Sony's New XDCAM EX Solid State Camcorder

The XDCAM EX is solid-state only and features two card slots for the very latest ExpressCard technology cards (the replacement for the older PCMCIA Cardbus specification). The latest ExpressCard technology is more robust, more reliable, much faster, and available in much higher capacities than its predecessor. As a storage type  made by lots of different manufacturers it is inexpensive.

Sony's XDCAM EX records to cards that are available in 8, 16, and 32GB capacities and above. Unlike alternative solid-state offerings the EX series will achieve 2.5 minutes per gigabyte at full HQ quality 35Mbps HD or 3.5 minutes per gigabyte at 25Mbps constant bitrates. Two 16GB cards will record around 90 minutes of the highest quality 35Mbps footage variable bitrate or 115 minutes at 25Mbps constant bitrate. These figures can be doubled if you use 32GB cards.

SxS Express Cards are much cheaper than other solid-state options and they can be bought over the counter in high street stores. ExpressCard is not a Sony invention, it is the PCMCIA industry standard that has replaced the older PCMCIA PC card. This ensures prices will come down even faster in future.