Interesting article on why you shouldn't dismiss the Sony FS700. It still ranks as one of the best cameras released this year.
Full Story: REDSHARK

Just some of the large crowd at the Sydney launch of Sony's CineAlta 4K sensor F5 and F55 cameras.

On display was an F55 kitted out with Fuji Zoom making it look and feel it could tackle ENG, reality type projects to major drama shoots.



The audience were wowed by a demonstration from Ben Allan ACS of how the F55 could recover an image from 1 to 5 stops of both under and overexposed. This alone makes the camera a stand out in today's current crop of digital cameras.

Australian list prices were revealed for the first time. The F5 for $18K and the F55 $35K. First orders to arrive around mid February.

Sony Australia will launch the PMW-F55 and PMW-F5
in Sydney:
Wed 12th DEC 2012
in Melbourne
Thurs 13th DEC 2012

REGISTRATION with SONY AUSTRALIA before Dec 2 2012

Sony grows large sensor camera family with new 4K camera systems
New PMW-F55 and PMW-F5 camera models, plus new RAW recorder, PL lenses, viewfinders, battery and
recording media expand Sony’s line of end-to-end 4K acquisition solutions


Sydney, 30 October 2012 – Sony is unveiling two new CineAlta™ 4K cameras, complemented by a full line of accessories. The new cameras - models PMW-F55 and PMW-F5 - have a modular and compact design for easy configuration, and each features a new type of 4K Super 35mm image sensor with a 4096 x 2160 resolution (11.6M total pixels).

“These two new models join a family of Sony large-sensor cameras that complement each other and deliver powerful new capabilities to cinematographers working at every level of production,” said Nick Buchner, Senior Product Manager, Content Creation with Sony Australia and New Zealand. “They fill a critical gap in large-sensor acquisition between Sony’s PMW-F3 camcorder and F65 digital motion picture camera, and give content creators new levels of flexibility and creative options for shooting in HD, 2K, 4K and beyond. The total line-up, with our new accessories, further underscores Sony’s commitment to supporting every aspect of the highest-quality professional workflows.”

New F65 features and future upgrades
The 20 megapixel F65 remains the flagship of Sony’s large sensor acquisition technology. The 8K sensor-equipped F65 continues to evolve, with new features designed to keep it at the high end of professional digital imaging. The most recent feature update (Ver2.0) includes a new high frame rate mode for 8K 16-bit Linear RAW recording at 120P to deliver stunning 4K images with super smooth slow motion capabilities, as well as the SR codec updated to 12-bit. The Ver2.0 upgrade was also released for Sony’s SR-R4 recorder, as well as the SR-PC4 transfer station to enable 1.5 times faster than real-time transfer speed of 8K 16-bit linear RAW files. Future upgrades to the F65 will deliver higher than 4K RGB resolution, paint and remote control, and interfacing with the new OLED viewfinder, among other features strongly desired by the production community.

New F55 and F5 Cameras

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 latest SxS media, “SxS PRO+” (Plus) - on the F55 for 4K:60p:422 10-bit XAVC and HD:422 10-bit XAVC high frame rate shooting, and on the F5 for HD XAVC and HD high frame rate.

Both cameras are further distinguished by wide (14 stops) exposure latitude, high sensitivity and low noise. The F55 adds a global shutter to eliminate rolling shutter skew and flash banding, and uses the same colour filter with ultra-wide colour gamut as the F65, for highly accurate colour reproduction.

In conjunction with the new RAW recorder AXS-R5, high frame rate capability allows cinematographers 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 120 fps** with the F5.

The F55 can further be connected to the new 4K 30-inch LCD monitor, PVM-X300 using four 3G-SDI interfaces for 4096 x 2160 up to 60p live monitoring while recording XAVC 4K and for 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).


PL lens system – the second generation


The F55 and F5 cameras continue Sony’s efforts to offer the most flexible lens options. PL-mount prime cine lens technology lets users choose cine optics from Angénieux, ARRI, Canon, Carl Zeiss, Cooke, FUJIFILM and Leica.

Representing Sony’s second generation of cost-effective PL mount prime lenses, each is specified 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 135mm. 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 135mm.

Cinematographers can also use lenses originally designed for still photography, by removing the supplied PL-mount adaptor to reveal the cameras’ native FZ mount. This makes it easy to accept commercially available adaptors for third-party lenses, including Canon® EF, Canon FD, Nikon® DX, Nikon G, Leica® M and even 2/3-inch broadcast B4 lenses. A third option is the use of Sony FZ-Mount lenses with auto focus servo zoom such as Sony’s 18~252mm SCL-Z18X140.

Viewfinders

Using a new digital interface, F5 and F55 users can take advantage of a new series of high-quality OLED and LCD viewfinders. The DVF-EL100 measures 0.7-inches with 1280 x 720 HD resolution, superb brightness, contrast and response. The DVF-L350 3.5-inch LCD viewfinder offers 10 times the contrast of previous Sony LCD viewfinders, with a flip-up eyepiece for direct monitoring. A third option is the Full HD DVF-L700. This compact 7-inch LCD viewfinder enables high resolution when shooting in 2K and 4K, with pixel- to-pixel 1920 x 1080 representation of HD images.

New in-camera recording media
SxS PRO+ (PLUS) Recording Media

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.

New RAW Recording System

Sony is also unveiling the AXSM™ Access Memory System for 2K*/4K RAW recording, based on Sony’s unique recording technology. Optimised for this new platform is the AXSM memory card (512GB capacity, model AXS-512S24), using the generic file system exFAT. Users can record 4K RAW data up to 60 fps and 2K RAW up to 240 fps**, with a 300MB/s (2.4Gbps) sustained recording 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.


New Battery and Charger

The F5 and F55 cameras take advantage of Sony’s new 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 new 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.

The F5 and F55 cameras are also compatible with Sony’s BP-L80S, L60S, GL95A and GL65A batteries, which use the BC-L70 and L160 chargers.

Shoulder rig
Delivering advances in ergonomics specifically requested by working cinematographers, the F5 and F55 can optionally be fitted with Sony’s newest shoulder rig for extra stability and comfort in shoulder-mount applications. The rig is sturdy, lightweight and uses industry-standard rosettes on both sides for quick and easy attachment of third-party hand grips and other accessories.

Pricing and availability
The new cameras are planned to be available in Australia and New Zealand from February 2013, with suggested list pricing to be announced.

* 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.

BONUS OFFERS ON SONY NXCAM MODELS
Sony currently has several great bonus offers for purchasers of the popular NXCAM professional camcorder range.

· Buy an HXR-NX70P or HXR-NX30P camcorder and get a free ACC-V1BP Accessory Kit, valued at $275!
The Accessory Kit contains a high capacity NP-FV100 battery, which provides power for over 6 hours, plus an AC-VQV10 dual slot fast charger/AC adapter.
Both camcorders have 96GB of inbuilt memory, recording AVCHD at up to 28Mbps with the facility to also use removable memory cards, plus a variety of professional features such as timecode, XLR audio inputs and uncompressed audio recording. In addition, the HXR-NX70P is uniquely dust and rain-proof making it ideal for tough shooting environments, while the ultra-compact HXR-NX30P features extremely powerful image stabilisation and an inbuilt projector, allowing footage to be easily viewed and shared.

· Buy an HXR-NX5P camcorder and get a free twin-pack of NP-F970 batteries plus free 32GB SD memory card, total bonus value of $545!
Loads of additional power plus a Sony SF32UX Class 10 SD memory card will keep you shooting with the HXR-NX5P, Sony’s biggest selling NXCAM model.
With a 20X zoom lens and full professional feature set, the HXR-NX5P also has a new lower price.

The above bonus offers are available from now until the end of December, or while stocks last.


· Buy an NEX-FS100 and claim a bonus lens adapter!
Open up a whole world of creative shooting opportunities with this superb interchangeable lens Super35mm camcorder. Purchase an NEX-FS100P or NEX-FS100PK before the end of October and claim a free Sony LA-EA2 A-mount lens adapter valued at $399 or a free Metabones EF lens Smart adapter valued at around $450.

These offers are available through any Sony Authorised Content Creation Dealer (Link: http://pro.sony.com.au/section/shop )
Promotion details available at http://pro.sony.com.au/section/promotions
For product details, see http://pro.sony.com.au/productcategory/prof-bc-bp-cam-nxcam

Sony strengthens its top-of-the-line XDCAM HD422 range with
high performance handy camcorder and SxS field gear
Sydney, 2 October 2012 –
Sony has expanded its XDCAM HD422 format with the addition of a new PMW-150 handy camcorder equipped with 1/3-inch type Exmor™ Full HD 3CMOS sensors plus a 20x zoom lens, and the PMW-50 SxS field gear. The new equipment offers strong support for all broadcast and production operations, with enhanced workflow convenience and high performance features that meet the diverse and demanding needs of all industry professionals.

In response to the growing importance of the HD422 format in broadcast operations due to workflow and picture quality, Sony has been progressively expanding the XDCAM HD422 line-up. As part of this, the PMW-150 handy camcorder, equipped with 1/3-inch 3CMOS sensors, joins the established family of HD422 memory camcorders. The family includes the PMW-500 shoulder camcorder that is already widely-used in broadcasting and production, the PMW-200, equipped with 1/2-inch 3CMOS sensors and successor of the renowned PMW-EX1R flagship handy camcorder, plus the high-quality PMW-100 light-weight handy camcorder equipped with a 1/3-inch single CMOS sensor. Together, these cameras form a formidable line-up which bears all the hallmarks that have made Sony the trusted choice of professionals – unrivalled picture quality, superb build and an array of breakthrough features.
“With fast file-based operation and outstanding picture quality, XDCAM HD422 products are ideal for applications such as news gathering, when speed is a key concern. They become invaluable when a high-quality impression is crucial, for example in the production of TV dramas, documentaries, mainstream entertainment programs and corporate work,” said Anthony Kable, Senior Product Manager for Content Creation with Sony Australia & New Zealand. “We’re also looking ahead to continuously improve the line-up with a HD422 recorder for studio use in the pipeline.”

PMW-150 Handy Camcorder
The PMW-150 is equipped with 1/3-inch type ExmorTM Full HD 3CMOS sensors and offers high sensitivity and low noise compared to other 1/3-inch type camcorders. It comes armed with a 20 times zoom lens with focal length 29.5 ~ 590mm (35mm equivalent) plus offers wide angle shooting with the addition of an optional wide converter VCL-HG0872, making it versatile for event productions, documentaries and more. The lens is equipped with three independent rings for focus, zoom and iris adjustment with full manual control, plus an image stabilising function with shift lens mechanism.

AbleCine have produced a series of scene files for the FS-700.
Input them manually or via a download to an SDHC card.

See their BLOG for all the details.

Sure would be nice to see Sony produce some of these files as well. It's one of the 'most requested' items for cameras that come via this site.

GREAT BONUS OFFER ON SONY’S NXCAM HXR-NX70P CAMCORDER

From now until the end of December 2012, Sony is offering a bonus with the popular HXR-NX70P dust and rain-proof NXCAM professional camcorder....

· Buy an HXR-NX70P camcorder and get a free ACC-V1BP Accessory Kit, valued at $275!

The Accessory Kit contains a high capacity NP-FV100 battery, which can power the camera for over 6 hours, plus an AC-VQV10 dual slot fast charger/AC adapter.

This offer is available through any Sony Authorised Content Creation Dealer
For product details, see http://pro.sony.com.au/product/hxr-nx70p

Sydney, 14 August 2012 – An audience of video and television professionals packed out an Auckland studio in late July, breaking into applause as they were treated to images from one of the first Sony NEX-FS700 cameras delivered in Australasia.

The footage was shot and presented by Tim Pierce, a Queenstown-based cinematographer and director who attained his reputation capturing imagery of some of the world’s most talented athletes for major global clients, and more recently directing television commercials.

The Super Slow Motion capability of the Sony NEX-FS700 revealed an unexpected gracefulness to snowboard maneuvers and drew attention to otherwise unnoticeable details such as the extreme flexing that the boards themselves undergo.

Pierce commented, “Super Slow Motion opens a new creative toolbox that allows me to highlight certain elements which are missed when action flashes past the camera at normal speeds.”

The new camera extends the line-up of Sony NXCAM interchangeable E-mount professional camcorders and is centred on a new Exmor™ Super35 CMOS 4K sensor, and is capable of recording up to 145 minutes of normal speed AVCHD at 28Mb/sec to a 32GB memory card.

Before the NEX-FS700 camera, slowing action by any more than about half speed was the preserve of high-end specialist cameras, but the new camera will shoot up to 200 frames per second (fps) which is 8x super slow motion at Full HD for 50Hz productions. Speeds up to 960 fps can be reached at reduced resolution.

Pierce said, "I have mainly been shooting at around 200 fps, in 1920 x 1080 HD. At 200 fps you get just under twelve seconds recording time offering a full 90 seconds of playback at normal speed.”

A bonus of high speed shooting is that handheld action shots are smoothed, a difference graphically illustrated by Pierce with handheld helicopter to helicopter footage that dramatised the tenuous grip that thin rotor blades have on the air.

Pierce says he has yet to try the auto focus function because his existing lenses don't have that capacity, but points to the design of the camera's Sony E-mount which encourages the widest range of third party lens adaptors for virtually any large sensor lens. However, he says focusing is critical with a large sensor camera and the expanded focus function on the NEX-FS700 LCD touch screen has proved its worth.

Discussing his love of the large sensor look, Pierce said, “Like many filmmakers I often find myself shooting action sports or documentary footage single-handedly. This is where the compact size, quick set up and convenient ergonomics of the Sony NEX-FS700 give me confidence in the audio and video configuration, leaving me free to concentrate on what is happening in front of the camera.”

Pierce finds the post process equally trouble free, with a simple import of the AVCHD footage straight into the timeline in his edit suite.

To test the low light performance of the camera Pierce shot sequences at ISO 1600 to 2000 without any noise concerns, and he warned the audience at the event that he was deliberately seeking a grainy look in his footage of artist and illustrator Bel Jones, posted on Vimeo. The clip generated renewed applause for its unique super slow motion shots of the artist's long hair flowing like water.

In a business sense, Pierce says the professional NEX-FS700 camera impresses clients more than DSLR, even before they see the footage. Depending on the look, he intends to make full use of it on a variety of shoots, supplementing the onboard codec with off-board recorders when the client requires a broadcast quality data stream.

Thanks to the camera's Exmor™ 4K sensor, in the future the off-board recording through the 3G-HDSDI output will be boosted to 4K, a move designed to protect the value of the investment in a world where cameras are rapidly advancing.

However, even right now, out the box, for Pierce the camera is a simple value proposition. He concludes, "The price point of this camera has given me the opportunity to create images that I otherwise would not have been able to even contemplate."

Links: http://timpierceblog.com/

Recap for Melbourne evening:
Tuesday 28th August, 2012
6:00pm for pre-event drinks
6:30pm start
8:30pm finish
Leonda by the Yarra
2 Wallen Rd, Hawthorn
RSVP by Friday 17th August to
peter.kokosoulis@ap.sony.com
J