Sony PMW 300 vs Sony X320

JPNola

JPNola

Veteran
Other than the form factor, what if any are the major differences between the PMW-300 and the PXW X320? Looking at the specs side by side I am not seeing much difference. Am I missing something significantly different in the spec comparison?

Surprisingly I could find few reviews online of the Sony X320 and very little discussion of it in online forums. Even though it has been out a while.

I've seen numerous commenters dismiss the PMW 300 because it lacks 1080 60p, but outside of the Sony s35 cameras there are few professional Sony cameras that have 1080 60p. Some will dismiss the PMW 300 out of hand, others rave about it.

I am looking for a second camera, preferably a Sony, to do work for ESPN and NFL Net that consists of live shots ( reporter standups ) and ENG-type interviews ( post-game locker room / scrum. ) I currently own an Fs7 but miss having a fast-ish par focal do-all zoom and a high quality servo zoom that can be feathered on and off during the live standups. For the "slow push" that is standard for live reports. Is the PMW 300 a camera for that despite not being a true shoulder-mounted camera? Am I better off just getting a second Fs7 and dealing as best possible with the fact that it isn't really an ENG camera?

thanks in advance for any input.
 
I shot for a local network using a 320 and owned a 300. I preferred the 300 for size and flexibility I sold the 300 and bought a PXW Z150 and love it, it has all you need for live shots and is a heck of a lot easier to handle than a full size eng camera as well as the 300. The tech is uptodate. SDI out with a ton of codecs, just add a rattler and you are ready to go. I know that in the USA many of the brokers who book crew ask for "old school" cameras but things are changing. So I suggest you rent one and try it out for yourself, because I know it is a smaller form factor and that sometimes puts shooters off when the rest of the guys/gals are humping much heavier gear. Not me... the lighter the better especially in scrums.
IMHO
 
Brian, I love my 300 - best camera that I have ever owned. But I need something newer, more up to date, and 4K. I am considering the PXW Z150 and Panasonic's AG-UX180. Can you tell me what you miss (if anything) that the 300 had and Z150 doesn't? I am concerned about the zoom and focus rings not having that true "pro" feel, about missing the beautiful 300 viewfinder/lcd, and the inability to use the focus magnification while recording. Thanks. - Jim
 
I think you have pointed out pretty well all the "lacks" there are indeed lots more pluses however. I love the PMW 300 too but felt it was falling behind and I wanted to move ahead with recovering the best resale for the camera. What I miss the most is being able to change lenses. I have a honking old B4 mount Fujinon that with my adapter would let me get a killer close up from risers way in the back of most halls and hotel ballrooms. Now I use the Sony clear zoom feature and it helps but............... Being able to rent a wide angle easily was also cool. Now I use one of my mirrorless and a Tokina 11-16. Not the same and takes more time. And yep, the 300 VF is sweet.
Otherwise I LOVE the camera, it is a joy to work with, the international flexibility in crucial for my client base and the choice of codecs is amazing, continuous recording and dual recording, easy high frame rate. etc. I suggest two things, one, rent one for a weekend and try it. I did. Buy Doug Jensen's course for a few bucks, it is a great and FRANK overview of the camera.
But in closing, I have a Sachtler doctors bag with my 150, two big Swit batteries from Dolgin, two Sennheiser kits and lavs a
butt plug, Sony short shotgun/fuzzy, 2x5"x7" edge leds, Amaran M9, Teredek Vidiu/LTE modem, rain cover and warm cards (both Doug Jensen's) XLR cables and power supplies for the lavs. This kit weighs nothing compared to my previous one and travels so well. This is my goto EFP package. I have other cameras and glass for other work but this works for me.
 
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Brian, thanks so much. I understand what you mean about getting the best resale value for the 300. I actually did try out a Z150 at a local show for about 20 minutes, and I loved that everything was so familiar (I have owned an EX3, EX1r, etc. all the way back to the PD150). I wasn't crazy about the zoom and focus, but could live with them. Same with focus magnification. Sounds like you have a great setup. Mine is similar with two Sennheiser kits, lavs and a butt plug, Rode short shotgun and Sachtler tripod, so it should be a smooth transition to the new camera. I want to check out the UX180 before I jump on the Sony, as I have heard great things about it also, some people have recommended it over the Z150. But nobody around the Boston area rents one.

Anyway, thanks again. - Jim
 
Let me know what you decide ! One last thing, not that it is a big deal but the UX180 is 8 bit and the Z150 is 10bit.
 
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