FS5 workflow
Grab and shoot with handheld Super 35
The right tools for every job
The PXW-FS5 is all about choices. Record internally in 4K or HD. Bend time with High Frame Rate shooting. Choose the latest space-saving XAVC Long GOP or the widely used HD standard AVCHD.
Internal 4K recording
Does a 4K camera make sense in an HD world? Perfect sense. Even if you’re not planning on 4K production, the 8.8 megapixels of Sony’s 4K image sensor enables you to shoot super-sampled HD, with detail and image texture that HD sensors cannot see. And if you want to record in 4K, the FS5 supports internal recording at frame rates of 23.98, 25 and 29.97fps. The camera is able to record QFHD (3840 x 2160) at 60 or 100 Mbps.
Colour, contrast and the XAVC codec
Today’s productions want more. More resolution with 4K. More frames per second with High Frame Rate recording. Better grayscale with 10-bit precision. Better colour rendition with 4:2:2. And today’s productions want to record it all at money-saving data rates. That’s why Sony created the extraordinarily capable XAVC codec. The XAVC Long GOP version captures Full HD in 10-bit, 4:2:2, at an economical 50 Mbps, 35 Mbps or even 25 Mbps (depending on your frame rate). You can shoot 4K in 4:2:0 at 100Mbps or 60Mbps.
The ultimate camera capture system records every nuance of light and shadow from the image sensor, preserving every detail from every pixel for full exploitation in post-production. That’s the concept behind Sony RAW recording. And for maximum flexibility and quality, the PXW-FS5 supports RAW recording on outboard recorders, sold separately.
To enable RAW recording, first attach the HXR-IFR5 interface unit, sold separately. Then connect the lightweight AXS-R5 recorder*. Approximately 4 seconds of cached 4K RAW can be output. It is also possible to output continuous 2K RAW at 23.98, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94, 100, 120, 200 or 240 fps.
Sony’s 4K RAW recording system connects via the HXR-IFR5 interface to the AXS-R5 recorder and BP-FL75 battery. All these components are sold separately.
* Requires Version 2.0 firmware or above, plus paid-for CBKZ-FS5RIF upgrade kit.
Conventional HD recording requires the image sensor signal to go through a demosaicing process, gamma encoding and a colour matrix — ‘baking in’ many decisions that may be better left for post. RAW recording bypasses these processes, preserving more of the original camera signal for maximum image quality and maximum flexibility in post.
Unique to this process, there is no line skipping or sensor windowing. So there’s no crop factor, no loss in angle of view. With Sony, 2K RAW is not just a technical specification. It’s a business model. Sony 2K RAW gives you everything you love about Super 35 cinematography with no telephoto conversion on your lenses. 2K RAW is a smart choice for HD productions and it consumes just one quarter the data of 4K RAW.
AXS-R5 recordings capture linear light as 16-bit RAW with a 12-bit payload, resulting in 12 bits of precision. This delivers 64 times as many colours as 10-bit recording. The resulting files are compatible with the workflow tools used for F65, F55, F5, FS700 and FS7 RAW. Sony’s RAW is also a powerful complement to the Academy Color Encoding System (ACES) workflow.
High Frame Rates
The RAW recording mode takes advantage of the camera’s extraordinary High Frame Rate capabilities — up to 240 fps in 2K RAW. Note that the camera cannot capture audio at frame rates higher than 59.94 fps.
4K 12-bit RAW: 23.98, 25, 29.97, 50 and 59.94 fps.
2K 12-bit RAW: 23.98, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94, 100, 120, 200 and 240 fps.
Simultaneous RAW and Onboard recording
You don’t have to spend hours patching together a science project; Sony provides a coordinated ‘off-line, on-line’ workflow with simultaneous XAVC HD recording on SxS memory cards in the camcorder’s internal dual media slots and approximately 4 seconds of cached 4K RAW or continuous 2K RAW on the AXS-R5 RAW recorder. For seamless conforming in post, you get matching time code, start frame, stop frame, file names and other metadata.
S-Log3 and maximum grayscale
As the exposure latitude of modern cameras climbs, conventional HD recording systems are hard-pressed to keep pace. That’s why Sony developed S-Log, S-Log2 and now S-Log3. Sony’s most refined logarithmic gamma mode yet, S-Log3 enables faster, easier colour correction with more levels devoted to shadows and mid-tones for spectacular grayscale rendition. You’ll spend less time ‘getting into the ballpark’, leaving more time for creativity. Of course, for the S-log2 lover, Sony supports S-log2 gamma for PXW-FS5.
Two SD card slots
Dual SD Card slots enable simultaneous and relay recording. During relay recording, when one memory card becomes full, recording continues automatically to the other card. In simultaneous recording, you can record the same footage on both cards at the same time. Or you can use one card for selected shots while the other records continuously as backup.
SD Cards are widely available and highly cost-effective. SDXC media is required for XAVC-L recording. Sony recommends use of high quality media from reputable suppliers to ensure highest performance.
S-Gamut3 and S-Gamut3.cine
The camera features the ample colour space of S-Gamut3 and S-Gamut3.cine. The first reproduces the maximum available colour space, and is well suited to archiving. The second matches well with the Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) P3 colour space.
Available as a free Mac OS or Windows® download from Sony Creative Software, Catalyst Browse is a powerful clip management tool which will eventually replace the Sony Content Browser application. While Catalyst Browse offers many new features, not all functions of Content Browser have been duplicated.
Media production is growing more complicated. Turnaround times are getting tighter. You need a tool that eases the workload on your editor, ensuring that projects meet their deadlines. With Catalyst Prepare, a powerful, affordable tool from Sony Creative Software, you can quickly identify the right footage to deliver, in the correct format, with your desired folder and clip-naming structure, even when using a variety of popular cameras. Jumpstart the editing and review process by creating a rough cut storyboard with a quick initial colour grade, then render it out directly or export an EDL for use in popular NLEs.
In video, focus is critical. Catalyst Edit focuses on 4K and Sony RAW video editing so you can focus on your creativity. Deliver your most stunning video productions in all the glory you captured through your camera lens.
