Sony Venice Cinema Camera 2: 8.6K internal raw, 16-stop dynamic range, hot-swappable sensor, and more: Digital photography review

A pre-installed Venice 2 cinema camera, with a 150mm Zeiss Supreme Prime lens attached. Click here to enlarge.

Sony has introduced the Venice 2, its latest flagship cinema camera capable of recording 8.6K full-frame video with up to 16 stops of dynamic range.

The new Venice 2 Cinema Camera has a similar design to its predecessor, but is slightly more compact and is available with two different sensor blocks: an 8.6K full-frame sensor (8640) x 5760 pixels) 50MP 3:2 new. or the original 24.8MP Venice 6K sensor.

A graph showing all the shooting modes of both the 8.6K and 6K sensors. Click here to enlarge.

Sony says the new 8K sensor can capture up to 16 stops of dynamic range (the 6K model topped out at 15 stops) and includes the same color science found in the original Venice cameras. Also inherited from its predecessor are dual base ISO (though now it’s 800/3200, compared to 500/2500 on the original Venice) and the ability to support a variety of resolutions and cropping ratios. , including full-frame 4K anamorphic, 4K Super35 and more.

Click here to enlarge.

If you want to change the image sensor inside the Venice 2, you can do so thanks to the interchangeable sensor block, which makes it possible to hot-swap the 6K sensor, capable of high frame rates more, with the new 8.6K. sensor using only some tools. Sony says no firmware update or reinstallation is required, meaning that as soon as the new sensor is attached, you’re ready to shoot.

Venice 2 is attached to a quad-rotor drone (not from Sony AirPeak . Drone, However)

Sony says it’s added a collection of ‘user-driven’ upgrades, including a more compact design and internal recording options for the X-OCN, Apple 4K ProRes 4444 and Apple 4K ProRes 422 HQ. Below are the maximum recording modes when shooting with the 8.6K version of Venice 2 (you can see the full list of shooting modes here). on Sony’s website):

• 8.6K | 3: 2 | 30FPS | Full frame
• 8.2 thousand | 17: 9 | 60FPS | Full frame
• 5.8 thousand | 6.5 Anamorphic | 48FPS | Super35
• 5.8 thousand | 17: 9 | 90FPS | Super35

Venice 2 uses Sony’s new feature AXS . Memory Card, can transfer data at up to 6.6Gbps — more than enough for 8K/60p recording. Sony says existing AXS memory card readers will work with the updated memory cards. Sony says Venice 2 uses the same interface as the original Venice, but includes some improvements to make it more intuitive to operate. Other features include 4K output with LUT applied, improved 3D LUT processing, LUT/ASC-CDL control over Ethernet and Wi-Fi, addition of a 2pin 12V Lemo output connector, internal microphone and more so more.

The new Venice 2 with 8.6K sensor will ship in February 2022, while the 6K version is expected to ship in March 2022. The cameras will be available with mount options. PL lenses and Sony E. a Pricing information is not available yet. offered at this time. Sony says the Venice 2 6K will work with all existing Venice Expansion System accessories, and says the Next Generation Expansion System for the 8K Venice 2 ‘is scheduled for release in early 2023. ‘

You can find out more information about the Sony Venice 2 cinema camera on Sony dedicated product page.