IBC 2013: Sony has moved to underline its 4K credentials by focusing on the tools needed to shoot live events in the high resolution format.

At the Amsterdam trade show Sony revealed additions to its live camera system, which is built around its PMW-F55 camera.

New additions to the workflow include the CA-4000 camera system adapter, which attaches to the F55 and connects with the BPU-4000 baseband processor.

The PWS-4400 multi port video server records both 4K and HD content.

The CA-4000, BPU-4000 and PWS-4400 will be available in December.

At the manufacturer’s press conference it showed 4K footage of a Muse concert and highlights of the Confederations Cup as a precursor to the announcement that it would work with FIFA to produce the 2014 World Cup in 4K.

Director of FIFA TV Niclas Ericson said the trials with Sony at the Confederations Cup earlier this year had given them the confidence to shoot next year’s tournament in 4K.

Vice president of Sony Professional Solutions Europe Katsunori Yamanouchi said 4K had made “remarkable” progress over the past year, but given the low number of 4K TV sets in peoples’ homes and lack of content he was keen to stress the benefits of the company’s 4K systems for HD productions.

He said: “4K production systems offer functions like HD image cut out and 4K down conversion for high frame rates for slow motion footage. And shooting 4K now future proofs content.”

Camera updates

Sony has also overhauled its NEX-FS700 device with the launch of the NEX-FS700R and NEX-FS700RH.

The cameras join the PXW-Z100 - which was unveiled earlier this month – as the latest 4K-capable devices to be unveiled by the manufacturer.

Both the FS700R and the FS700RH feature Sony’s E-mount lens system and a 4K Exmor Super35 CMOS sensor.

The version 3.0 firmware, which is pre-installed, enables 4K/2K raw recording on an external recorder.

The firmware also includes the S-Log2 gamma mode for a wider dynamic range.

The NEX-FS700RH comes with a new motorised SELP18200 zoom lens.

Both models can shoot 1920 x 1080 at 120fps.

The RH model also offers 4K/2K raw super slow motion when used together with the optional HXR-IFR5 interface unit and AXS-R5 recorder.

This allows up to 120fps 4K raw recording of four seconds and continuous 240fps 2K raw recording on the AXS-R5 recorder.

The cameras will be available from October.

Optical disc archive

Sony also made some additions to its range of Optical Disc Archive solutions.

The expanded line-up includes the new ODS-D77U and ODS-D77F drive units, which run at speeds up to a maximum over 1Gbps and expandable PetaSite library units ODS-L30M, ODS-L60E and ODS-L100E. 

Hall 12 Stand A10

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