The front end to the future of newsrooms

ENG cameras are truly the workhorses of modern-day news production. As news workflows embrace state-of-the-art, connected production technology, the new PXW-Z300 has evolved from its successful predecessor, the PXW-Z280, supporting new connectivity, codecs and chain-of-trust authentication.

The previous model, the PXW-Z280, is currently a worldwide standard and has been continuously updated throughout its lifespan. Meanwhile, the PXW-Z300 is a new top-of-the-range camera, featuring the company’s EXMOR R® 3-chip 3840×2160 effective pixel sensor design for exceptionally detailed, lifelike images and, in a first for the industry, digital fingerprinting for secure end-to-end workflows.

The new model builds on the previous camera’s form factor, incorporating feedback from the widespread user community. It has retained a familiar control interface for continuity, while incorporating new features like a dedicated AI Processing Unit for AI-assisted autofocus based on anatomical structure. The lens-mounted camera grip has been improved to adjust the balance point, making the device feel lighter to operate.

The camera retains a clear and powerful optical system whose high-quality images get the best performance from modern compression technology used in newsgathering. It features a three-ring control system and supports most previous accessories, including the battery.

Convenient and connected

A brand-new viewfinder features more degrees of movement and is ideal for fast-paced and dynamic shooting, while a side-mounted V-Lock is a convenient mount for accessories like the PDT-FP1 modem and file-upload hub. A USB power connection offers improved sustainability credentials by not needing dedicated power supplies.

For live productions, the camera is compatible with S700 remote protocol and can be genlocked for multicamera production.

The PXW-Z300 is an example of Sony’s signalled intent to spearhead the future of news acquisition. And, with its support of digital fingerprinting, the camera provides newsmakers with powerful tools for overcoming fake and manipulated images. This technology can give editors peace of mind and protect freelancers’ reputations while working under high pressure or in dangerous conditions.

Social media can deliver unverified, unaccountable material around the world in seconds, while broadcasters must compete for engagement despite the additional responsibility of verifying the authenticity of their content.

With CP2A-standard cryptography embedded in the camera’s hardware, any captured video has a unique signature that remains with the footage unless it is altered. Any unauthorised tampering or processing will flag up an issue while allowing authorised editing and post-processing. (This requires support from third-party vendors, but is likely to be available later in 2025).

Modern news workflows are both highly evolved and geared for speed. By increasingly making use of camera-to-cloud techniques, it is now possible to edit and package news footage within minutes of arriving. The PXW-Z300 supports ‘chunk file upload’ – a method of storing video where it is automatically split into small parts and then uploaded as soon as it is written to storage. This can arrive on a remote editor’s timeline even while the camera is still shooting.

The PXW-Z300 can connect to remote production facilities in multiple ways, including high-res file transfer and proxy file transfer. It encodes to a wide range of formats, including the bandwidth-friendly HEVC (H.265). The extremely high-quality images from the camera’s 3-chip sensor mean that, even at low bit rates, some proxy formats can be used for production if there isn’t the bandwidth or time available to upload the full-quality version.

It’s ready for integration with Sony C3 Portal, Ci Media Cloud and Media Backbone Hive for newsroom production, and can interface with virtually any current or future cloud-based production system.

Powering newscast’s future

The PXW-Z300 is a camera built for its time, in which AI can create inauthentic footage or manipulate existing material, and where speed is paramount, reducing time available for conventional editorial verification. It enables secure, verified and tamper-proof real-time delivery of video content in an era when authenticity is no longer taken for granted. The camera provides a trusted ‘chain of truth’ in speedy, efficient workflows. As the front end of a secure end-to-end ecosystem, it will help give newsrooms the confidence to air material sooner, knowing that their content is genuine and authentic.

Find out more on pro.sony.eu and check out the camera at Sony’s stand in Hall 13 at IBC 2025.