Sony is adding the AVID® DNxHD® codec as a future hardware upgrade option to the F5 and F55 CineAlta 4K cameras.

The DNxHD files will be stored in the easy-to-manage MXF OP-1a wrapper, and recorded on-board to Sony’s SxS PRO+ memory card format, which was specially designed to handle mission-critical production applications. Compared to competitive card formats, Sony’s SxS PRO+ cards are far less prone to file corruption due to their advanced design, robustness and sustained writing speeds of 187MB/s.

Supported operating points for the DNxHD codec are currently under discussion with AVID, and Sony continues to assess market requirements until release of the optional hardware upgrade.

“Today’s announcement is a dream come true for all professionals looking for a seamless file-based workflow between Sony’s excellent F5/F55 cameras and the Avid MediaCentral platform, says Ken Miles, Senior Director of Alliances and Partnerships at Avid.

Coupled with the announcement of Sony’s optional shoulder mount ENG and documentary dock kit slated to arrive later this year, the F5 and F55 cameras are growing increasingly popular in U.S. markets that traditionally have chosen 2/3 inch shoulder mount camcorders.  The addition of the DNxHD codec, Avid’s implementation of the SMPTE VC-3 standard, gives customers who have made investments in AVID in-house production systems an essential combination for a seamless, direct-to-edit acquisition format while retaining the beautiful “storytelling” look and color fidelity directly enabled by the cameras’ 4K Super35mm sensor and signal processing engines.

“Professionals working within an AVID environment will benefit greatly by acquiring in the DNxHD codec, AVID’s host format that can elegantly be managed both within their stand-alone editing solutions and enterprise level environments,” said Peter Crithary, Marketing Manager for CineAlta camera technology at Sony Electronics. “The addition of DNxHD into the F5 and F55 camera platform completes the picture of a true end-to-end workflow that-starts from acquisition to editing, then to contribution, onto distribution including on air transmission and archive for future repurposing.”

About Sony Electronics

Sony Electronics’ Professional Solutions of America group develops and manufactures video and audio technologies for a range of professional production applications. These include broadcast television and motion picture production, live event production, event videography, ENG/EFP, digital cinematography, digital cinema, videoconferencing, medical, visual imaging, digital signage, remote system diagnostics and monitoring, and IP surveillance and security. Sony professional technologies are used in a range of market segments including houses of worship, government, healthcare, education, and hospitality, among others.

NOTE: Avid and DNxHD are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries.