Thanks Ivan, here's a quote from it:“Many of the add-on options available for the PDW-700 come as standard with the PDW-F800 so it is a very versatile camcorder,” says Brooking, who also stresses that the 700 can itself be upgraded with many key F800 features via firmware or option board upgrades.
Sounds positive to me!
Steve

They did mention in the press release that it has an improved LCD - "It also has slow shutter, 2x focus magnification, clean switching between the “live and playback” function, and a large, easy-to-view 3.5 inch (viewable area, measured diagonally) color LCD screen."

Yep, same as the 700.

It's a shame that there isn't an aftermarket option for a better LCD. If it was available to buy at a reasonable price I would upgrade in an instant.

...and while I am dreaming... why has no-one figured out a way to make the EX-3 viewfinder detachable yet?

Uh....
 

Where's my EX5?

Another deck? are you serious? im going to stick to digibeta or hdcam SR for mastering.

As someone who already uses SD XDCAM decks to master certain shows back to, i can see insert and assemble edit capabilities being very handy.. but i'd be pissed if i'd just bought an hd1500 and was using it to assemble.

Glad they've brought back the real filter wheel for CC. I've only had a play with the 700 a few times but found that button a very weird feature.

Now that you can dial in your white balance in the menus I think the single wheel is fine just for NDs. You can then just assign different values to A, B and Preset in the white balance switch.
Steve

It's now listed for sale in the UK here for £25k. » Creative Video Sony Specialist Dealers > Sony PDW-F800 XDCAM HD422 CineAlta camcorder with variable frame rate capability
Steve

Nearly 50% more than the 700!

Overcranking
 

Have I missed something or is the overcranking resolution never mentionned in the tech specs?

I guess all we could expect is overcranking up to 60p only in 720p mode, like all the other broadcast camcorders out there, but I would like to see that in words.

The F350 claimed at the time to have the ability to record overcranking in 1080p, but of course we've discovered that any frame rates above 30p lowered the resolution tu 540p.

Anyone have read something about S&Q mode?

It says it's got "slow and quick motion", which is what they call it on the EX cameras, which'll give upto 30fps in 1080 and 1-60fps in 720, you must asume this'll be the same on the 800 - and on the 700 IF it's upgradeable!!!!!!
Steve

Well, not so fast there Steve. There advantages and disadvantages to both methods of CC. With the all electronic WB, there are some scenarios where the red or blue channel may be cranked up to compensate, which puts it dangerously close to blowing out that channel. I have seen this firsthand with my F350. Given the extra latitude of the 700 CCD block, it may be less of an issue on that camera.

Using optical filtering to get in the ballpark, the individual channel gains are more on par with one another at the expense of some sensitivity coming through the filter wheel.

-gb-

Here is a link to the PDW-F800 and PDW-F1600 brochure.

http://pro.sony.com/bbsccms/ext/Broa...01600broch.pdf

Interesting, that seems to indicate that the overcranking is done in 1080 mode much like the F355 (ie half vertical res) - or am I missing something here?
Steve

ps I'd like to nominate Ivan as Sony dealer of the year for keeping us all up-to-date!
Thanks man.
Steve