Sony DXC-3000P Review

Overall Rating

2/3" 3 CCD, great sharpness.

Noise on low light, smear, no standard audio outputs.

Sony DXC-3000 is the first professional CCD camera of Sony, and most likely the first professional CCD camera in the world.

This camera was in production from 80' to early 90' for about 9-10 years (all models from DXC-3000 series).

Camera consists only from a camera head, it has no VTR, and VTR can't be docked to it. Usually these cameras were used with Sony U-Matic portable VTR's, it can be connected to it with special cable.
DXC-3000 is lightweight (comparatively) and very well designed, it is a convertible camera that can work in studio and field production applications.

Sony DXC-3000 has the biggest available CCD for video cameras, it's size is 2/3".
It is 3 CCD system camera that can be connected to CCU ot VTR, it has bayonet and accepts 2/3" lenses.
Minimal illumination is 25LUX with full gain (+18dB on 1:1.7), normal illumination is 2000LUX/1:5.6 - it's very good for its time.
Camera has about 560TVL resolution, however, image is so sharp and well detailed, that even modern 3CCD 1/2" cameras are not able to provide (mostly) such sharpness.

The colours are great in 3200K illumination, however in bright day there is a smear on the picture from very bright objects (it is a common thing for CCD from that time), so video operator has to pay attention to this, and avoid pointing the camera, to places where are bright objects.
As this camera was mostly pointed for studio applications (including field production), best colours are reached on 3200K.
On low light, picture is noisy, however, even in such situation, extreme sharpness is not lost. Because of noise I give picture quality only 8/10.

This camera has a small built-in microphone, but standard XLR mic can be connected to it. However, there is no standard audio output, you will have to use VTR, CCU or modification of 14pin cable. That's why I give only 7/10 for sound.

My camera is equipped with Fujinon X12 zoom lens, it is very sharp lens with great colours. Usually, such cameras are coming with this lens.

Also, very good point is very low power consumption, only 9W for 3CCD 2/3" camera, it is very good.

This camera can be connected directly to any standard capture device (as computer, VTR, DVD recorder), but you will have some difficulties with sound output. It is the main reason for 6/10 for ease of use.

I would not recommend such camera for general applications, it can give its best in studio with a good light.
Really well built camera, it still serves some studios for many years. This camera has seen newer cameras going out of the service, and it still lasts.
Great camera, more for collectors that to users.