In a massive expansion of its Large Sensor Camera Family, Sony has announced the launch of new PMW-F55 and PMW-F5 cameras, plus new PL lenses, BP-FL75 battery & BC-L90 quick charger, AXS-R5 RAW recorder, DVF-EL100, DVF-L700 and DVF-L350 viewfinders, and SxS PRO+(PLUS) recording media.
The PMW-F55 and PMW-F5 models fill a critical gap in large-sensor acquisition between Sony’s PMW-F3 camcorder and its F65 CineAlta™ premium 4K camera, giving content creators new levels of flexibility and creative options for HD, 2K or 4K acquisition and production. And, With a modular and compact design for easy configuration, each camera features a new type of 4K Super 35mm image sensor with a 4096 x 2160 resolution (11.6M total pixels). The 20-MP F65 remains the flagship of Sony’s large sensor acquisition technology and it continues to evolve with new features that include a new high frame rate mode for 4K RAW recording at 120P to deliver stunning 4K images with super smooth slow motion capabilities and the SR codec updated to 12-bit. Future updates to the F65 will deliver 6K de-mosaicing abilities.
The new CineAlta 4K cameras deliver unprecedented creative options for HD/2K*/QFHD*/4K (F55) and 2K*/HD (F5) production. Both offer multi-codec support: the new XAVC MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 format, the SR codec (MPEG4 SStP), and the well-established XDCAM 50Mbps 4:2:2 codec. In-camera recording uses Sony’s new SxS media, SxS PRO+(Plus) for the F55 4K:60p:422 10-bit XAVC and HD:422 10-bit XAVC High Frame Rate; and for the F5 – for HD XAVC and HD high frame rate.
The F55 can be connected to the 4K 30-inch LCD monitor, PVM-X300, using four 3G-SDI interfaces for 4096×2160 up to 60p live monitoring while recording XAVC 4K and for the playback of XAVC 4K images. Similarly, it is also possible to connect directly to Sony’s new 84” BRAVIA 4K LED TV for large-screen monitoring of the camera’s 4K 60P images (at resized horizontal resolution of 3860 pixels).
Incorporated with new AXS-R5 RAW recorder, high framerate capability allows shooters to capture super slow-motion imagery in up to 4K RAW file on newly developed AXS memory — up to 240fps** with the F55; and up to 120fps** with the F5. The F55 adds a global shutter to eliminate rolling shutter skew and flash banding, and using the same colour filter with ultra-wide colour gamut as the F65 for true colour reproduction. The cameras are further distinguished by wide (14 stops) exposure latitude, high sensitivity, and low noise.
Each of the new second-generation PL mount prime lenses is certified for 4K capture, while minimising geometric distortion, vignetting and breathing. A 9-blade iris delivers beautiful bokeh and the focus rings rotate 240°. The new lens series includes focal lengths of 20, 25, 35, 50, 85 and 135 mm. For easy lens changes, each has the same T2.0 aperture, the same external diameter, matte box diameter, and gear locations for follow focus and aperture. All are the same height except for the 135 mm.
Shooters can use still lenses by removing the supplied PL-mount adaptor to reveal the native FZ mount, making it easy to accept commercially available adaptors for third-party lenses, 2/3″ broadcast B4 lenses and Sony FZ-Mount lenses with auto focus servo zoom.
A new series of high-quality OLED and LCD viewfinders – the DVF-EL100, DVF-L700 and DVF-L350 – also hits the market as part of Sony’s massive expansion launch.
The 0.7” DVF-EL100 features 1280 x 720 HD resolution, superb brightness, contrast and response. The 3.5” DVF-L350 LCD viewfinder offers 10 times the contrast of previous Sony LCD viewfinders, with a flip-up eyepiece for direct monitoring. And the 7” full HD DVF-L700 viewfinder enables high resolution when shooting in 2K and 4K, with pixel- to-pixel 1920 x 1080 representation of HD images.
The AXS-R5 records onto sleek, optional AXSM™ memory cards, which are compatible with an affordable optional USB 3.0 reader, the AXS-CR1. Once on a PC, the RAW files can be screened using Sony’s free RAW Viewer software. The AXSM memory card (512 GB capacity, model AXS-512S24) uses the generic file system exFAT, allowing you to record 4K RAW data up to 60 fps and 2K RAW up to 240 fps**, with a 300MB/s sustained transfer speed. PC-friendly operation is enabled through use of the AXS-CR1 Card Reader, offering a USB 3.0 interface for high speed transfer.
Additionally, the new AXS-R5 RAW recorder directly docks onto the F5 and F55, for an extremely elegant and compact recording solution for 2K** and 4K RAW recording.
[Coming soon: 4K RAW recording for the NEX-FS700 ]
Also new is the BP-FL75 battery pack, which uses Olivine—Lithium Iron Phosphate—instead of conventional Lithium Ion cathodes. The result is a substantial increase in charge-discharge cycles, compared to previous Sony batteries. The Olivine battery works with Sony’s BC-L90 quick charger. The new battery supports outstanding mobility for field shooting, enabling two times higher speed charge than current charger and up to 150 minutes consecutive shooting.
Both new cameras support Sony’s new high-speed, enhanced versions of its SxS PRO memory cards: the“SxS PRO+(PLUS) series (in 128 and 64 GB capacities, models SBP-128B and SBP-64B). Based on the format long established in Sony’s XDCAM EX camcorders, the cards support XAVC 4K and XAVC HD high frame rate recording, and can be directly inserted into the cameras.
* 2K/QFHD for F55 and 2K for F5 will be available with firmware version up.
**High frame rate higher than 60fps will be available with firmware version up.