The HDC-5500R, HDC-5500RV, HDC-3500R, HDC-3500RV, and HDC-3200R cameras are available now

Sony R series cameras

Sony has launched a series of five system cameras – HDC‑5500R, HDC‑5500RV, HDC‑3500R, HDC‑3500RV, and HDC‑3200R – collectively known as the R Series.

It has also launched the camera control unit HDCU-3500R and the 3D LUT option board HKCU-LUT351.

The R Series have 2/3-inch three-chip 4K CMOS image sensors with global shutter functionality and provide system expandability for high-quality 4K and HDR live production, while offering compatibility and common operability across the series. 

The models inherit features of the multi-format HDC-5000 and HDC-3000 series of system cameras, including high-quality 4K shooting, a wider dynamic range, and no rolling shutter distortion, while the HDC-5500RV and HDC-5500R also support 4K high frame rate shooting, UHB (Ultra High Bitrate) transmission, and 12G-SDI.  

The R Series cameras enable sensitivity selection based on scene conditions while reducing white clipping by maintaining a balance between sensitivity and dynamic range, made possible by an S/N ratio of -64dB that minimises the impact on image quality.

This enables more natural and three-dimensional video capture in outdoor stadiums with mixed sunlight and shadows, as well as in live music venues with challenging lighting, says Sony.

The HDC-3500R, HDC-3500RV, and HDC-3200R can connect to camera control units with the newly released option board HKCU-LUT35 installed, enabling operation with 3D LUTs for more advanced color adjustments.

The HDC-3200R supports the wide colour gamut modes S-Gamut3 and S-Gamut3.Cine, which are used in the HDC-5000 series and HDC-3500 series, allowing for more precise colour matching during multi-camera operations with different models. 

The HDC-5500R and HDC-5500RV support video trunk with two 1.5G SDI lines. The HDC-3500R and HDC-3500RV support the new transmission method HB+, enabling video trunk and prompter with one 3G SDI line or two 1.5G SDI lines. Utilising video trunk, it’s possible to transmit signals from different video equipment while using existing fiber optic cables, allowing for a more efficient system setup.  

In prompter transmission, it allows simultaneous transmission of on-air video and multi-monitor footage that enables the camera operator to check the angles of other cameras, without increasing the number of SDI cables. This reduces wiring work on set, facilitating more efficient shooting, says Sony.

Additionally, the HDC-3200R supports network trunk with a maximum of 1Gbps. By utilising the fiber optic cable between the camera and CCU, it can transmit signals such as camera trackers and IP teleprompter signals, achieving a more efficient system setup. 

The HDC-5500R, HDC-5500RV, HDC-3500R, and HDC-3500RV come standard with a slide mechanism for a large viewfinder that can accommodate the 7.4-inch OLED colour viewfinder HDVF-EL760.

This makes it possible for the viewfinder to be fixed at any desired position, enabling stabilisation by positioning the viewfinder closer to the tripod’s rotation axis. In environments where there is limited distance between the operator and the camera body, the viewfinder can slide forward to maintain a comfortable viewing distance.

Additionally, the latest intercom operation panel, previously used in the HDC-5500V and HDC-3500V, will also be applied to the HDC-5500R, HDC-5500RV, HDC-3500R, and HDC-3500RV.

Key Features of Each Model in the R Series 

Common to All Models 

  • Enhanced Imaging Functionality

HDC-5500R and HDC-5500RV 

  • Newly supports video trunk with two 1.5G SDI lines
  • Unification of the intercom operation panel and newly supports the standard slide mechanism for the viewfinder in the HDC-5500R 

HDC-3500R and HDC-3500RV 

  • Newly supports HB+ transmission, enabling video trunk with one 3G SDI line and two 1.5G SDI lines, as well as prompter transmission
  • Unification of the intercom operation panel and newly supports the standard slide mechanism for the viewfinder in the HDC-3500R 

HDC-3200R 

  • Newly supports network trunk with a maximum of 1Gbps 
  • Newly supports S-Gamut3/S-Gamut3.Cine, expanding the supported color gamut