Wexler Invests in Sony XDCAM HD

Broadcast rental equipment and services company Wexler Video has purchased 25 Sony XDCAM HD optical disc camcorders equipped with Canon portable HD lenses, including the KH21ex5.7 IRSE telephoto and KH10ex3.6 IRSE wide-angle models.

Sony's new PDW-F350 model offers true variable frame rate recording capabilities; also commonly known as "over-cranking" and "under-cranking" or "slow-motion/fast motion" functionality. Wexler said this feature will have a certain appeal to professionals in reality TV production and newsmagazine programming, where the SD version of the XDCAM system is already prevalent.

The company said since 2004, it has supplied the SD version of the XDCAM system to several leading shows, including "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," "Nanny 911," "Next Top Model" and MTV's "Punk'd" and "Making the Band."

"Our clients are already used to the workflow benefits made possible by the XDCAM system, including immediate random access to data, in-camera editing capabilities and proxy transfer," said Joel Ordesky, vice president of technology for Wexler Video. "Now they can put an HD infrastructure in place for the future while still realizing the same optical efficiencies they've become accustomed to."