XDCAM HD Great Price Package Deal

[ISDV]

Getting into HD Production has Never Been Easier!Limited Time Offer (now through March 31, 2008)

Sony is pleased to introduce two new HD Production packages: The PDW335ProPac and the PDW355ProPac. These packages consist of the new PDW-F335L or F355 XDCAM™ HD camcorders, the new PDW-U1 XDCAM drive and the newly introduced Vegas® Pro 8 editing software. The Vegas Pro 8 includes the DVD authoring system and alone retails for $699.99, based on MSRP. With this promotion, you are saving thousands of dollars off the suggested list price!

The PDW-U1 drive unit easily hooks up to your computer via a common USB connection and operates as an external drive unit. Vegas Pro 8 is the ultimate all-in-one software product for any creative professional. It combines Vegas Pro 8 HD video editing, DVD Architect™ Pro 4.5, and Dolby Digital® AC-3 encoding software into one package that provides speed, power, and maximum productivity.

These packages are ideal for the stringer, freelancer or independent videographer to get into XDCAM HD production. You get the great cost/feature/performance of the latest XDCAM HD camcorder, the XDCAM drive unit and the latest Vegas video and audio editing software. All you need to do is supply your computer and you have a very cost effective and efficient HD production package for the field or studio.

Product Description Promotional Suggested List Price

PDW355PROPAC (1) PDW-F355L $24,990
(1) PDW-U1
(1) Vegas Pro 8

PDW335PROPAC (1) PDW-F335L $15,200
(1) PDW-U1
(1) Vegas Pro 8

The PDW355ProPac and the PDW335ProPac and their respective promotional suggested list prices are only valid in the continental United States and Alaska. Hawaii and U.S. Territories are excluded. Sony reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time.

Source: Sony Broadcast & Business Solutions Company (http://bssc.sel.sony.com/BroadcastandBusiness/markets/10014/XDCAMpack.shtml)

[The Green]

Great news. Thanks.

[newsshooter]

Does Vegas work on a mac? I have 2 macs now what do I do? I can't buy a PC my macs will laugh at me. Good price though.

[Canonman]

Does Vegas work on a mac? I have 2 macs now what do I do? I can't buy a PC my macs will laugh at me. Good price though.

You can run Windows on the newer Intel macs. And guess what? Vegas runs pretty damn fast on that setup.

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[The Daywood]

So this package is plus lens and viewfinder?

[Canonman]

So this package is plus lens and viewfinder?

Plus lens. The viewfinder is the one currently supplied on the F350. The nice thing is that the new, lower end F335 also gets this better viewfinder as standard.

cm

[The Daywood]

The cheapest lens I could find was about $8500....So we're looking at $23,700 to go XDHD?

[Canonman]

The cheapest lens I could find was about $8500....So we're looking at $23,700 to go XDHD?

Yeah, at least that. You'll also need batteries & charger unless you already have Sony V-mounts or A/B types. For A/B, a simple adapter plate is all you need( just over $100).

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[ISDV]

So this package is plus lens and viewfinder?

No, there is no lens included in these packages. The PDW-F355L is always sold without a lens. The PDW-F335L is without lens and the PDW-F335K/2 is supplied with a Canon KH20x6.4 manual focus lens.

Like canonman said the 335 now has the DXF-20W 2" 16:9 EVF.

[OffSticks]

Does Vegas work on a mac? I have 2 macs now what do I do? I can't buy a PC my macs will laugh at me. Good price though.
You can also use a Sony application called XDCam Transfer. It is Sonys workflow solution for Final Cut Pro.

[Canonman]

You can also use a Sony application called XDCam Transfer. It is Sonys workflow solution for Final Cut Pro.

The only thing XDCAM Transfer does is provide a logging and ingest interface for FCP. If you are editing with Vegas, it will do you no good whatsoever and it is not robust enough to be used as an editor. You can't create a sequence with XDCAM Transfer. You use it to pick and choose what part of the full resolution material you want copied to your hard drive, as opposed to copying everything, wasting valuable hard drive space.

For Vegas 7, you'd want to use the Proxy Browsing software for Windows that does much of the same thing in order to weed out what you don't want ingested at full resolution.

With Vegas 8, you can pretty much accomplish all that within the Vegas application.

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[Necktie Boy]

This may be crazy, but I will ask....
To save some money now, could you use a 1/2 SD lens and shoot DV25, and rent the HD lens when you have a HD shoot. Workflow would be DV25 and record to DVCam tape for masters. Does the SD video look good? Can you write back to the camera, since the feeder does not write back till Sony updates the firmware?
I'm just trying to save some money, but I don't want a handy-cam. I have all the support equipment, so the cost is for the camera package...

Thanks!

[ISDV]

Yes, you can write back to the camera until Sony releases the next firmware.

Why do you want to shoot in SD mode with a HD camera? :confused: Shoot HD and downconvert to SD. That way will give you a much better quality instead of shooting SD. Plus you will have stock footage in HD for later.

[Necktie Boy]

The big reason is money. I think I can afford $15k out of my pocket. Since I have everything else to use, I could afford to buy it. I don't get calls for HD, yet, but would be nice to have if asked....I don't know how clients would like letterbox video for their projects. I would hate to frame 4:3 and center punch. I would like to use the whole frame. I would rent a lens when I shot HD. Also, be one of the first to be able to offer HD. The local PBS shoots DVCPro HD and got a XD camera. I don't know if it was HD or not....On the workflow, I have DVCam deck and DSR-300. Cut of Xpress Pro HD and Premiere Pro. I could still shoot Hd, edited it and write back to disc when clients wanted HD...

Can you pass through video via the firewire on the camera to a monitor as I do with my DVCam deck?

Thanks for your input, ISDV