Sony PHU-120R 120GB Professional Hard Disk Unit
The Sony PHU-120R is a hard disk recording unit designed for use with Sony's XDCAM EX camcorders. The 120GB drive can be formatted in either one 120GB partition or two 60GB partitions, letting you record up to 400 continuous minutes in HQ (35Mbps) mode or 520 minutes in SP (25Mbps) mode. The ability to record uninterrupted is especially useful for event coverage, sports and documentary-style shooting.
- Sleek Attachment
- The PHU-120R doesn't have--or need--transport controls, record time displays or multiple inputs and outputs. The unit simply plugs into a media slot on the host camcorder or deck, where it is recognized as if it were just another memory card! All read, write and file access operations are controlled by the host recorder.
- Internal Shock Absorbers
- The disk drive itself is suspended inside the PHU-120R chassis by four specially engineered dampers that help protect against shock.
- CyberCapture Technology
- Unlike PC data, audio/video recording requires consistent, sustained transfer speeds. Sony's CyberCapture technology is designed to compensate for potential variations in performance to achieve sustained transfer speeds.
- 3G Shock Detection
- As in a laptop PC, this system senses a potential shock and temporarily "parks" the read/write heads away from the hard disk surface, to help protect the disk from damage.
- Shock Resistant Memory
- Should shock or vibration become severe enough to disrupt recording, incoming data is automatically stored in 9 seconds of buffer memory. This gives the unit the chance to recover and continue recording as if nothing had happened.
- Salvage Function
- In the event of a power interruption, the data salvage function of the camcorder minimizes lost footage. While performance varies according to conditions, typically only the last few seconds of material is affected.
- Three LEDs are used to indicate Access, Power and Battery.
- Instant record uses the buffer memory to start recording even before the hard drive spins up.
- Accepts the same battery as XDCAM EX camcorders; optional BP-U30 battery pack (required, not supplied). The recommended battery charger is the BC-U1.
- Approximately 12 hours of continuous use on a single battery charge, with optional BP-U30 battery pack.
- Supplied shoe adapter for secure attachment to PDW-EX1, EX1R, EX3 and PMW-350 camcorders.
- Supplied connection cable connects to the USB interface on the PHU-120R and plugs into the SxS PRO card slot on the PDW-EX1, EX1R, EX3, and PMW-350 camcorder or PDW-EX30 deck.
- Easy ingest and editing: Connects directly to a PC or Mac computer via USB 2.0. Supports Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 operating systems, Macintosh® OS 10.4 and up.
| Capacity | 120GB (117GB Usable) |
| Recording Time |
SP Mode (25Mbps): 520 min HQ Mode (35Mbps: 400 min |
| Inputs/Outputs | USB 2.0 |
| Compatible Camcorders |
PMW-EX1, PMW-EX1R PMW-EX3 PMW-350 |
| Transfer Rate | 20Mbps |
| Operating Temperature | 41-104°F (5-40°C) |
| Power Requirements | 12VDC |
| Power Consumption | 2.5-4W |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) |
Cartridge Only 3.5 x 5.4 x 1.3" (8.9 x 13.5 x 3.2 cm) With Battery 3.5 x 5.4 x 2.4" (8.9 x 13.5 x 5.9 cm) |
| Weight | 8 oz (220g) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 7 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
86%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
- Independent films (3)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (4)
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 7 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-7
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Sony PHU-120R 120GB Professional Hard Disk Unit:
Nice to double the size of the PHU-60 but the fact you have to turn it off to switch partitions is a design flaw.
Pros
- Good Interface With Camcorder
Cons
Best Uses
- Shooting Indoors
- Shooting Outdoors
Comments about Sony PHU-120R 120GB Professional Hard Disk Unit:
Ideal to record lengths musical events
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Improves Performance
- Professional Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Independent Films
Comments about Sony PHU-120R 120GB Professional Hard Disk Unit:
PHU-120R in full 120GB mode is compatible with PMW-EX1R and PMW-350 devices. Other cameras require 2 60GB partitions.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Highly Compatible
- Improves Performance
- Professional Quality
Cons
Best Uses
- Complex Projects
- Independent Films
Comments about Sony PHU-120R 120GB Professional Hard Disk Unit:
I bought this hard disk because I was needing more memory for longer shoots than my smaller SxS cards could conveniently provide.
I don't like to spend a lot of time learning about peripherals like this; I just like to plug them in and have them work. This definitely fit the bill. It holds a lot of footage and one BP-U30 battery will power it all day. The footage transfers seamlessly to my computer for editing.
My only problem with it was in the initial set-up. There is one button - the power button - that handles many functions, and the instructions for this were somewhat confusing. If I needed to use any of those other functions, it is not something that I could figure out without the manual handy.
But that is a relatively minor issue - overall, I am really happy that I bought this. It has been a lifesaver.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
- 210minutes instead of 400
Best Uses
- Independent Films
Comments about Sony PHU-120R 120GB Professional Hard Disk Unit:
I bought this unit for my Sony EX1, Instead of 400 minutes of recording time, you get 210 minutes. This is not what I paid for, I paid for the full monty jack! For [$] I am totally disatisfied.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Capacity
- Convenience
- price
Cons
- A little Heavy
- Cord from drive to slot
Best Uses
Comments about Sony PHU-120R 120GB Professional Hard Disk Unit:
Better than buying multiple cards...and cheaper. A little heavy, but not too much to make it not worth the price. No issues! glad i have it. And I can plug it straight into my laptop to log and transfer the footage.
Battery lasts, and the option of plugging into another power source.
Comments about Sony PHU-120R 120GB Professional Hard Disk Unit:
Bought this last week to solve a problem of recording many shows at 3-4 hours each. Am using with an older Sony EX1. Have shot about 7 shows with excellent results. The unit is well-made, with a great hot-shoe mounting system. Runs at least 8-10 hours on my small battery that came with the camera. Connects into the SxS slot with a cool USB plugin adapter. Absolutely no problems, clips show up just like on SxS cards and SDHC cards -- drag directly into Sony Vegas 9.0
Displaying reviews 1-7
Batteries & Power Adapters
- Price: $144.95
- Price: $269.95
- Price: $179.95
What's in the Box
- Hard Disk Unit
- Shoe Adapter
- Connection Cable
- 1 Year Warranty
Why Shop at B&H
Make your online shopping trip personal with our online Live Chat representatives. You can easily reach an in-house expert while browsing our site for your shopping needs. We have the most highly-trained staff in the industry who are pros in their fields, and their professional expertise will help you get the most from your purchase.
Place your domestic order with us for shipment via UPS, FedEx Economy, or FedEx Priority by 4 PM ET Monday through Thursday or 11 AM ET Friday and your order will be shipped that day. Visit our Shipping Delivery Times page for further details. Delivery times are subject to payment verification.
We appreciate your purchase from us, and we understand that sometimes the products you buy don’t turn out to be the right choice for you. We guarantee your peace of mind with our 30-day return policy. With no standard restocking fee and few restrictions, you’ll enjoy a return process as easy as shopping with us. Please visit our Return Policy page for further details.
We’ve made iPhone and Android mobile apps available for your service and shopping convenience. Use filtered search to find and purchase almost any item we sell and ship worldwide. Download product manuals and guides for many popular items. See high-resolution product images in close-up detail. Manage wishlists and view order history. Visit our Mobile Apps page to download.
See sample Newsletter
Help
Company Information
B&H Resources
