Sony Embraces HDR Production with Full End-to-end Solution

Asia Pacific, 24 April 2017 – From products, to workflow and format, Sony offers users end-to-end HDR production capabilities from acquisition to display, for cinema, live production, online video and event production, meeting the industry’s growing demand for a wider color gamut and increased dynamic range that create more realistic viewing experiences with enhanced level of detail.

As previously announced the expansion of HDR production which includes the HD-HDR Live and Instant HDR workflows.

With the accelerating demand for HDR content, the gamut of Sony’s 4K/HD live cameras equipped with HDR capability – HDC-4800, HDC-4300 and HDC-P43 – are widely adopted by broadcasters and content creators worldwide. To further enhance the Live HDR production solution, a new XAVC recording mode is added to the PWS-4500 4K/HD live server to optimize encoding for HDR content via a software upgrade¹. The new mode improves HDR image quality in XAVC format with detailed complexity, bright skin tone, color reproduction and more. It allows the PWS-4500 to record and replay video with superior HDR images, whilst users continue to enjoy the fuss-free XAVC file workflow that is well-positioned in the production industry.

In addition to XAVC, Sony also offers RAW and X-OCN recording formats. RAW is recommended for premium productions and high-end cinemas since it captures the full potential of the camera’s image sensor. Further, large volumes of data can be managed and supported to retain maximum resolution.

X-OCN (eXtended Tonal Range Original Camera Negative) is an optimized video format that caters to the fine balance between picture quality and data size. Users can record X-OCN using the AXS-R7 portable memory recorder alongside the PMW-F55 and F5 motion picture cameras. The format is ideal for HDR image grading as it retains everything the sensor sees and delivers tonal gradation with 16-bit precision.

To promote wider usage of X-OCN format, Sony is working with other companies to develop X-OCN supporting products. The number of supporting companies has risen to 10 as of April 2017. They include ASSIMILATE, Inc., Autodesk, Avid Technology, Inc., Blackmagic Design, Colorfront, Filmlight Ltd., Grass Valley, nablet, Pomfort , and SGO.
Delivering unprecedented flexibility in every HDR production, Sony continues to value-add with the offering of systems, workflows and multiple recording formats to the broadcasting industry.

¹PWS-4500 version 2.3 software upgrade is planned to be available from June 2017 onwards.