Sony PDT-FP1 review: A highly versatile transmitter for an unbeatable price

At first glance, you may think the Sony PDT-FP1 is a smartphone with more ports. And technically, you’d be right — kind of. The PDT-FP1’s design resembles the Sony Xperia smartphone with a 2520 x 1080 resolution 6.1-inch OLED display. Plus, it runs on Android OS. However, the PDT-FP1 is not a mobile phone. Instead, there’s a lot more than meets the eye. This high-speed, low-latency device is made to easily transfer and transmit media from cameras. But it does more than that. It can also function as a monitor or as a 5G livestreaming solution. Additionally, it has HDMI, LAN and two USB-C ports.

The Sony PDT-FP1 is an intriguing transmitter that deserves a deep dive. Targeted toward productions working in live events, on-location shooting or news broadcasts, it offers a range of functionalities that look to streamline remote workflows. Does it succeed in this? That’s what we’re here to find out. Let’s look more at what the PDT-FP1 offers, as well as the pros and cons of investing in one for your media workflow.

Features

Compact, convenient design

When it comes to weight, the Sony PDT-FP1 is quite compact. The device weighs just 0.66 lbs. As mentioned, its OLED display is 6.1 inches, making its size comparable to most smartphones on the market. Additionally, the device includes a ¼-inch-20 mounting screw and a strap hole for added convenience.

Connectivity

In terms of connectivity, the PDT-FP1 supports 5G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, with dual SIM support (nanoSIM and eSIM) for 5G users, ensuring network failover. Sony claims the internal antenna design maximizes reception sensitivity. This feature set makes it particularly useful for professionals in various fields, including live events, newsgathering and sports.

For file transfers, users can connect a Sony compatible camera via Ethernet or USB to send files to a designated FTP server or Creators’ Cloud. The device also offers low-latency livestreaming using 5G. This makes it quite useful for real-time broadcasting.

Storage

Storage-wise, the PDT-FP1 comes with 256 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 1 TB via a microSD card. It also features two USB Type-C ports that support USB PD (Power Delivery), allowing simultaneous charging and media transfer.

Cooling system

One of the standout features is its cooling system. The device includes a newly developed cooling fan and duct structure to prevent thermal shutdown, even in environments up to 104°F (40°C). This is crucial for maintaining performance during extended use in hot conditions.

Is the PDT-FP1 any good?

The PDT-FP1 seems appealing for teams working in the field. But one may ask, “Is this just a glorified smartphone?” Well, yes. But in the best and most useful way possible.

An Android phone with camera functionality

First of all, you’re not going to find a cell phone with the number of ports that you get with the PDT-FP1. It’s equipped with an HDMI port for monitoring, a LAN port and two USB-C ports. The dual USB-C ports allow for both charging and connecting to your camera at the same time.

Lastly, the 6.1-inch OLED touchscreen display is used to facilitate anything and everything you want — allowing users to preview camera footage, monitor data transfer status, download Google Play Store apps, and more. It comes with a few relevant apps already, including Creators’ App, XDCAM Pocket and an app for external monitoring.

Transmission in a simple, portable package

Transmission is the PDT-FP1’s biggest selling point. It’s in the name, after all (PDT = Portable Data Transmitter). It can even transmit low-latency HEVC video in 4K 60p, but for the receiving side, you’ll need additional hardware (more on this later).

5G connectivity isn’t anything new, but bringing it into a device that can connect and work with your camera is great. This means photographers and videographers can livestream their feed with this device alone without Wi-Fi access, using the included XDCAM app. It even comes with dual SIM support for network redundancy, meaning it’ll automatically switch between the two depending on which is the strongest.

Connecting the PDT-FP1 to a supported camera allows the user to automatically transfer data to a specified FTP server or to Sony’s Ci Media Cloud. This makes team collaboration as simple as just one USB-C or LAN connection. Large image and video files can also be transferred quickly and reliably.

It doubles as a monitor

Being able to simultaneously use the device as a monitor through HDMI is a plus, although it’s not quite as large as some dedicated monitors. Regardless, it comes with the display options you’d want out of a monitor, including grid lines, waveforms, false color and zebra overlays. You can also zoom into the frame up to 4x. This same included app (called “External monitor”) also has a streaming mode, which adds extra buttons for audio muting and streaming connections.

Good thermal performance

The built-in cooling fan and heat sink allow the PDT-FP1 to withstand high-temperature environments. Sony designed it with a duct-based structure that dissipates internal heat efficiently, even in environments up to 104 degrees F. Plus, the fans can be adjusted within the settings. Rotation mode options include a balanced (auto) mode along with options to prioritize quietness or shooting.

In our tests, out in the Northern California summer heat, we had no issue with overheating. Though, we can’t say the same for our test camera. This is indeed a crucial component for a product of this type, as a shutdown while transferring data would be bad for obvious reasons.

Things to consider

Although we didn’t encounter any issues testing the device, there are some things to keep in mind.

While the PDT-FP1 supports dual SIM, it only has one physical SIM card slot. To take advantage of this functionality, you’ll need to set up an eSIM rather than another physical SIM card. Furthermore, you can’t use both at the same time, meaning you’ll have to pick a preferred one of the two. This is advertised clearly by Sony, but we would’ve liked to see some cellular bonding.

Even though the device is immediately useful for the previously stated reasons, you’ll need additional hardware to take advantage of the super low latency 4K 60p video transmission. So, if you’re working on large-scale live productions and broadcasting events like a football game or a UFC fight, where low latency switching between cameras is needed, you need to use the CBK-RPU7 and NXL-ME80. However, if you don’t need super low latency, you can simply stream 4K through your camera’s HDMI port using the External Monitor App.

And, once again, the Sony PDT-FP1 is a portable data transmitter. There shouldn’t be an expectation that the other half of the equation — receiving — is included with the PDT-FP1. That’s also where Sony’s cloud apps, such as Creators’ App and Ci Media Cloud, come into play.

Should you get one?

For data transfer (automatically and in real-time, specifically) and livestreaming in HD this product is pretty good. Plus, this all comes with built-in monitoring capabilities through HDMI. Do you need this device to perform said tasks? No. Does Sony take all these capabilities and put them together at a relatively fair price? Yes, absolutely. But if you want to maximize you experience with the device, you will need a compatible Sony camera and envelop yourself in the Sony universe. This is because Sony provide pre-installed apps to make it easier to connect to a Sony camera. You can still connect to other cameras and devices, but it’s less convenient.

If you have a need for it, it packs a lot of functionality into one product when you would otherwise need multiple products to have the same functionality. It’s a good price, too; you won’t be able to buy other tools that do all of what it can do for any less.

Overview

Ultimately, the Sony PDT-FP1 would make a great addition for any users needing it in their toolkit. There’s really nothing like it at its price point. With its compact design and impressive feature set, the PDT-FP1 is a versatile device that could lend itself to larger productions. With support for 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and dual SIM, the device could fit well into live event, news gathering and sports production workflows. It allows for real-time file transfers from Sony cameras to FTP servers or Sony’s Ci Media Cloud, adding to its usefulness in remote collaborative settings.

Even with some limitations, like its dual-SIM functionality being restricted to only one physical SIM card slot, not being able to use both SIMs simultaneously or needing extra hardware to use the 4K 60p video transmission, the Sony PDT-FP1’s strengths outweigh its weaknesses. For professionals integrated into the Sony ecosystem, it offers significant benefits for data transfer, livestreaming and monitoring at a reasonable price. So, if you have the budget and need for its feature set, we’d recommend giving the Sony PDT-FP1 a shot.

Sony PDT-FP1

$1,099.99 at B&H Video

Tech specs