Upcoming Camera Firmware Upgrade Enables XAVC 4K Class 480 Recording

Owners of Sony's F55 camera will get a serious hardware upgrade option this summer, when a new Sony AXS-R7 dual-slot AXS recorder will enable 4K raw recording at up to 120fps. The AXS-R7 also works with the F5 — but only the F55 will get the frame-rate boost to 120p. The F5 and F55 will both be able to record 2K raw to the new recorder at up to 240fps.

Recording 4K raw at 120fps will require special high-performance (sustained 4.8 Gb/second read and write) AXS memory cards, which are being introduced in both 512 GB and 1 TB capacities. But the R7 will also accept current A-series AXS media.

With both the F5 and F55 cameras, the AXS-R7 will enable up to 30 seconds of 4K raw cache recording, depending on selected frame rates. At 25p or 29.97p, the cache holds up to 24 seconds of footage, and at 50p or 59.94p it holds up to 10 seconds. The unit is described as dust- and splash-proof, with a metal filter sealing the electronics safely away from the ventilation shaft.

Sony didn't announce pricing for the R7, but it seems likely to come in a bit more expensive than the existing AXS-R5 4K raw recorder, which can currently be had for $5350.

The AXS-R7 and new AXS memory cards are scheduled to ship this summer, along with a new firmware update for the F55 as well as F5 cameras with the 4K upgrade option. The v8 firmware enables support for XAVC 4K Class 480 recording at 23.98p, 24p, 25p and 29.97p. This bandwidth-hungry mastering format is about eking out a bit more picture fidelity for high-end acquisition, especially when HDR comes into play — Class 480 consumes about 480 Mbps at 29.97p, a 60% increase over standard Class 300 XAVC 4K recording.

Sony is positioning the new recorder as one of the last pieces in the 4K puzzle, enabling users to transition smoothly from HD and 2K raw workflow. "We're answering the question, 'why shoot in 4K 16-bit raw?'" said Peter Crithary, Sony Electronics marketing manager for large-sensor technologies. "These new products make working in 4K raw and high dynamic range just as easy as HD raw while maintaining the highest level of image quality."

Further details were scant in Sony's announcement, but more info is promised at NAB.