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Live broadcasts are becoming more popular today, and most modern cameras support this mode to one degree or another. Sony decided to take this promising segment seriously and introduced a new full-frame PTZ camera system of the Cinema Line family – Sony FR7 with remote control.
The Sony PTZ camera has built-in ND filters, S-Log3 support, fast proprietary hybrid autofocus, and state-of-the-art video capture capabilities – up to 4K at 120 fps, which may even look a little redundant for broadcasts to the network. Moreover, the camera can send RAW to an external device and can be controlled through a special control panel or a browser via the Internet.
PTZ cameras have recently been gaining popularity, PTZ stands for Pan-Tilt-Zoom, which characterizes their remote control, including for multi-camera video production. Of course, the organization of live broadcasts to the network is only a tiny part of the functions of these cameras; they are actively used in video production at various events.
Similar solutions are already offered by several companies, for example, Canon CR-X300 (approx. $12,000 on BHphotovideo) or Hollyland Arocam C2 (approx. $699 on BHphotovideo), but the Sony FR7 full-frame PTZ camera impresses us with its characteristics.
The FR7 camera combines the ideology of Sony Cinema Line camcorders, such as a full-frame matrix and Sony E mount, as well as the ability to control the camera remotely, that is, PTZ. We can say that the FR7 is a Sony FX6 (approx. $6,000 on BHphotovideo) camera with a smaller body and remote control capabilities. It houses a full-frame 4K back-illuminated CMOS sensor with dual base ISO 800 and 12800, which can be zoomed up to 409600. In HFR mode, the resolution can reach 4K at 120 fps. Sony claims a dynamic range of 15+ stops.
There are HLG live and HLG Natural Gamma curves for HDR output, as well as S-Log3 and S-Cinetone gamma curves. Sony’s fast hybrid autofocus with face/eye detection works.
The FR7 has a built-in neutral density ND filter that can be controlled remotely from 1/4 to 1/128 density. A recording is carried out on CFexpress Type A and SD memory cards, there is a 16-bit RAW video output for external recording via a 12G-SDI port.
However, a full-fledged PTZ camera would not work without a Power Zoom lens. Sony offers three full-frame Power Zoom lenses:
- Sony FE PZ 28-135mm f4G OSS
- Sony FE PZ 16-35mm f4G
- Sony FE C 16-35mm T3.1
The FR7 can also work with manual zoom lenses, however, of course, without the possibility of remote zoom control. Sony claims the highest PT zoom lens is the 70-200mm f/2.8 GM2 with a 2x expander. Some FE prime lenses up to 135mm f/1.8 are also supported.
FR7 offers interfaces for every taste – 12G-SDI, HDMI, fiber, NDI Hx, Genlock, Tally, PoE++, there is a 5-pin XLR-based audio input, timecode, and GPI input.
Sony FR7 price and release date
The Sony FR7 full frame PTZ camera system is now available to pre-order on the Bhphotovideo.com store for $9,699, or you can also book the camera with a 28-135mm zoom lens kit for $12,199.
