Sony Unveils New High-Definition Viewfinder For Professional Camera Systems

Sony's newest high-definition viewfinder provides production professionals with a versatile eye-piece that delivers higher levels of colour accuracy and reproduction than previous models.
The new viewfinder, model HDVF-C30WR, is designed for use with many of Sony's professional HD cameras and camcorders. These include Sony's CineAlta F23 and F35 digital cinematography cameras, XDCAM HD422 optical camcorders and HDCAM camcorders, the HDC-1500/1000/1550/1400/1450 series of multi-format studio and field cameras and the HDC-3300 Super Slow Motion camera.
Olivier Bovis, General Manager - Content Creation Group, Sony Professional, said: "High-definition acquisition requires extremely precise focusing, allowing the operator to accurately see contrast and colour levels when framing a shot. This new viewfinder was created to be extremely flexible for use with many of the camera systems across our entire product line."
According to Bovis, the viewfinder is ideal for production professionals working in a range of applications, including television, motion picture production houses and rental houses.
The new viewfinder has a 2.7-inch LCD screen (viewable area, measured diagnonally), a pixel resolution of 960 by 540 and a new image processor - the same one used in Sony's BVM-L230 LCD Master Monitor. It provides comfortable and accurate framing and focusing operations by enabling more faithful colour reproduction, with newly added and enhanced focus-assist functions.
A flexible mechanical design minimises interference between the lens and the viewfinder, especially when attached to the F23 and F35 cameras. Improved focus assist features include 2x (dot by dot) magnification to smooth out diagonal edges and a colour peaking function.
Luminance levels are easily indicated by colour. Improved luminance transition (panel gamma compensation) and 3D LUT colour space compensation help to provide more natural-looking luminance and colour accuracy.
The viewfinder includes an image inversion function (top/bottom and right/left) and selectable colour temperatures are 6500K (standard), 5600K and 9300K. A new mechanism protects the LCD panel in direct sunlight, and a polarising filter and IR cut filter attentuate the energy of sunlight.
The HDVF-C30WR viewfinder is expected to be available in April.
Further information is available at: www.sonybiz.net.
(KMcA/BMcC)