This is from a PMW200, full zoom in - looks totally unacceptable to me.
Is this normal, and if not, is there something I can do apart from sending the unit back ?

Thanks !

Cannot say what is normal for you camera - but it is a problem that I know of with very expensive cameraes and lenses when filming high conrast - like some dark things against the white sky!

At higher zooms, the CA does indeed increase. If the center of your image has massive CA, I'd send it in. If it's diminished in the center and dramatic at the sides, this is somewhat normal at full zoom.

At higher zooms, the CA does indeed increase. If the center of your image has massive CA, I'd send it in. If it's diminished in the center and dramatic at the sides, this is somewhat normal at full zoom.

I thought I read somewhere that the PMW200 lens is supposed to correct chromatic distorsion electronically, at least to some degree... which is certainly not the case with my HXR-MC50, which cost me 5 tmes less money, is already 3 years old, and gives comparable results

The two shots are not taken under the same conditions. The one with CA are the sky white and the light comming against you - that will create CA - the other one are with blue sky and with light coming from your back.
Well - as far as I can see :)