Sony DSR-500WS User Manual

NTSC

Digital Camcorder

DS R-500 WS

*Optional items are included.

2

S

ince the introduction of Sony’s DSR-300 DVCAM Camcorder in 1998,
shooter such as video journalists have been able to acquire their

footage quickly and easily, because the required functionality and
performance was packed into this camcorder.
Meanwhile, the next generation widescreen TVs have been introduced in the
industry and the demand to produce video material in widescreen (16:9) has
greatly increased not only in the professional broadcasting market, but also in
the event production and corporate communications area.
Now Sony introduces the DSR-500WS Widescreen Digital Camcorder as part
of Sony’s DVCAM camcorder line-up. The DSR-500WS offers outstanding
picture quality by adopting full Digital Signal Processing and three 2/3-inch
Power HAD WS™ CCDs which have been specifically designed for a 16:9
aspect ratio, switchable to 4:3.
Inheriting most of the functions of the DSR-300, the DSR-500WS extends
the mobility, operational convenience and system flexibility with a range of
peripheral products. Furthermore, the built-in digital output of the
i.LINK™ interface for backup and simple field editing is introduced with
the DSR-500WS.
The DSR-500WS can be used for a wide variety of field acquisition applications
including video journalist, event photographer, news gathering for
broadcasting and more.

3

True Digital Camcorder

The DSR-500WS is a “True Digital Camcorder”.The signal is maintained in the
digital domain. This allows for higher image quality, free of artifacts and the
loss of resolution typical of multiple A/D and D/A conversion. This is a major
advantage for the user.

■ Camera Section with Full Digital Processing

■ Component Digital Transfer from Camera to the Recorder

■ Digital Recording

Sony
DVCAM
Camcorders

Digital
VTR

DSP
Camera

Digital

Other
Digital
Camcorders

Digital
VTR

Analog
Camera
Head

Analog

Digital
VTR

DSP
Camera
Head

Analog

(B): 16:9 mode

(A): 4:3 mode

4

Compact and Lightweight

By adopting high-density circuit boards and a smaller recording head drum,
the DSR-500WS is remarkably small. It weighs only 6.3 kg (13.9 lb 14.2 oz)
including a lens, viewfinder, tape, lithium-ion battery and microphone.

Compact and Lightweight BP-L40 Lithium-ion Battery

The Sony BP-L40 is a compact Lithium-ion battery for professional use, which
is designed to match the body height of the DSR-500WS. It has a high charge
capability in a small and light package, providing continuous camcorder
operation for up to approximately 70
minutes.
Since Lithium-ion batteries do not suffer
from a “memory effect”, they do not have to
be fully discharged to recharge to their full
power capacity.

Notes: The Sony BP-L60A/L90A can also be

used with the DSR-500WS.
The Sony NP-1B and the BP-90A
NiCd Batteries can also be attached
to the DSR-500WS using the Sony
DC-L1 and DC-L90 respectively.
Anton Bauer batteries can be used
with an adapter.

Widescreen Switchable Camcorder

By incorporating 16:9 wide aspect CCD, the DSR-500WS
can offer a superb widescreen picture quality,
and conventional 4:3 aspect picture with
aspect switching capability.

Compact and Lightweight Camcorder

The DSR-500WS is remarkably compact and lightweight for
professional use.

Power HAD WS CCD

The DSR-500WS is equipped with
three 2/3-inch Power HAD WS IT
CCDs with a high packing density
of 520,000 pixels (total)/ 480,000
pixels (effective). Since the CCD is
originally designed for the 16:9
aspect ratio, with a capability to be
switched to 4:3, high quality images can be obtained in the 16:9 mode
with virtually no image loss. High sensitivity of F11 (at 2000 lx, 3200K),
remarkable signal to noise ratio of 63 dB, high resolution of 700 TV lines
and a low vertical smear level of -120 dB are achieved.

Notes: The 700 lines of horizontal resolution at 16:9 aspect ratio are actually

equivalent to 930 lines, which are converted by 4:3 aspect ratio camera
measurement.

16:9 and 4:3 Switchable

Thanks to the adoption of the new wide aspect CCDs and digital signal
processing, the DSR-500WS can operate in both 16:9 widescreen and
conventional 4:3 mode without any conversion equipment. Furthermore, at the
16:9 mode, both the 16:9 and the 4:3 safety zone shooting are possible on this
viewfinder.

16:9 ID Pulse

When shooting 16:9 images, the DSR-500WS automatically adds a wide aspect
ID pulse signal, which indicates that the picture is shot in 16:9 aspect ratio,
through the video output signal. The information of 16:9 is also recorded onto
the Video Auxiliary (VAUX) area in the DVCAM tape, together with video signals.

DXF-701WS

The DXF-701WS is
a high resolution,

1.5-inch black and white
viewfinder with a 16:9
aspect capability. With the
DXF-701WS, the viewfinder
scanning aspect ratio is automatically
changed according to the camera aspect ratio (4:3 or 16:9),
as shown in (A) and (B).