Sony Specialist Dealer Top-Teks places first UK orders for Sony’s SRW-9000 camcorder

London, UK 25th November 2009 - Sony Specialist Dealer Top-Teks has placed the first orders in the UK for Sony’s new one-piece HDCAM-SR camcorder, the SRW-9000. Top-Teks will make two models of Sony’s SRW-9000 available for trials to producers, freelancers and hire companies from the beginning of December.

“This is the first HDCAM SR camcorder that Sony has launched at this price point with a future upgrade path,” explained Top-Teks Sales Director and Co-Owner, Mike Thomas. “The advent of a mid-range priced camcorder with a 2/3 inch chip and variable frame rate at full resolution has been requested by our clients for many years and this kit can do exactly what they want.”

Sony first shared its thoughts on the SRW-9000 as far back as NAB 2009 with Top-Teks supplying customer feedback to aid product development.

“When we finally saw the SRW-9000 in April this year we were impressed to see an SR camera with an upgrade path to 35mm and solid state,” added Thomas. “While the HDCAM SR format is proven in the most demanding digital cinematography applications, it’s important and reassuring that there is a future proofed path to 35mm and to solid state.”

Aside from options to upgrade the SRW-9000 to 35mm size sensors with a PL mount in 2010 and to solid state recording in 2011, there is a Variable Frame Rate Option to allow the camcorder to capture and record images with variable speed (SR Motion capability) from 1 to 60 fps.

Boasting full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution, the camcorder has 2/3-inch CCDs and is capable of 4:2:2 10-bit recording as well as being configurable up to 4:4:4 at multi-frame rate from 1 to 60p. The option also offers S-LOG Gamma, which is essentially a digital negative, allowing users to flexibly tailor their images during post-production in the same way they would in a film-based workflow.

“We have a strong base in supplying natural history programme makers with CineAlta and HDCAM SR technology and the ability to select variable frame rates is particularly attractive to them,” explained Thomas. “On launch we see the camcorder as ideal for high-end TV drama, sitcoms, natural history and documentaries. When all the option cards are included, it becomes perfect for digital features and commercials.”

“Achieving the right weight and power consumption to operate handheld was always a concern of our customers,” Thomas said. “With a physical size equivalent to the HDW-F900 weighing approximately 6.5kg with a battery, Sony has managed the trick of packing nearly all the performance of an F23 while adding greater flexibility to location work.” concluded Thomas.

“When Sony’s SRW-9000 launched in April, it was undoubtedly a no-compromise product that is head and shoulders above anything else available. By listening to our specialist dealers such as Top-Teks, we can now offer unprecedented developments in the HDCAM SR range, across areas of acquisition, storage, archive and workflow efficiency to deliver best in class products for the industry,” noted Mark Bainbridge, General Manager, Sony Professional.

Top-Teks (www.top-teks.co.uk) is the only UK dealer approved to sell Sony’s F35 and F23. All its cameras are offered with full support and service facilities.