Optics. It's also possible that the sharpness on your PTZO might be set too high, or too low on your Canon.

[@JoshC.]

B&H can cut deals especially if you are gonna get 3-4 of these things so make the use of that. The Studio is who you want to reach out to as you have a similar business to mine. B2B will do competitive quotes etc. Really glad to see Sony finally have an answer to Canon on this stuff for competition. I have the XF-705s which I picked up used as they were too expensive new but offered the 12G output I needed and HDMI etc. The XF-605 was the next step which really fixed the price point issue along with a few features. Glad to see Sony giving canon a run for their money in this space.

[@djp_video]

I have a B2B account but the “discounts” they offer are more or less a waste of my time. Should I be talking to someone in particular?

[@giantasparagus]

Wish I could get one with a slimmer handle. Haven't used XLR in years

[@CaesarDarias]

Thank you for the video. Can you livesteam to KZbin using only an iPhone with the KZbin app? If yes, how?

[@djp_video]

From the Z200? Not through the KZbin app. The camera can stream directly to KZbin by using your phone's tethering feature (over USB or Wi-Fi) , though.

[@CaesarDarias]

@@djp_video Do you need a MacBook/laptop connected to the internet using the iPhone?

[@djp_video]

No. The camera does all of the encoding. It just needs acces to an Internet connection.

[@AaronKothe]

I'm pretty devastated that this camera doesn't have genlock.

[@djp_video]

Would have been nice. Not many models in that segment of the market do. The Canon XF605 is the only model under about $5000 that does. Even the Blackmagic Studio cameras don't have it built either -- you have to add the Studio Converter to get it.

[@jeffsaffron5647]

do you really need frame perfect sync that much? I would be more devastated about lack of RCP support, which really limits how can camera be used. But as Doug already pointed out there is nothing in this price range that has neither of these.

[@chriskooken9294]

Hey Doug, have they published any protocol documentation yet like the PTZ cameras so we could write our own software to take advantage of the control capabilities?

[@djp_video]

I haven't stumbled across it, but I also haven't gone digging for it either.

[@paulanderegg5536]

@@djp_video I am still waiting for other than the B&H sales rep (who says 1" is better than 3x 1/2") to confirm these things will do the older NCM QoS live streaming. Almost seems like they deprecated that 720p only version for some new 4K capable SRT protocol...BUT I see they have SRT updated firmware for most of the non 1" camcorders, dongles, and servers.

[@paulanderegg5536]

DOUGGGGGGGG...this thing is almost the same size as the Z280 (and those big expensive batteries), and the same price as a used Z280...as a night ENG shooter, I just can't recommend this at this time. For corporate and TV station buyers, who are required to purchase only new for capital budgets, it's good enough and much better than the Z150 MMJ cameras we and you use.

[@TheFandangovideoguy]

will the Z200 deliver better picture quality and low light performance compared to the Z280? I just don't want to buy a camcorder with small sensors...

[@paulanderegg5536]

@@TheFandangovideoguy The Z190 is about 1 stop BRIGHTER than the Z150's Doug uses, per this clip. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXemYnl-aZpoa9E The Z280 is about 2 to 3 stops brighter than the Z190 per this clip kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWWzqYuAiMd1iLc That means the 1" sensor Sony cameras are roughly 3-4 stops (each stop is about 6db of gain equiv) less bright than the 1/2" Sony camera, because it is a 3-chip design. I run a Z90 1" AND X320 1/2 at Work, and I can confirm the difference is massive in favor of the 1/2 3 chip cameras.

[@djp_video]

I spent a week with a Z280 a couple years ago and shot a few scenes on it and the Z150 side by side. What I found was that while the Z280 had a less noisy image in low light, it also lost a lot of detail -- things got really soft in scenes with little light. As in, the image looks out of focus soft. The Z150 retains its level of detail in low light, even though it can get noisy when it's dark. The footage I shot shows the Z280 retaining detail in the highlights better, but I also didn't take time to tweak the knee settings on the cameras either. Across the board the Z150 always produced a more detailed image. And I'm talking about real detail, not the fake detail created by sharpening. In most footage I actually questioned whether the 280 was really in focus or not. And no matter what I was shooting, the footage from the Z280 had a bit of a haze across it, almost as if the lens was dirty.

[@paulanderegg5536]

@@djp_video I had that issue when a ran an X180 a decade ago. The extreme noise reduction (undefeatable) blurred everything once you hit a gain up situation, and was so bad you go that 1990's TFT LCD panel smear when there was any motion at all.

[@erickperdomo277]

@@paulanderegg5536 amazing comparison. Thanks so much...

[@Jason-mk3nn]

Just started working with the Panasonic x2/X20s for field use. ish these had come out before we had to go with the Panasonics, for comparing, but I think they are both strong contenders. Panasonic does have iris ring, and buttery-smooth servos.

[@Jason-mk3nn]

Also, love Panasonic's way that the viewfinder slides into the handle for protection.

[@djp_video]

Unfortunately it seems that the X2/X20 don't seem to output 4K on the SDI terminal. Disappointing.

[@Jason-mk3nn]

@@djp_video Agreed. For this client, not needed (ENG), but as a multi-purpose camera, 3G was a real wasted opportunity for Panasonic to up their game. I am hoping that 2110 finds a foothold, so we can have a good, single cable solution for multi-cam setups.

[@loganhawkinsmedia]

Can you live stream (a sporting event for example) to platforms like KZbin with this new camcorder?

[@djp_video]

Yes. It has streaming built in

[@brendanateventsair]

How does Timecode work for higher FPS (50PAL, 60NTSC, etc.)?

[@djp_video]

Even though SMPTE timecode was designed for 25/30 frames per second, it was designed to accommodate the individual fields that make up interlaced video, producing a field rate double that of the frame rate (50 or 60 fields per second). In this case, the first field of each frame is marked as the upper field and the second field is marked as the lower field, and devices which are recording in 48/50/60 fps can double the frame number and add a 1 for the lower field to produce frame numbers for progressive video.

[@kennyadvocat]

Very cool. I wonder if you can a pan/tilt head and also use that with the remote control feature. =)

[@TheFandangovideoguy]

I need a pro camcorder in my toolbox! Sure I have a C100 mk2, 2 FX30 etc but a camcorder would be so useful for concerts and live performances with decent light...but the big manufacturers abandoned the camcorders long ago...gosh...I dont expect a camcorder with APSC-forget full frame-performance but much better than the camcorders with small sensors...almost bought the Canon XF605...and now I'm sort of excited about the PXW-Z200 but is missing one ring! come on...how hard can it be to add a third ring...sure the website says we'll be able to assign the iris to one of the two rings but even my old Canon XF300 has the real pro feeling to it. Good machine that is now outdated in 1080p but a good camcorder...I hope to see a comparison of the Canon XF605 vs the Sony Z200...a few more weeks I hope

[@djp_video]

Fortunately the iris can be controlled from a dedicated dial right there on the side. Not quite as good as a ring, but better than having to switch one of the rings between focus and iris or some other silly shenanigans like that.

[@TheFandangovideoguy]

@@djp_video yeah..I Know about the dedicated dial on the side of the camera...similar to my old Canon XF100...nah...I prefer the feel of the 3 rings! but I will wait to see if the pic quality is worth it...I rented the Canon XF605...it was ok...but nothing spectacular...I guess I'm spoiled! LOL.. thanks!

[@danbrockettDOP]

@@TheFandangovideoguy We've had an XF-605 for about a year, its a great camera in some ways, but in other ways, frustrating. We're a live streaming and broadcast production house and the 605 is very noisy in anything but great light. We pair it with three Canon C200s and we knew the S35 imager would be better in lower light but the difference is kind of too noticeable. We light most of our productions but we do shoot some events and functions where we have no control over the lighting and the XF-605 at anything above about ISO 500 starts to get a ton of FPN, whereas the C200s look amazing at up to about ISO 3200. This new Sony is intriguing because we also have an FX6 and an FX3 so this camera with a native ISO of 1600 and the same/similar color science is intriguing. The Sony is four year newer technology than the XF-605, so it would make sense that the images are cleaner and it has some nice newer digital features the 605 lacks. But the 605 has that iris ring amd genlock in too.

[@erickperdomo277]

@@danbrockettDOP Many XF605 complain about excessive noise in their videos...but many others didnt feel the same way...I wanted to continue with Canon! My C100 mk2 paired with a Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 is great! The best 1080p I have ever seen...but not quite versatile for live events. After trying the FX6/FX30 I really hope the upcoming Sony Z200 is a good camcorder with reasonable performance in low light (not a cave! I always bring some lights COB)- I only use S-cinetone- I'm not making movies so S-:LOG is not needed. I will wait for reviews soon...I need a last good pro camcorder in my life! Thanks

[@ishizukahikaru643]

I'm going to buy some since Sony is finally dropping the price to reasonable rates matching Panasonic HC-X2, Canon XF605 price point. The price Sony Z280 was a complete ripoff for 1/2 inch sensor, crap 17 times zoom, adding thousands of bucks just for 12G-SDI.

[@ethiller]

What a bummer about the lack of iris ring on the lens. Not sure what Sony was thinking 😮

[@paulanderegg5536]

The website states they will allow the zoom ring to function as an iris ring, sometime in late 2025 by firmware update. This is logical, because although they can have that feature enabled at launch, Sony has wisely chosen to...um...I can't finish that though because it broke my brain. :-D

[@ethiller]

😂 1 step forward ….. 1.5 steps backward.

[@danbrockettDOP]

I agree that they should have included it, but it's not the end of the world. Our FX6 only has iris ring on the lenses we use that have one, some do, some don't. Our workhorse FE 24-105mm f/4.0 OSS doesn't. You just use the knob on the body, minor inconvenience. People are acting like its a deal breaker when it's not.

[@paulanderegg5536]

@@danbrockettDOP Becomes more problematic when you need to use the same control for gain as well in a night or dim lighting ENG scenario. For night ENG or shooting docu stuff you're constantly rolling the gain dial as your jut locked wide open and never have enough light.

[@danbrockettDOP]

@@paulanderegg5536 Perhaps there will be other mappable options for that function? I haven’t yet studied the manual but on the FX6, you can control iris with the knob on the body or on the grip handle. Might be able to map gain elsewhere?

[@lordberus5101]

Great video. So i am interested to know if this camera would compare well when it comes to the mirrorless Sony A7IV and A7SIII? I would use them together and the colors when adding the Z200? Has anyone uses that combination and how the color grading went?

[@djp_video]

I don't personally have access to those cameras without renting them. Your best bet to get an answer is to try the 'cameras' channel on my Discord server. djp.li/discord

[@lordberus5101]

@@djp_video okay thanks will do👍

[@geoffaddis1075]

Different animals. The A7iv and A7Siii have full frame sensors therefore better signal to noise ratio in low light. The smaller sensor size enables a cost effective design for the zoom lens which can have a greater zoom range than those typically used on full frame cameras. I would be interested to learn how the signal/noise of the PXW=Z200 compares with that of the Panasonic CX350 cameras that have a very similar specification to these Sony cameras, but have been on the market for several years.

[@coolbluerecharge]

Nice. I use the Z190 for sports. It’s a great camera as long as you have plenty of light. I’m definitely interested in the Z200. Although the dream would be a larger sensor, classic manual controls, fixed aperture, and top low-light performance 😁 👍

[@djp_video]

The trade-off with large sensors to get a good image in low light is that you'll be working with a shallow depth of field, which you probably don't want when shooting sports.

[@jeffsaffron5647]

For sports my dream would be HDC-4800... which shoots 2160p400, but that's 200k camera...

[@drsurf1]

Only 1 MI hot shoe and only 2 audio channels controlled with dials, not 4 like Z280'

[@djp_video]

The Z200 is meant to fall below the Z280 in the lineup, so a loss of a few features is expected

[@drsurf1]

@@djp_video some great features. I am winding down my little career and editing platform older so I wouldn't get best out of it. I did buy a used 280, $4K, like 40 hours, and its been perfect for 4 years. I do some beach weddings so I sent to LA for 'sand and corrosion' removal. Hope to ride this cam out into sunset. But I do look at new ones.

[@DavidMorseMusic]

It still angers me that Sony is continuing the tradition of charging a TON extra just for SDI. Inexcusable in 2024 when HDMI to SDI converters are so cheap.

[@paulanderegg5536]

They should just include it and charge a subscription to activate it 😀

[@Edwin--]

I am not sure whether this is fully Sony. They seem to require licensing for the SDI-prototol and and MXF-wrapper, and that licensing seems to drive up the price. So I don't think it has to do with the costs of the hardware, but with Sony having to pay the patent / license holder to make use of their technology.

[@jeffsaffron5647]

@@Edwin-- SDI electronics is simpler than HDMI electronics... difference in pricing is due to licensing and mass adoption.

[@Edwin--]

@@jeffsaffron5647 I think you are right on that. But indeed, an USD 800 difference between the models is substantial, and certainly makes the NX800 more attractive if you can do without SDI ports and the MFX-codec the Z200 has.

[@asafblasbergvideographer]

Thanks for your excellent comment! I currently use DVX200 Panny cameras, which feature a 4/3” sensor, so this camera would be a good upgrade for me considering the Panny is no longer produced :(

[@majormauser]

Z200 has a 12G-SDI output and should output 4k up to 4k60p.

[@djp_video]

Yes, I believe I mentioned that at least a couple times.

[@newsfan77]

Gen Lock?

[@djp_video]

No.

[@nikynikita2044]

I think sony NX80 in 4K has the same quality!

[@djp_video]

The HXR-NX80, PXW-Z90V, and FDR-AX700 should have more-or-less identical video quality for live output. The codecs available for recording in-camera differ a little bit from one model to the next, with the Z90V being the only one that offers the highest levels of quality with XAVC-based codecs, and the others being limited to h.264 for the highest quality levels.

[@nikynikita2044]

@@djp_video but they say that the new nx800 can match the FX6. So the NX80, z90 and AX700 can match the FX6

[@djp_video]

The NX800 is almost entirely the same camera as the Z200, less the SDI and timecode ports, and a promised future firmware update to give them a new codec next year. The NX80 you mentioned is a small camera from the older family of cameras.