Sony’s F65 CineAlta 4K camera now available for a paltry $65,000

Breakthrough Price and IT-based Open Platform Technology Deliver Unprecedented Levels of Production Flexibility for Content Creators

L. A., Sept. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Electronics officially raised the curtain on its F65 CineAlta™ digital movie camera system, ushering in a brand new era of digital cinematography. Before a select audience of yank Society of Cinematographers (ASC) members, press and high-profile industry professionals, Sony screened new F65 footage shot by leading DPs, demonstrated new features and announced its roll-out plan for the revolutionary camera, including availability and an incredibly accessible price of just $65,000 (with viewfinder).

Announced here only days before the F65 would be shown to a global audience on the IBC conference in Amsterdam, the hot camera clearly signals Sony’s commitment to the Hollywood community and to developing the production technologies content creators need.

The F65 derives true 4K resolution – and beyond – on the point of image capture. “4K” resolution is 4096 x 2160, that is greater than four times more than the complete HD (1920×1080) spec. Its unique 8K image sensor, with approximately 20 total megapixels, offers higher image fidelity than some other digital cinema production camera. With 16-bit Linear RAW File output capability, the F65 creates the gateway to an end-to-end 4K file-based mastering workflow.

“It’s the camera Hollywood has asked for, designed specifically for filmmakers,” said Alec Shapiro, senior vp of Sony’s Professional Solutions of America group. “The facility to shoot content in true native 4K resolution lets filmmakers capture more of what they’re seeing in the course of the lens to totally realize their vision. The F65′s incredible imager captures more data, which translates to additional information that may be submit at the screen. And access to an open and inclusive platform enables the combination of an F65 file-based workflow into other systems, creating truly exciting, and limitless, production opportunities.”

Sony first announced the F65 on the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show in April, and the camera has already distinguished itself by offering superb resolution, incredible dynamic range and the truest color reproduction of any available camera.

With its latest enhancements and lines, the F65′s capabilities now include:

• 14 stops High Dynamic Range with much wider color gamut
• Rotary shutter model (F65RS) to take away motion artifacts; four ND Filter built-in with rotary shutter.
• Wi-fi operation for handheld remote control operation from tablet devices (including the Android-based Sony Tablet S and Apple iPad)
• HD-SDI output with viewing LUT for on-set monitoring with focus assist zoom
• 60 Minutes of 16 bit Linear RAW file recording onto a 1TB SRMemory card at 24FPS

Sony also introduced a dockable SRMemory recorder – model SR-R4 – which attaches to the camera to record on to an SRMemory card of 256 GB, 512 GB or 1TB capacity with data security and sustained throughput of five.5 Gbps.

Sony is now unveiling an impressive new capability for the F65/SR-R4 combination – the facility to change recording between 16-bit linear RAW File and MPEG-4 SStP File modes. Users can configure the camera on a project-by-project basis, selecting either 16-bit linear RAW File for ultimate quality acquisition or high speed operation at as much as 120FPS, or MPEG-4 SStP File (HDCAM SR native) for exceptional quality HD recording. MPEG-4 SStP File also provides full compatibility for viewing, offline and post production using either the free Sony PC or MAC viewer or products using the hot Sony Software Development Kit.

The F65 is in high demand by the movie production industry, and Sony is now taking orders for the recent camera. The primary rental company in Hollywood to take delivery might be Otto Nemenz International.

“The F65 is greater than only a new camera; it is a complete system and a revolutionary option to the digital production workflow,” said company president Otto Nemenz. “My customers are seeking the newest and greatest, and this technology greater than fits the bill. I’m proud to be the primary to hold this camera.”

New CineAlta(TM) Branding

Since its introduction greater than 10 years ago, the CineAlta brand has come to symbolize the benchmark for the very best quality digital cinematography acquisition. Now, to coincide with the launch of the F65, Sony is introducing a brand new CineAlta logo, signifying acquisition quality at “Beyond HD” resolution and reflecting the open nature of the F65 and its file based approach.

The brand new logo is designed to resemble the logo for infinity, because the F65 with its new image sensor makes true 4K production real today and gives viable image acquisition for decades and future applications to return. The emblem may be applied to all Sony system components that enable digital imaging beyond the 1920 x 1080 HD format.

“From the success of Sony 4K projectors which can be driving digital cinema in movie theaters and creating demand for 4K content, to the staggering creative possibilities offered by the F65, no other company can deliver the complete 4K lens to theater experience that Sony can,” Shapiro said. Sony has already installed greater than 9,000 4K projectors in cinemas worldwide.

The F65 digital movie camera line-up is scheduled to be available in January direct from Sony: The F65, with viewfinder for $65,000; the F65RS (In-built Rotary Shutter Model), with viewfinder for $77,000; and SR-R4 dockable recorder for $20,000. All may also be available through Sony authorized resellers.