Sony has announced that the FR7 PTZ Camera has become Netflix certified, a first for PTZ cameras on the market. The pan-tilt-zoom camera joins over a dozen other Sony cameras, including the Sony Venice and Venice 2, FX9, and FX3.
The Sony FR7 Pan Tilt Zoom camera has the advantage of being able to swap out its E-mount lens for a variety of different focal length options and is a popular choice for live streaming of concerts and other events, which could signal that Netflix may be planning more of those kinds of specials for its streaming audience.
Image Credit – SONY
The camera, which many believe contains the inner circuitry of the FX3 placed in a PTZ chassis, can capture 4K at up to 60 frames per second, with 15 stops of dynamic range, an internet ND filter, and an expanded ISO range of 409,600.
Image Credit – SONY
The full-frame FR7 also supports recording in S-Log 2 and S-Log 3, along with S-Gamut3, and S-Gamut3.Cine color spaces.
Log 2 has been mentioned as a key spec standard to achieve Netflix certification, with the Canon R5 C recently being denied due to the speculation that the camera does not support a variant of the Log 2 codec.
With its wide variety of uncompressed raw codecs, the FR7 has become very popular for live streaming of concerts like Elton’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road concert tour, as well as similar concerts including Lady Gaga, the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, Kendrick Lamar, and the Foo Fighters.
John’s Farewell from Dodger Stadium special on Disney+ has been quite popular with fans, and it could be that Netflix is looking to encourage more live-streaming productions to use the PTZ camera.
Image Credit – Netflix
In addition to a minimum of 4K resolution capture at 60 frames per second, Netflix also tests cameras to gauge best practices for dynamic range, compression, color gamut, reliability, bit-depth, and widespread codec support, which the FR7 supports in droves.
Netflix says that maintaining an official Approved Camera list helps productions “avoid common pitfalls and workflow errors that can lead to added costs, lost time, or creative compromises.”
“One of the biggest priorities for us as a studio is to help our filmmakers do their very best work,” says Netflix camera specialist Chris Prygrocki in a video explaining the nature of the list.
“We want our filmmakers to feel enabled and encouraged to use the latest capture technologies to tell their stories.”
With a cinematic quality and its ability to be operated remotely, the FR7 can also be beneficial for capturing dangerous stunts and camera shots that would normally risk crew and equipment, while being able to move with the action.
So clearly, the PTZ camera is beneficial for more than just a live television event, and Netflix seeks to create the standard for more camera manufacturers to add that kind of capability.
[source: Netflix, via Sony Alpha Rumors]
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- Sony FR7 Cinema Line PTZ Camera (B&H)
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