Sony has announced the PXW-Z300 handheld XDCAM camcorder - the first camcorder in the world to embed C2PA digital signatures directly into video files. The flagship 4K camcorder is designed primarily for news and documentary production, where content authenticity is becoming a critical requirement.
The camera supports the C2PA standard for recording authenticity information, with a digital signature embedded at capture that enables downstream verification. The feature is designed to prove that video content was captured by a physical camera rather than generated by AI - a capability that news organisations have been demanding as deepfake video becomes increasingly sophisticated.
Professional-grade hardware
The PXW-Z300 features three 1/2-type 4K Exmor R CMOS sensors paired with Sony's BIONZ XR image processing engine and a dedicated AI processing unit for subject recognition autofocus. The built-in 17x optical zoom lens with a constant f/1.9 aperture covers 30.3-515mm equivalent - a range designed for the unpredictability of news gathering.
Network functionality has been enhanced with 5G and cloud integration, supporting live streaming via RTMP/RTMPS and SRT protocols. This enables direct broadcast from the field with content authenticity metadata intact.
Licensing and availability
Video authenticity on the PXW-Z300 requires a separate upgrade licence, available as either a perpetual purchase or a one-month option for short-term use. The feature supports MP4 format only. The camera is available in limited regions, with wider availability expected through 2026.
The PXW-Z300 represents Sony's expansion of C2PA from still photography (where it has been available on Alpha bodies since 2024) into professional video production. Sony subsequently extended video C2PA to its mirrorless and Cinema Line cameras in October 2025.