Sony PXW-Z90

camcorder SONY PXW Z90 | SONY Z90

The HXR-NX80 delivers 4K broadcast quality with advanced features such as high-speed autofocus, immediate HDR workflow, super slow motion up to 960fps*/1000fps** and streaming over Wi-Fi.

Share the instant now with a simple streaming solution

With the PXW-Z90, sharing high-quality videos in real-time with your virtual audience is easy. Stream live feeds directly across all major online platforms with easy setup*.

*Free update now available.

The ultimate in mobility with high-speed autofocus

The PXW-Z90 is palm-sized and has an ultra-lightweight design that allows you to record in any situation. Its advanced Fast Hybrid AF system is designed to always deliver image quality with superb sharpness and complete creative control.

Brightly lit building at night

The first small-sized professional camcorder with 4K HDR

The PXW-Z90 is the first small-footprint professional camcorder to deliver stunning 4K High Dynamic Range (HDR) content with file-based Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) workflows. They also support S-Log3 to create attractive images with a wide color gamut.

3840 x 2160 pixels. Connect this product to an HDR (HLG)-compatible TV via HDMI cable and switch to HDR (HLG) mode per TV when playing QFHD 4K movies

Stream directly to all major online platforms

Live streaming instantly connects you with your audience, wherever you are. From weddings and live events to interviews and seminars, capture high-quality footage and share it in real-time on some of the leading online video platforms. Set up your own streaming channel from a smartphone or tablet, connect via Wi-Fi, and you're good to go!

Revolutionary Imaging Performance with Exmor® RS

To give you image performance previously impossible for a compact camcorder, a large 14.2-megapixel (effective) 1.0-type stacked CMOS image sensor delivers beautiful background "bokeh" blur effects and superior sensitivity to capture high-quality images with less noise, even in dark or bright light conditions. This sensor integrates up to 273 phase-detection autofocus points covering approximately 84% of the image area, for precise subject tracking throughout the entire capture frame.

The sensor offers low noise and less blur because it increases the amount of light that reaches the sensor, which delivers sharp, stable images even in dark scenes with a minimum illumination of 1.7 lux*.

*Low lux mode.

Sensor Exmor RS

Enhanced Fast Hybrid Autofocus captures the action

Enhanced Fast Hybrid AF is made up of a number of features: phase-detection AF, with up to 273 reference points covering approximately 84% of the image area, facial recognition technology, and lock-on AF, to calculate subject movement. All of these functions work together optimally to capture fast-moving subjects with stunning sharpness.

Creative autofocus control

The autofocus drive speed allows you to set the speed at which the focus changes: fast for a sporting event and slow for series production. This will make it easy for you to get the results you need. The AF tracking depth allows you to choose a large depth of field when a subject is moving quickly, or a smaller value when a subject is at a constant distance. The autofocus shift sensitivity allows you to focus on a single subject or change focus seamlessly, such as when recording a group of runners.

Record, edit, and view HDR content with HLG without the need for additional color grading.

As the need for HDR content continues to grow, internet video platforms and professionals producing business or event content are paying more attention to the added value of HDR. They need to deliver content quickly, without compromising the expression of the image or the quality of the content. To meet this demand, the PXW-Z90 offers Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) recording, in addition to S-Log3, to facilitate file-based workflows, while providing HDR image quality. This simple workflow allows you to shoot, edit, and view HDR content in HLG, without spending a lot of time on post-production work and additional color grading.

Express your vision beyond movement in real-time

High-frame-rate shots can turn everyday actions into slow-motion choreography, and the PXW-Z90 delivers an incredible 120 frames* per second (fps) in XAVC Full HD with 4:2:2 10-bit, giving you up to five times slower camera footage continuously. Higher frame rates** can be used for greater creative flexibility.

*50Hz: 100fps. 60Hz: 120fps

**50 Hz: 250, 500, 1000 fps. 60Hz: 240, 480, 960 fps

4K (QFHD) and broadcast-quality HD

The PXW-Z90 lets you shoot in a wide variety of 4K (QFHD) and HD formats for maximum flexibility in this stunning, small-sized camcorder. The Z90 supports XAVC QFHD recording at 100 Mbps and 30p/25p/24p, XAVC HD Long GOP 422 at 50 Mbps, MPEGHD422 at 50 Mbps*, MPEGHD420 at 35 Mbps, and AVCHD.

*MPEG HD recording requires optional license upgrade (CBKZ-SLMP).

Network Configuration for Greater Mobility

The PXW-Z90 comes with 5GHz and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi as standard. Just turn it on and connect to your favorite network to enjoy a wide variety of advanced wireless production features:

*5 GHz support depends on country/region regulations. Only the PXW-Z90V supports 5 GHz.

QoS transmission to XDCAM air allows live images to be transmitted from the camcorder so that they can be viewed in a remote location.

FTP transfer allows content files recorded with the MPEG HD 422/420 proxy function (CBKZ-SLMP required) and other content files recorded in XAVC (QFHD/FHD) and AVCHD formats to be remotely stored on an FTP server to be sent over the Internet.

XDCAM air allows you to upload proxy footage to the cloud from multiple camera operators in the field, so editing can begin immediately. Uploaded content can be accessed securely from any location. News teams can even start recording clips while recording is in progress, saving valuable time when covering a breaking story.

Wi-Fi/NFC (Near Field Communication) connectivity with Content Browser Mobile™ allows you to control the PXW-Z90 remotely from a smartphone or tablet PC (iOS 9.0 to 10.3 or Android 4.4 to 7.1) via Wi-Fi*. It also offers one-touch authentication with smartphones that feature NFC connectivity.

The wired LAN connection allows the PXW-Z90 to connect to the Internet via a wired connection via a separately available VMC-UAM2 USB adapter cable and network adapter kit (CBK-NA1) for FTP file transmission or transfer.

*The Content Browser Mobile™ app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or App Store. Wi-Fi operation cannot be guaranteed with all smartphones and tablet PCs.

PXW-Z90 with SONY Xperia Phone for Remote Use

Front view of the PXW-Z90 with images depicting the capability of the fixed wide-angle zoom lens

Wide-angle zoom lens with fantastic control

The PXW-Z90 features a wide-angle prime lens ZEISS 29mm Vario-Sonnar T, ideal for capturing panoramic landscapes. The 12x optical zoom can be increased to 18x with the Clear Image zoom, which maintains QFHD resolution using resolution magnification technology, or 24x in HD. In addition, the digital extender can double this range again up to 48x zoom.

The camcorder's lens ring allows for smooth and natural focus or zoom adjustment, depending on the mode selected, while the dial and manual buttons on the side of the body allow for quick and easy adjustment of IRIS (aperture), ISO/GAIN and shutter speed.

Sharp Image Zoom (QFHD)

superior quality monitoring with the enhanced OLED viewfinder

The Z90 offers superior monitoring options: an enhanced 2,359,000-dot 0.39-dot OLED viewfinder and a 1,550,000-dot 3.5-type LCD. The super-high-resolution OLED viewfinder offers excellent brightness, contrast and response, so you can operate manual focus more precisely and the phenomenon of color breakage disappears. LCD gives you more flexible composition options.

PXW-Z90 with Shotgun Microphone

Two XLR inputs

Robust XLR inputs on the removable handle support professional standard stereo audio recording. Microphones that need it have interchangeable phantom power, and separate channel input dials control accuracy.

Remote Operation

The PXW-Z90 features a wired remote interface (2.5mm stereo mini-jack). Using a wired remote control such as the RM-1BP or RM-30BP, the focus, zoom, recording start/stop, and recording review functions can be controlled remotely.

Two bracket slots

To extend recording time and workflow flexibility, the PXW-Z90 is equipped with two memory card slots and is compatible with SDXC and SDHC cards, as well as Memory Stick PRO Duo (Mark2)/PRO-HG Duo*.

Relay mode allows recording to automatically switch from the first to the second memory card when the first memory card is full, while simultaneous mode makes it possible to record simultaneously to both memory cards (for example, to create an immediate backup version). The PXW-Z90's two start/stop buttons, one on the grip and one on the camera body, allow you to start and stop recording independently on different memory cards while recording simultaneously.

*Memory card slot only 1.

Multi-Interface Shoe

The PXW-Z90 utilizes SONY's flexible Multi-Interface (MI) shoe, providing power, signal connections, and combined on/off to compatible SONY accessories. For example, you can connect and control UWP-D wireless microphone systems from SONY. Please note that in order to use the Multi-Interface Shoe, the XLR handle must be removed.

Wide variety of connections

The PXW-Z90 offers multiple connections to suit the broadcast workflow, including 3G HD-SDI, HDMI,® multi-connector/micro USB and composite output. The REC trigger signal can be sent via SDI and HDMI to link an external recording device. HDMI/SDI/composite output is possible during QFHD* recording.

*HDMI supports up to QFHD resolution, 3G-SDI supports up to HD resolution. The composite output only supports SD.

Easy synchronization of multiple camcorders

When recording with multiple camcorders, it is possible to synchronize the timecode of each camcorder using the Content Browser Mobile™ (CBM)* smartphone app, with the optional CBKZ-WTCL upgrade. Thanks to this feature, all camcorders can be synced with the main camcorder you select or at a certain time, whichever you prefer.

* Content Browser Mobile™ version 3.0 is required, compatible with iOS 9.0 – 10.3 or Android 4.4 – 7.1.