After teasing the industry with details of their next-generation CineAlta camera at CineGear way back in June, Sony decided to fill in the blanks and reveal all with the announce of VENICE! As predicted this is a full-frame digital motion picture camera. With launch events at Pinewood Studios and Hollywood plus a demo reel shot by top Cinematographer Claudio Miranda ASC, Sony are pulling out all the stops in a move to grab some of the market away from arch-rival ARRI. How successful it will be remains to be seen but on first impressions the specs are impressive. From the new 24x36mm sensor with 15 stops of dynamic range to the 8-stops of internal optical ND filters, 6K resolution, PL lens mount and  being aspect ratio agnostic. VENICE supports in-camera XAVC or ProRes recording onto SxS cards. Attach an AXS-R7 recorder and you can record visually lossless RAW or X-OCN onto AXS cards. VENICE Availability is looking at February 2018, with a firmware update to enable full-frame capability released a few months after that. Key features are listed below and the full spec can be found on our website https://www.visuals.co.uk/5715235-venicecameradeposit.html

Sony VENICE CINEALTA Camera Key Features:

PL Lens Mount
VENICE comes with the industry-standard PL lens mount. It is compatible with all Super35 and full-frame PL lenses, spherical and anamorphic. The lens mount includes contacts that support Cooke/i Technology. Lens information is recorded as metadata frame by frame.
Lever Lock Type E-mount*
E-mount offers unsurpassed compatibility with Sony lenses. E-mount (lever lock type) gives users the ability to change lenses by rotating the locking collar rather than the lens itself, which means that in most cases lens support rigs don't need to be removed, saves time during a production.
* Firmware update required
6K High Resolution*
The stunning full 6K resolution of the camera can be recorded directly in X-OCN (16 bit Extended tonal range Original Camera Negative) file format. Also, XAVC 4K can be captured onto SxS cards while still sampling from the full 6K resolution of the sensor.
* Firmware update required
Anamorphic Look
VENICE’s support for anamorphic lenses combined with its ability to shoot 4:3 aspect ratio at a horizontal resolution of 4K allows the capture of breathtakingly beautiful images with stunning lens flare, bokeh and emotional impact.
Next Generation Viewfinder
The DVF-EL200 was specifically created as the perfect partner for VENICE due to its exceptional performance and additional control features*. It has a 1920 x 1080-resolution OLED panel with exceptional high contrast, enabling precise, high resolution focusing and framing. Its all-new ergonomic design allows for tool-free attachment/detachment and reconfiguring within seconds. A rotary encoder provides instant access to brightness, peaking and contrast. The industry-standard LEMO connector offers exceptional durability.
* V2.0 firmware required.
High Performance, Proven Recording Formats
VENICE offers complete production flexibility. Internally, VENICE can support XAVC, ProRes or MPEG HD recording onto SxS memory card. Additionally, by using the AXS-R7 recorder, it can record 16 bit RAW or X-OCN (16-bit eXtended tonal range Original Camera Negative) onto AXS memory card.
VENICE Compact and Intuitive
VENICE has a surprisingly compact design which allows easier shooting in confined spaces or on drones. VENICE’s control buttons reflect the requirements of camera operators, carefully positioned for intuitive operation. They even illuminate for easy use on dark sets. On-set monitoring operation is further enhanced by the addition of an extra HD output alongside the standard 4K-SDI. VENICE can be powered by both 12 V and 24 V power sources that can be connected at the rear. A wide range of accessories are supported, including standard Fischer connectors. For enhanced durability in tough conditions, the viewfinder uses a LEMO connector.
We are sending a team to check out the new products from IBC so look out for a more in-depth analysis of the Sony Venice and all the hot products from Amsterdam. You can view all our IBC updates link.