PXW-X70's 4k Upgrade - 60Mbp/s is far below industry standards today.

Question

I have owned more than 14 Sony cameras in the past 20 years. So, as a tremendous Sony fan, I say this with enormous respect for Sony and it's engineers; The proposed 60Mbp/s 4K PXW-X70 XDCAM upgrade falls well short of ALL other 4K camcorders in the industry. This is not my "opinion", it is simply a researchable and proven fact. No other manufacturer (Panasonic, Canon or JVC) is using below 100Mbp/s in their codecs today....not even in their very cheapest models.  In fact, no other Sony 4K camera uses below 100Mbp/s,..not even the lowest entry-level Sony Handycam models either. Even the tiny Sony 4K ActionCam uses a 100 Mbp/s codec. With this 60 Mbp/s 4K upgrade, the PXW-X70 will sit at the very statistical bottom of the industry camcorder list. (in terms of codec bit rate) In my humble opinion, I believe that it is vital that the PXW-X70 professional market XDCAM be given at minimum of 100Mbp/s 4K codec. Doing so will at least "match" the bitrates of all other entry level consumer market models, industry wide. No Sony "XDCAM" branded camcorder should ever sit far below it's HandyCam or ActionCam cousins in terms of codec bitrate. I dont expect the next PXW-X70 paid 4K upgrade to include a 100Mbp/s option this month. However, I certainly hope that Sony will at least make an official announcement of their commitment to do so in the near future. Again, say this as a VERY loyal long time customer. It is not my intention to flame, insult or otherwise "put down" Sony or the PXW-X70 here. In saying the PXW-X70 is at the bottom of the industry in terms of codec bitrate, I'm simply stating an odd, strange and embarrassing fact. Please don't let this camera sit at the bottom of the 4K camcorder industry bitrate list. Sony,..please commit to raising the bitrate to at least "match" the common entry-level consumer 4K bitrate standards of 100Mbp/s. Longtime Sony fan, Cliff Totten

Answer 1

Hi, I'm just curious if any movement has been made yet on adding higher bitrates to the PXW-X70. Thanks! CT