The Most Exciting Sony Camera of 2024?

This new Sony camera is basically an FX6... but it's about half the price. So what's the catch? Today Chris and I are testing the new Sony XDCAM PXW-Z200 and comparing it to the FX6 with the 28-135 PZ Lens. The result is a VERY Compelling camera that is perfect for a load of different creatives.

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[simonbeer]

Own one, used it yesterday on a 5 1/2 hour long live stream. Absolute dream of a camera that just works. If you are middle aged and grumpy and grew up with a PD150 you are going to want one.

[retroelectrical]

Well, for this camera's intended purpose (corrporate/weddings/music videos) the 1 inch sensor is actually ideal. It gives the user the flexibility of being able to move around and switch up shots instantly without really worrying if the focus is going to hold.

[ChrisParayno]

This isnt ment for YouTubers. This is meant for broadcasting folks.

[danbrockettDOP]

I own an FX 6, two Canon C200s, C300 MKII, three Fuji X-T3s and half a dozen BMD Micro G2s for our podcast. Before there were DSLRs, I owned several camcorders, EX1, HPX170, HVX200, DVX100. I've owned a LOT of cameras in my career and camcorders are a great tool to have in your camera locker. For shooting long distance sports like surfing, wind sailing, motorsports, airshows, a camera like the FX6 is a nightmare. A Z200 with a huge range servo zoom in a small, self-contained package is absolutely perfect for run & gun documentary, event coverage, shooting in war zones, shooting action sports. They are for when you don't have time to mess with Frankenrigs and just need to take it out of the bag, turn it on and shoot, no lens changes, they are great on batteries and they just work, instantly. In comparison, cine cameras are much more fussy and finicky because you need a whole gear shop wroth of accessories to make them functional as you do for mirrorless cameras also.

The people wishing it was S35 are missing the whole point. How large, heavy and expensive would it be to build a S35 camcorder with a 24-480mm servo zoom lens? Camcorders aren't for low light. It's going to have less detail than an FX6, but it is so useful. I am picking up an FX3 to go with my FX6 but after that, i will likely pick up the Z200, great tool for under $4k, It really is true, everything does run on a cycle, its kind of hilarious that to young shooters, a camcorder is like some sort of oracle from a far away planet. These are what we were all shooting with in the early 2000s and lots of great television and films were made with them. Modern digital cinema cameras are amazing, for cinema, but for a lot of other types of shooting, cinema cameras are a PITA and the wrong tool. Amazing how many people don't get that. Thanks Sony for putting out what looks to be a great camcorder at an amazing price if you break down all of the features.

These cameras are proof that trying to shoot everything, every type of assignment or shoot with a cinema cameras is a recipe for frustration when tools like the Z200 can do certain assignments so much better. If you never shoot any of those assignments, simple, don't get one, stick with your FX6. But choice is a beautiful thing.

[NateReimers]

SLOG3, XLR (4 Channels of Audio), 10 Bit color, internal NDs, stabilization, Wifi Control, Dual Card Slots, auto framing, and a 24mm-480mm lens. HOLY CRAP.

[AlanChunkyMunky]

I hope this camera is successful cus it could be a return to camcorders! Miss those days of compact dad cams with all the bells and whistles.

[phoenixvette]

A7IV + NX800 + FX6 + 70-200 F/2.8GM ii + 24-105 F/4 OSS + Prime of your choice = Perfect wedding kit.

[joelawryDOP]

Ever Sony PD150/Z1/EX1 owner watching this video and rolling their eyes.. Where were all these youtubers in 2005? Its funny how things come full cycle.

[JensEser]

The Z200 / NX800 are not made for art such as commercials or music videos. They are made for efficiency and flexibility such as videos for TV reports or news content.

[jasonspencer]

All the commenters trashing this camera and the sensor size simply don’t get it. I own a FS7, FX6, a7S3 and an a7IV. If you want the large sensor look, buy a large sensor camera, but physics don’t care about your feelings… It’s going to be a big camera. If you want a small, all-in-one package to shoot news, events, and documentary this is a compelling offer. If the image matches the FX6 closely enough in picture quality, use them together in a pinch. This camera solves a problem.

Stop and think about it, it wasn’t very long ago that getting proper time code for multicam use was almost impossible under $10, 000. I remember how professionals begged to have a smaller/cheaper option than a F3 or other Cinealta camera for multicam interviews. It was only until earlier this year that Sony announced a time code widget for the Alpha cameras. That feature plus the lens focal length with FX6 style processing isn’t something you find everywhere. Sony will sell a boatload of these… to the right customer, but not necessarily YouTubers who drool over how Gareth Edwards filmed The Creator. 😂

[frankcann]

EVF= Dad cam style? How professional camera operators over the past 10 years allowed manufacturers to eliminate EVFs from cameras (especially cinema line of cameras) is crazy.

[ledheavy]

YouTubers all commenting "make it s35" obviously dont get the use case for camcorders. Sony had the fs5 and fs7 that were s35 and you were not getting that type of focal length/aperture on anything you could handhold. I mean, just look at the 28-135 f4 pz lens you have on the fx6, its nearly half the size of the Sony camcorder that reaches out to 480mm. 20x servo zooms that are quality are not something you can easily buy or easily manage on a s35 camcorder, especially trying to run around and frame shots handheld at the end of the zoom. Sony needs to invite professional journalists, eng camera people to showcase and test these types of cameras rather than Youtubers because they dont get it.

[glennmercer]

This rarely, if ever, gets mentioned when the topic of camcorders come up, but a 1 inch sensor is equivalent to S16 and the same sized sensor in the OG Pocket/Micro cameras. If you look at it like that, with the added bells and whistles from the the FX6, this camcorder is basically a cinecorder... and that's pretty elfin cool. I've had the opportunity to use a Canon XA50 for the past couple of months and it's been the most fun I've had with a camera since I installed ML Raw onto my 5D3.

[daltonrandall]

It's really depressing to see a whole group of video/creative "influencers" not grasp the concept of sensor size and lens physics. Of course everyone wants a full frame senor, but there's a reason a 24-480mm f/2.8 lens doesn't exist for your FX6. It would cost as much as a Ferrari and be the size of a refrigerator. The entire reason these camcorders have "balanced" size sensors is to be able to get you that massive reach in a package that can fit in a backpack. For the types of work these kinds of cameras are used for, the functionality and flexibility beats a cinema camera any day.

[kustoo]

Literally just said the camera woudl be awesome for golf creators.

[jordanb]

I’m tempted to get it simply for sports videography

[GrantStinnett]

Ok ok ok!!! I’m sold! It’s like stacking one brick after another on a rickety cart (my loyalty to canon) and it just imploded. I need this camera!

[Yusaku_VCP]

the ending part, I'm flattered hahaha! cute lol!

[JesseDriftwood]

I was really impressed by this camera! If they make a smaller model I'm all in!

[Horizons_Roses]

Portable Modern Digital S16mm camcorder with log ? Gotta be the B cam for my next doc !!!!