Sony unveils its new large format camera for broadcast

The new HDC-5500 is a 2/3″ 3 CMOS camera with 4K HDR capture capabilities and high frame rates up to 2X in UHD and 8x in Full HD.

During his press conference in NAB 2019, Sony has unveiled what will be its new large format camera, the HDC-5500. As the largest product in the HDC line, the new camera, whose market launch date is not yet known, is designed for broadcast applications in studio and live production, especially for sports, and brings a range of features and capabilities to the high level of demand in the field.

It is a camera 3 2/3″ CMOS with capture capabilities 4K HDR and high frame rate up to 2X a UHD and 8x a Full HD. It is made with a lightweight and robust magnesium alloy body, works with 4K native fiber streaming outputs and is capable of working with HDR and SDR signals simultaneously.

Another advantage of the new product is its Compatibility with all HDC-2000 series, simplifying integration with already deployed live production infrastructures. This applies to both other cameras and the CCUs that can be integrated with it.

New 4K PTZ

Also new is the 4K PTZ camera, BRC-X400. Ideal for cost-effective content creation, this compact and powerful camera is suitable for a range of broadcast applications ranging from studio programming to reality television, as well as recording in large venues, including houses of worship and event halls.

With extensive operating potential and numerous creative possibilities, the BRC-X400 is IP-compatible and, through an optional license, equipped with a NDI HX capability, a technology that is included for the first time in Sony's range of PTZ cameras. The NDI HX option enables unprecedented flexibility for IP-based live production systems when combined with other NDI-compatible hardware or software, from anywhere on a network. Setting up an efficient, connected live production rig is made even easier with a single IP cable, including power, image output and camera controls. Additionally, Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) and Real Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) are also supported.

The BRC-X400 effortlessly delivers great image quality, natural color reproduction and 4K30p recording with minimal noise thanks to its new Exmor R CMOS image sensor high sensitivity. The camera's built-in high-resolution 4K lens accommodates wide-angle shots up to 70 degrees and is equipped with a powerful up to 30x zoom in 4K thanks to Sony's exclusive Clear Image zoom function. Another improvement offered to users is up to 80x zoom in Full HD (FHD) with the telephoto converter mode. In addition, the horizontal resolution of 1,700 TV lines (in the center) in 4K and 1,000 or more TV lines in FHD (in the center) allows images to be captured with a high level of detail.