Sony’s F65 CineAlta digital motion picture camera honored with Scientific and Engineering Academy Award

Asia Pacific, 15 February 2017 – Sony’s F65 CineAlta digital motion picture camera and the Genesis®, co-developed by Sony and Panavision®, were honored with the Scientific and Engineering Award, presented by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on 11 February 2017 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles.

Combining ‘Cinema’ (movie) and ‘Alta (the best, in Italian), CineAlta is a brand name for Sony’s digital motion picture cameras and represents Sony’s commitment to elevate image quality in digital cinema production.

The F65, equipped with a 20 megapixel¹, 8K single CMOS image sensor, is the flagship of Sony’s large sensor acquisition technology that achieves the industry’s highest resolution² as a super 35mm camera. Combined with peripherals including recorders, the F65 is capable of recording high picture quality image data in selectable RAW modes by reducing the file size. Since its introduction in 2011, the camera has shot everything in HD, 4K and beyond, from motion pictures, episodic TV and documentaries to live entertainment and sports, commercials and visitor attractions.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognized the F65 for “its pioneering high-resolution imaging sensor, excellent dynamic range, and full 4K output” as well as Sony’s “unique photosite orientation and true RAW recording that delivers exceptional image quality.”

The Genesis, co-developed by Sony and Panavision, is equipped with a super 35mm film-size single CCD of 12.4 megapixels arranged in a 1950 by 1080 array, making it the first commercial available sensor with a direct attachment to a spherical 35mm film lens when introduced to the market in 2005. Recognized by the Academy with a Scientific and Engineering Award as a pioneering digital motion picture camera “using a familiar form factor and accessories, the design features of the Genesis allowed it to become one of the first digital cameras to be adopted by cinematographers.”
“We are honored to receive this award knowing that Sony’s strength in high-quality imaging technology and solution offerings contributed to and is recognized by the cinema industry. The Genesis, co-developed with Panavision opened up the era of digital motion picture cameras. The F65, uniquely developed by Sony, initiated 4K digital workflow from shooting to viewing and strongly promoted 4K content creation in digital,” said Toshihiko Ohnishi, Business Executive, Sony Corporation.

“The Genesis achieved very high technological achievement at that time, such as full HD resolution, full RGB large single CCD capable to shoot maximum 50 fps, wide color space and high dynamic range, as well as recording at variable speed by Sony’s SRW-1, VTR. The F65 not only realized further high sensitivity and high dynamic range by 8K CMOS sensor, but also achieved an easy-to-use workflow such as recording large capacity RAW image in a memory with variable speeds and ingesting it to a computer. Both cameras have long been used by professionals. I’m very pleased that our challenges and efforts for many years have been highly appreciated,” said Fumihiko Sudo, Senior General Manager, Product Design Division 2, Professional Products Group, Sony Corporation.
Since the start of HD development in the 1980s, Sony has taken on technological challenges and provides innovative offerings to the film industry, while pursuing both high quality imaging and efficient production workflows for its digital motion picture cameras under the brand “CineAlta” since 2000. Continuing to go beyond fulfilling the evolving needs of the film industry, Sony remains committed to elevating image quality and maximizing the visual experience with technology.

¹ 8K horizontal pixels, effective 19 megapixels count
² At the time of press announcement on September 1, 2011