After showing it in prototype form at a number of industry events over the past year (including a showing at sales/rental house Band Pro Film & Digital in Burbank last week), Sony says its new digital cinematography camera, the F23, is ready for prime time and will be available in the spring of 2007. The system’s control surface layout, indicators and menu system are designed to mimic film cameras.

The 4:4:4 1920 x 1080 RGB imaging system consists of an enhanced version of Sony’s existing HDC-F950 HD camera, the newest member of the company’s CineAlta family. It uses three 2.2 megabit 2/3-inch progressive CCD imagers and a 14-bit A/D converter to support a variety of acquisition formats, including 1080/23.98P, 24P, 25P, 29.97P, 50P, 59.94P, 50i and 59.94i.

The Sony SRW-1 HDCAM SR 4:4:4 videotape recorder will dock directly to the top or to the back of the camera, eliminating the need to be tethered to an external VTR. It can also be used with a dual-link cable if necessary.

The camera body is compatible with a variety of film camera accessories, including bridge plates, matte boxes and follow focus units, which can be easily added. The F23 system also features a harder material for its B4 type lens mount to stand up to the rigors of numerous lens changes.

When used with Sony’s SRW-1 VTR, the new camera system can capture and record variable speed images from 1P to 60P (1P to 30 FPS at 4:4:4 and 1P to 60 FPS at 4:2:2) at the full 1920×1080 HD resolution. The SRW VTR can play these undercranked or overcranked images back.

Also included is an “Assistant Panel” remote controller for the camera and VTR, which connects to the camera with a single cable and allows users to remotely record/stop and change frame rates and shutter angle; and a CVP File Editor, a Windows-based gamma creation software package.

Pricing for the camera is still to be determined, Sony said. It will initially be available for sale or rent exclusively from Band Pro.

For more information, visit: http://news.sel.sony.com/.