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The Week In Cameras
Latest News About the Tools We Use by Michael Murie
Sony 4K Camera Pricing and Playback
At special events in Europe and L.A., Sony announced the pricing for their new 4K cameras, the PMW-F5 and the PMW-F55. They also showed the first sample videos shot with the cameras.
The suggested U.S. LIST pricing for the new products, planned to be available in February, are:
PMW-F5 CineAlta 4K Camera $19,400
PMW-F55 CineAlta 4K Camera $34,900
The AXR-R5 RAW Recorder, which is required to record 4K with the PMW-F5, or to capture RAW 4K with the PMW-F55 will list at $6,300
Sony has also come out with new PL mount lenses for the cameras that will be available in two packages:
SCL-PK6/F PL mount six lens package $24,600
SCL-PK3/F PL mount three lens package $13,600
Actual street prices of the cameras might be a bit lower, perhaps around ~$16,500 for the PMW-F5, and ~$30,000 for the PMW-F55, though that’s just a guess until actual prices are announced by dealers. Don’t forget too that those prices don’t include a viewfinder.
The PMW-F55 is the only camera of the two that can record 4K compressed to SxS cards, meaning you can shoot 4K without an external recorder.
Content
Several shorts have been shot with the F5 and F55 cameras. According to Sony, the current list is:
- “Mahout” by Stargate Studios, shot in Sri Lanka in 4K RAW, and XAVC 4K (2 x F55 with AXS-R5 recorders).
Mahout – Sony F55 CineAlta 4k Camera Demo from Stargate Studios on Vimeo.
- “Dig” shot in the UK, Directed by Martin Scanlan (Martin is on Twitter)
- “Images” shot in Paris
- “The Contract” XAVC in HD Shot by USC School of Cinematic Arts (F5)
- “Safety Zone” XAVC in HD Shot by USC School of Cinematic Arts (F5)
- “7x6x2” by Tribeca Film, two camera shoot with F65 and F55 in HD
Unfortunately, only one of those can currently be seen online (obviously at reduced resolution) though that will probably change over the coming days.
Playback and Monitoring
At the same events, Sony announced a 30-inch 4K Professional monitor, the PVM-X300, which will be introduced in February. With 4096 x 2160 resolution, the monitor will be available with an SxS Player (an optional extra) that will be able to play 4K content recorded to SxS cards by the PMW-F55. No list price was announced.
Consumer Delivery
Finally, the next day, Sony announced an addition to their consumer 84 inch 4K Ultra HD TV, the XBR-84X900. If you have already ordered one of these $25,000 beasts, and was wondering what you’d be able to watch on it other than upscaled Blu-ray discs, Sony is offering a LOAN of a hard-disc server, the “new 4K Ultra HD Video Player.” The press release has no details about the specs for this unlabeled player, other than that it will come with 10 full-length feature films in native 4K, including The Amazing Spiderman, Total Recall (2012), The Karate Kid (2010), Taxi Driver and The Bridge on the River Kwai. There will also be a selection of shorts.
Sony says that it will be possible to update this server with additional 4K content, but it’s not clear what that involves. Sony goes on to say that they are “committed to delivering the finest 4K Ultra HD entertainment experiences to customers.”
An important note; while these cameras – and most “4K” cameras – have a resolution of 4096 x 2160, 4K TV – also called Quad HD – has a resolution that is 4 x HD resolution: 3,840 x 2,160, which is the resolution of the XBR-84X900.
Sony Press Release: SONY’S FIRST COLLECTION OF 4K ULTRA HD CONTENT FOR THE HOME NOW AVAILABLE FOR CONSUMERS
