Sony prototype cinema camera shown at NAB at DVinfo.net

Tim Le · April 11th, 2010, 06:31 PM

Sony Electronics' twitter feed has a picture of this small prototype cinema camera due out next year:

Sony's Shapiro unveiled a prototype digital cinematic camera ... on Twitpic

Anyone know more about it?

With Panasonic's 4/3 pro camcorder and perhaps this camera, things are really shaping up! And all this time I thought RED was going to have the Scarlet market to itself for awhile since it looks like Canon isn't going to go there. Scarlet will probably still be much higher-spec'ed than either of these cameras, but at least there might be some kind of competition.

Tim Polster · April 11th, 2010, 06:45 PM

And the battle rages on for the shallow DOF market! I did not expect Sony and Panasonic to be showing models for this type of camera at NAB.

I just hope one of these models lets me use my Canon glass. At least Sony has a pretty extensive line of lenses with their growing still presence.

But maybe a stock lens would have some features that would integrate with the camera. I am sure this will be beaten to death by the time the end of the year rolls around!

Gary Nattrass · April 11th, 2010, 07:40 PM

That's just a Z7 with a big lens on the front! Mock up tastic to counter the panasonic camera!

Evan C. King · April 11th, 2010, 08:21 PM

Nice that looks like a Zeiss Master Prime! Please make the PL mount swappable with still mounts! Ok Canon now you need to show your XL prototype. Oh and um you too JVC, I guess...

Steve Struthers · April 11th, 2010, 09:02 PM

Looks sweet. Now watch Sony start asking $25K for something like this. :(

Tim Le · April 11th, 2010, 09:34 PM

It's kind of ironic that both the Panasonic m4/3 and this Sony camera are starting to looking like this Ikegami box camera that I've always wanted them to design! They just need to put an ENG type VF and shoulder pad on it!

Tim Le · April 11th, 2010, 10:02 PM

Btw, here's a close up comparison with a Z7.

It looks like the LCD is on the side instead of on the handle, probably so that it can clear the lens and any lens controls. That appears to be a Zeiss 65mm Master Prime hanging off of it, so perhaps this is a single chip design? I think I can also spot a lever for two-position ND filters.

Floris van Eck · April 11th, 2010, 11:15 PM

It is finally happening... the big boys are going after the affordable DOF market.

Felix van Oost · April 12th, 2010, 06:54 AM

Oh my god...I just posted how much I had been waiting for a camera like the new 4/3" Panasonic over in that thread, but this is 10x better. I'm a huge Sony fan and this looks like it was just made for me. I've been planning on getting an NX5, but I might just have to wait for this once we get more information about it...

Damian Heffernan · April 12th, 2010, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Nattrass

That's just a Z7 with a big lens on the front! Mock up tastic to counter the panasonic camera!

is this tongue in cheek because it looks nothing like a Z7

Ethan Cooper · April 12th, 2010, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Oh my god...I just posted how much I had been waiting for a camera like the new 4/3" Panasonic over in that thread, but this is 10x better.

How can you say it's 10x better when we've got no specs (that I've seen) and just a picture?

Someone else a couple posts back called it 'affordable' but again, we've seen no prices anywhere.

I'm glad the major players are dipping their toes into this long awaited segment but lets not rush to judgment when all we've got is a picture.

Sean Seah · April 12th, 2010, 08:03 AM

Looks like the big boys are battling it out. Will Canon have a chance to do a 4/3" finally?

Brian Rhodes · April 12th, 2010, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Le

Btw, here's a close up comparison with a Z7.

It looks like the LCD is on the side instead of on the handle, probably so that it can clear the lens and any lens controls. That appears to be a Zeiss 65mm Master Prime hanging off of it, so perhaps this is a single chip design? I think I can also spot a lever for two-position ND filters.

I am on my way to NAB I wil try to get some close up pics...

Jenn Kramer · April 12th, 2010, 02:27 PM

FYI, the guys I talked to at the NAB booth had no idea what I was talking about when I asked about the camera. I don't believe it's being shown on the show floor and was only shown to press at the press briefing yesterday. (I didn't have an invite, so we don't have any photos.) Several of the folks from Sony Japan got their first look at it when I showed them the picture that was posted on Twitter. I wouldn't expect anything in the way of concrete details for months.

Tim Le · April 12th, 2010, 10:08 PM

Here's a short video, courtesy of 'camera department' on Vimeo, of the press conference where the camera was shown.

Apparently the camera is part of Sony's "35mm roadmap." It's a "smaller, more affordable...entry level 35mm camcorder that will be released prior to NAB 2011." So sounds like a single sensor S35mm camcorder.

The interesting thing to me is how long it really takes to develop and mass produce something like this. The hardware/mechanical design looks pretty far along, maybe even done already, but they still need almost a year to (probably) do testing and make final adjustments before manufacturing and shipping the product. It's like Jean-Pierre Beauviala says in this YouTube interview on the Aaton Penelope digital mag. The camera is basically done, but they need a lot of time to make adjustments (and presumably make sure the product is bug free).

YouTube - The next 4K digital mag for Aäton Penelope described by JP Beauviala ! [with english subs]

April 11th, 2010, 06:31 PM	#1
Tim Le Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 350	Sony prototype cinema camera shown at NAB Sony Electronics' twitter feed has a picture of this small prototype cinema camera due out next year: Sony's Shapiro unveiled a prototype digital cinematic camera ... on Twitpic Anyone know more about it? With Panasonic's 4/3 pro camcorder and perhaps this camera, things are really shaping up! And all this time I thought RED was going to have the Scarlet market to itself for awhile since it looks like Canon isn't going to go there. Scarlet will probably still be much higher-spec'ed than either of these cameras, but at least there might be some kind of competition. Attached Thumbnails

April 11th, 2010, 07:40 PM	#3
Gary Nattrass Trustee Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cornsay Durham UK Posts: 1,992	That's just a Z7 with a big lens on the front! Mock up tastic to counter the panasonic camera! __________________ Over 15 minutes in Broadcast Film and TV production: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1044352/

April 11th, 2010, 09:34 PM	#6
Tim Le Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 350	It's kind of ironic that both the Panasonic m4/3 and this Sony camera are starting to looking like this Ikegami box camera that I've always wanted them to design! They just need to put an ENG type VF and shoulder pad on it! Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Tim Le; April 12th, 2010 at 12:35 AM.

April 11th, 2010, 10:02 PM	#7
Tim Le Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 350	Btw, here's a close up comparison with a Z7. It looks like the LCD is on the side instead of on the handle, probably so that it can clear the lens and any lens controls. That appears to be a Zeiss 65mm Master Prime hanging off of it, so perhaps this is a single chip design? I think I can also spot a lever for two-position ND filters. Attached Thumbnails

April 12th, 2010, 08:03 AM	#12
Sean Seah Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,498	Looks like the big boys are battling it out. Will Canon have a chance to do a 4/3" finally? __________________ Firewerkz Films SGP

April 11th, 2010, 06:45 PM	#2
Tim Polster Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 2,231	And the battle rages on for the shallow DOF market! I did not expect Sony and Panasonic to be showing models for this type of camera at NAB. I just hope one of these models lets me use my Canon glass. At least Sony has a pretty extensive line of lenses with their growing still presence. But maybe a stock lens would have some features that would integrate with the camera. I am sure this will be beaten to death by the time the end of the year rolls around!

April 11th, 2010, 08:21 PM	#4
Evan C. King Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 532	Nice that looks like a Zeiss Master Prime! Please make the PL mount swappable with still mounts! Ok Canon now you need to show your XL prototype. Oh and um you too JVC, I guess...

April 11th, 2010, 09:02 PM	#5
Steve Struthers Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 170	Looks sweet. Now watch Sony start asking $25K for something like this. :(

April 11th, 2010, 11:15 PM	#8
Floris van Eck Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 993	It is finally happening... the big boys are going after the affordable DOF market.

April 12th, 2010, 06:54 AM	#9
Felix van Oost Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Singapore Posts: 72	Oh my god...I just posted how much I had been waiting for a camera like the new 4/3" Panasonic over in that thread, but this is 10x better. I'm a huge Sony fan and this looks like it was just made for me. I've been planning on getting an NX5, but I might just have to wait for this once we get more information about it...

April 12th, 2010, 02:27 PM	#14
Jenn Kramer Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 389 Images: 1	FYI, the guys I talked to at the NAB booth had no idea what I was talking about when I asked about the camera. I don't believe it's being shown on the show floor and was only shown to press at the press briefing yesterday. (I didn't have an invite, so we don't have any photos.) Several of the folks from Sony Japan got their first look at it when I showed them the picture that was posted on Twitter. I wouldn't expect anything in the way of concrete details for months.

April 12th, 2010, 10:08 PM	#15
Tim Le Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 350	Here's a short video, courtesy of 'camera department' on Vimeo, of the press conference where the camera was shown. Sony - New Small Prototype Digital Cinema Camera - NAB 2010 - Playback on Vimeo Apparently the camera is part of Sony's "35mm roadmap." It's a "smaller, more affordable...entry level 35mm camcorder that will be released prior to NAB 2011." So sounds like a single sensor S35mm camcorder. The interesting thing to me is how long it really takes to develop and mass produce something like this. The hardware/mechanical design looks pretty far along, maybe even done already, but they still need almost a year to (probably) do testing and make final adjustments before manufacturing and shipping the product. It's like Jean-Pierre Beauviala says in this YouTube interview on the Aaton Penelope digital mag. The camera is basically done, but they need a lot of time to make adjustments (and presumably make sure the product is bug free). YouTube - The next 4K digital mag for Aäton Penelope described by JP Beauviala ! [with english subs]