Sony's PXW-Z280 4K 3-CMOS 1/2" Sensor XDCAM Camcorder continues the fine tradition of the XDCAM series of cameras. It captures 4K at up to 60p relying on three 1/2" Exmor R sensors that provide improved low-light capability when compared to standard sensors. The camera integrates a 17x optical zoom lens and an electronic variable ND filter. The camera supports modern codecs such as XAVC, as well as legacy codecs such as MPEG HD and DVCAM, allowing you to use one camera to shoot 4K, HD, or SD video.
The camera supports S-Log 3 for improved performance, and HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) which allows you to shoot and deliver footage compatible with both HDR (high dynamic range) and SDR (standard dynamic range) without needing laborious post-production work. You can record in both 4K and HD simultaneously, or output 4K 60p via the built-in 12G-SDI output. The camera features built-in 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi.
- Three 1/2" Exmor R CMOS Sensors
- 4K 60p Recording
- Integrated 17x Optical Zoom Lens
- Electronic Variable ND Filter
Sony PXW-Z280 Overview
Sony PXW-Z280 Specs
| Sensor Resolution | Effective: 8.29 Megapixel |
| Sensor Type | 3-Chip 1/2"-Type CMOS Sensor |
| Horizontal Resolution (TV Lines) | 2000 TV Lines or More |
| Image Stabilization | Optical in Integrated Lens |
| Built-In ND Filter | Mechanical Filter Wheel with Clear, 2 Stop (1/4), 4 Stop (1/16), 6 Stop (1/64) ND Filters and a 2 to 7 Stop Electronic ND Filter |
| Capture Type | Video Only |
| Shutter Type | Electronic Rolling Shutter |
| Shutter Speed | 1/8000 to 1/24 Second |
| Gain | -3 to 42 dB |
| Shutter Angle | 5.6 to 360° |
| Sensitivity | f/12 at 2000 lux 89.9% Reflectance (1080p59.94 in Standard Mode or 4K59.94 in High Sensitivity Mode) f/13 at 2000 lux 89.9% Reflectance (1080p59.94 in Standard Mode or 4K59.94 in High Sensitivity Mode) |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | 63 dB |
| Minimum Illumination | 0.0013 Lux |
| White Balance | 1500 to 50,000K Presets: ATW, AWB, Set A, Set B |
| Focal Length | 5.6 to 95.2mm (35mm Equivalent Focal Length: 30.3 to 515mm) |
| Optical Zoom Ratio | 17x |
| Maximum Aperture | f/1.9 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/16 |
| Minimum Focus Distance | Wide: 2.0" / 5.1 cm Telephoto: 31.5" / 80.0 cm |
| Filter Size | 77 mm |
| Control Rings | Focus Zoom Iris |
| Focus Control | Autofocus Manual Focus |
| Internal Recording Modes | XAVC-I 3840 x 2160 at 23.98/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps [600 Mb/s] 1920 x 1080p at 23.98/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps [222 Mb/s] 1920 x 1080i at 50/59.94 fps [222 Mb/s] 1280 x 720 at 50/59.94 fps [222 Mb/s] XAVC-L 3840 x 2160 from 1 to 59.94 fps [150 Mb/s] 1920 x 1080p from 1 to 59.94 fps [50 Mb/s] 1920 x 1080i at 50/59.94 fps [50 Mb/s] 1280 x 720 from 1 to 59.94 fps [50 Mb/s] XAVC-L 1920 x 1080p at 23.98/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps [35 Mb/s] 1920 x 1080i at 50/59.94 fps [25 to 35 Mb/s] MPEG HD422 4:2:2 1920 x 1080p from 1 to 29.97 fps [35 to 50 Mb/s] 1920 x 1080i at 50/59.94 fps [35 to 50 Mb/s] 1280 x 720 from 1 to 59.94 fps [35 to 50 Mb/s] MPEG HD420 4:2:0 1920 x 1080p from 1 to 29.97 fps [35 Mb/s] 1920 x 1080i at 50/59.94 fps [35 Mb/s] 1440 x 1080i at 50/59.94 fps [35 Mb/s] 1280 x 720 from 1 to 59.94 fps [35 Mb/s] DV 4:2:0 8-Bit 720 x 576i at 50 fps [25 Mb/s] 720 x 576p at 25 fps [25 Mb/s] 720 x 480i at 59.94 fps [25 Mb/s] 720 x 480p at 29.97 fps [25 Mb/s] |
| Fast-/Slow-Motion Support | Yes |
| Built-In Microphone Type | Stereo |
| Audio Recording | XAVC: 4-Channel 24-Bit 48 kHz LPCM Audio |
| IP Streaming | None |
| Media/Memory Card Slot | Dual Slot: SxS |
| Video I/O | 1 x BNC (Component) Output 1 x BNC (12G-SDI) Output 1 x HDMI Output |
| Audio I/O | 2 x XLR 3-Pin Microphone Input 1 x 1/8" / 3.5 mm TRS Stereo Headphone Output |
| Other I/O | 1 x BNC (Timecode) Input 1 x BNC (Timecode) Output 1 x BNC (Genlock) Input 1 x 2.5 mm Sub-Mini (LANC) Control 1 x Micro-USB Data 1 x USB-A 1 x USB-C 1 x RJ45 (LAN) Data |
| Wireless | 2.4 / 5 GHz Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), NFC |
| Global Positioning (GPS, GLONASS, etc.) | GPS |
| Size | 3.5" |
| Resolution | 2,360,000 Dot |
| Display Type | Articulating LCD |
| Type | Built-In Electronic (OLED) |
| Size | 0.5" |
| Resolution | 2,360,000 Dot |
| Focus Type | Auto and Manual Focus |
| Focus Mode | Automatic, Manual Focus |
| Operating Temperature | 32 to 104°F / 0 to 40°C |
| Storage Temperature | -4 to 140°F / -20 to 60°C |
| Battery Type | Sony BP-U Series |
| Accessory Mount | 1 x Intelligent Hot Shoe |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 7 x 8 x 16.8" / 178.4 x 202 x 426.3 mm (With Protrusions) |
| Weight | 6.61 lb / 3 kg |
| Package Weight | 11.5 lb |
| Box Dimensions (LxWxH) | 20.5 x 11 x 10" |
Sony PXW-Z280 Reviews
My favorite camcorder to date!
To be honest, I have not used every single camera or camcorder that has ever existed; but I have used cameras from every brand and almost every type since the early 2000's and this one is my favorite. It combines such a wide array of features into a single package that make it one of the most versatile cameras available. My favorite features include: fast lens with an excellent zoom range form factor that balances well, not to heavy for me, with lots of assign buttons and everything in easy reach awesome accessories available from Sony like the wireless audio adapter that can send audio through the MI shoes for additional balanced audio inputs. great controls for focus, zoom and iris excellent image stabilization for doing hand held work. I personally find the menus easy to use, but maybe I'm weird. But I like that I can use Direct Menus with this camera as well as customizing the User Menu to suit my needs Also, when you press the menu button it returns you to the menu item that you were previously using which I think is great. And many, many other features that work extremely well . . . Excellent battery life, turns on super fast, doesn't require a lot of fiddling with once you have it set up how you like it, and on and on. Available recording formats on this camera are great . . . And with firmware 5 you can shoot 120fps in HD which may not currently be listed in the specs. I personally have started to use it for all kinds of videography work like corporate videos, commercial videos, stock footage production and I am planning on using it for my own narrative productions as well. Two caveats, though. One is that you must know what you are doing and take some time to get to know the camera. If you do not do this than you may end up with disappointing results; as some other people have discovered. However, if you take some time to learn this camera and use it properly than the results should be fantastic. The second caveat is nothing to do with this camera but just the truth which is this: it is impossible for any camera to be everything for everyone. This is as true for this camera as it is for any camera. You need to do a lot of research to make sure that a camera like this is what you need. If it is, and you take the time to get to know it, set it up and use it properly, than you may just love it like I do. P.S. I don't love it cause its perfect but because its great! Best of luck!
Best low-light performance I have had in a camcorder!
I used to spend a lot of time in post trying to remove noise from a 2-hr video shoot in venues where video lighting is not even an after thought. Conference rooms, hotel ballrooms, industrial sites and stage productions are not designed to make video production easy, so fix it in post has been a way of life. But, enter the Z280 and life has never been so easy. This may not be the best low-light performer, but when a camcorder advantages are needed this is simply a jewel. From wide angle to full 17x zoom, the image barely darkens - maybe a half stop. I rarely use any gain, but when I do the images have an almost negligible amount of noise - certainly much easier to clean up than in my past. And, night shots are marvelous! My favorite feature is Sony's continuously variable ND filter! No more sacrificing DOF or other aspects of desired image quality to get the perfect exposure. Just dial in the ND level until the Zebras begin to show and you are perfectly exposed. Just about fool proof. I have found two down-sides: one, this is not a open the box and shoot that day. There are no preset scene paint settings, but you can create your own and save them to use later. This is certainly a professional camera with just about everything adjustable from operating controls to image quality. And it can take some time to decide how you want to configure it so it is easy to use for each type of job. The second bummer is that slow-motion is only 60 FPS and just does not get those creamy-smooth slo-mo shots that are popular today. I was reluctant to move to the Z280 because I read a number of bad reviews about picture quality. Then watched videos (both free and paid) on how to get the most from the Z280 and I have never experienced the image problems that stand out in some reviews. I carefully followed the specified steps to set up the camera for back-focus adjustment and it is crystal clear! I took several weeks to familiarize myself with the multitude of customization that make it fit into any shooting style and image demands and it's well worth it. This camera saves me time in the editing studio and broadens the range of jobs I can shoot and get paid for. Less editing time means more paid camera time! It's a winner for me.
3 chip color 4K 60P
This camera fills many boxes. I shoot a lot of sports. A bit overkill for my use. Great picture with many options. When Sony updates with firmware with Ver4 allowing live streaming to Facebook, YouTube, that'll make this camera better for my type of work. Great low light, fairly clean image. Not my go to camera for Slog3, other work flows more than acceptable. I don't have lens issues as others, but it's new. SxS cards are over priced, but is the best way to insure 4K recordings. Nice to be able to set a custom button to record.
XDCAM Camcorder who stil use SxS Cards.
XDCAM Camcorder who stil use SxS Cards plus the same BP-U Battery Pack when you add this to a fantastic camcorder with so many codecs this make a winner for quality and future proof your past expenses on expensive hardwares around the XDCAM Echosystem.
You cannot use a LANC and get slow zooms--ever
The slowest minimum speed with the handle zoom or external LANC controller is far too fast for most uses. Sony says they will most likely never address is issue.
One of the best cameras of all-time
I've owned my Z280 since September 2018 and I absolutely love it. It is by far one of the best cameras I have ever used, especially when you consider the price. Even though I also own an PXW-FS7 and a PMW-F55 ($30,000) I find myself using the Z280 as my primary camera, mostly because of the speed and convenience of having an excellent 17x f/1.9 lens. In my opinion, the complaints about barrel distortion and other issues mentioned in some of the reviews here at B&H are blown totally out of proportion. The Z280 is not an entry-level camera and it is not a consumer camera. It must be setup and operated properly if you expect to get broadcast-quality results. In fact, I feel so strongly about the Z280 that I've produced a 20-minute Youtube video that shows how great the camera is and how you can get maximimum performance from it. I can't post a link here on B&H, but if you Google U_JSeBvpkKo it will come up with the link on Youtube. You will love this camera!!
I hope you like your videos grainy.
Used this camera in a video class at my university. Every video we shot with it was noticeably grainy. This was without any gain or ISO. The camera also has a feature where you slide the focus ring back or forward to swap from manual to auto-focus. This is incredibly easy to do by accident. The dynamic range of the camera is pitiful as well. For the price, this camera isn't worth it. Buy a DLSR with decent lenses instead.
excellent
Excellent for a better and more professional recording
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