Sony is announcing at NAB 2016 five key additions to its industry-leading line up of 4K High Dynamic Range (HDR) production equipment for content and live production. These new products join solutions already being used within 4K HDR workflows at high profile live music, theater and sports events, blockbuster movies and landmark TV shows around the world.
The expanded line includes a new system 4K 8x High Speed camera, the HDC-4800, three new switchers, the XVS-6000, XVS-7000, XVS-8000, and a new client monitor, the PVM-X550. Further enhancements have also been made to the feature set of the HDC-4300 camera system, introduced at NAB last year as the world’s first camera to use three 2/3-inch 4K image sensors, which is also HDR-capable and fully compatible with a wide range of existing products and production workflows. Sony will demonstrate these new 4K HDR solutions as part of its exhibit setup at NAB 2016.
Sony has been at the forefront of 4K and HDR technology for many years: HDR-capable Sony F55 and F65 cameras are being used to capture images with 16-bit RAW data capture, 14 stops of latitude range and superior color performance. Over the last year, Sony has introduced the BVM-X300 TRIMASTER EL ™OLED master monitor. Sony is also leading the adoption of 4K and HDR content in the field of consumer technology, bringing stunning viewing experiences into homes with the release of its BRAVIA consumer range, including the XBR-X930D, X940D and X850D series announced at CES 2016.
Sony’s involvement in a number of key HDR productions, both live and cinematic, has already captured the imagination of the broadcast industry. Successful high profile 4K HDR trials using HDC-4300 and PMW-F55 cameras have taken place at a number of live events, numerous domestic and international soccer games. CineAlta F65 and F55 cameras have been used in cinematic productions shot in 4K HDR, including Netflix’s Original Series Marco Polo and the Amazon Original Series Mozart in the Jungle.
This past January the 2016 Sony Open in Hawaii, a PGA Tour event, was shot and broadcast in HD on the Golf Channel, using Sony’s HDR solutions. Sony’s HDC-4300 was used to capture all the action on the 17th hole in 4K resolution, while simultaneously recording 4K HDR images to separate servers as part of Sony’s ongoing research in HDR production. Sony’s F55 cameras were also used to shoot on-course segments for the 4K HDR production, then converted to HD for the main broadcast.
Sony evolves 4K HDR production workflows
Sony has today strengthened its 4K HDR solutions with the addition of following new products:
HDC-4800: a 4K 8x High Speed System Camera for live production.
BPU-4500, BPU-4000: base-band processor unit for HDC-4300. LIVE-HDR mode is planned to be available from summer, 2016.
PVM-X550: a 55-inch 4K OLED TRIMASTER EL client monitor ideal for verifying 4K footage during production.
XVS-6000, XVS-7000 and XVS-8000: multi-format switchers that support HDR signals.
This expanded line-up provides wide color space of BT.2020 and supports HDR covering applications for both cinematography and live broadcast.
The PVM-X550, also announced today at NAB, is one of the world’s first quad-view OLED monitors, which allows for customized individual display settings across four distinct views in HD.
Sony’s HDC-4800 is planned to be available in August 2016. The PVM-X550 is planned to be available in summer 2016 and the XVS-6000 and XVS-7000 are expected in Fall 2016. The XVS-8000 is planned to be available in May, 2016.
Review: Writer-Directors Scott Beck and Bryan Wood’s “Heretic”
"Heretic" opens with an unusual table setter: Two young missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are discussing condoms and why some are labeled as large even though they're all pretty much a standard size. "What else do we believe because of marketing?" one asks the other.
That line will echo through the movie, a stimulating discussion of religion that emerges from a horror movie wrapper. Despite a second-half slide and feeling unbalanced, this is the rare movie that combines lots of squirting blood and elevated discussion of the ancient Egyptian god Horus.
Our two church members — played fiercely by Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East — are wandering around trying to covert souls when they knock on the door of a sweet-looking cottage. Its owner, Mr. Reed, offers a hearty "Good afternoon!" He welcomes them in, brings them drinks and promises a blueberry pie. He's also interested in learning more about the church. So far, so good.
Mr. Reed is, of course, if you've seen the poster, the baddie and he's played by Hugh Grant, who doesn't go the snarling, dead-eyed Hannibal Lecter route in "Heretic." Grant is the slightly bumbling, bashful and self-mocking character we fell in love with in "Four Weddings and a Funeral," but with a smear of menace. He gradually reveals that he actually knows quite a bit about the Mormon religion — and all religions.
"It's good to be religious," he says jauntily and promises his wife will join them soon, a requirement for the church. Homey touches in his home include a framed "Bless This Mess" needlepoint on a wall, but there are also oddities, like his lights are on a timer and there's metal in the walls and ceilings.
Writer-directors Scott Beck and Bryan Wood — who also... Read More