Sony Launches Digital F35

Sony Europe has revealed the design of its newest member of the professional CineAlta range, the F35 digital cinematography camera, which will launch globally towards the end of 2008.
Adding to the success of the CineAlta line-up, cinematographers now have a greater choice of either using the F23’s 2/3” sensor, which is ideal for a longer depth-of-field or low light conditions, or the F35’s Super 35mm sensor, which can capture full resolution 1920 x 1080 RGB 4:4:4 material using a large number of PL mount 35mm film lenses and accessories. Depending on which lenses users own and the desired image, the F35 has been designed to compliment the benefits of the F23 as its images offer an extraordinary dynamic range between the highlights and shadows.
The new F35 shares the same body as the F23 but features a single Super 35mm size CCD sensor with PL-mount lens. The Super 35mm size CCD uses an RGB stripe approach, as opposed to the interpolated bayer pattern CMOS sensor used on some other cameras. The RGB stripe allows full resolution 1920 x 1080 RGB output, with no sub-sampling at all, while the CCD sensor ensures a huge dynamic range with full detail in the black regions. Like the F23, the F35 is also designed to record on to an HDCAM SR recorder, which can be docked directly on to the back or top of the camera, or connected remotely via cable.
A number of prototype versions of the camera have been released in Japan with the aim of consulting widely with the industry to gather feedback on its functionality.
“Just as we did with the F23 before launch, we intend to show cinematographers the F35 as soon as possible. User feedback is essential to our vision of building and delivering cameras with the best functionality and features within the cinematography field as we know from experience of this market that compromise on functionality is not allowed,” added Sony’s Richard Lewis.
The entire CineAlta range now represents a spectrum of solutions to meet every acquisition, production and, now, professional display need. The CineAlta brand further establishes Sony as a leader both in digital cinema production and projection.
For further information: www.sony-europe.com
(DS)