Sony has announced the release of firmware 6.0. The update includes a lot of goodies like more HFR possibilities, extra shooting functions, and support. According to our surveys, Venice is a cinema camera that continues its breakthrough, by increasing its usage and popularity among high-end productions. Read more below.
Venice Firmware 6.0
These are the new features of firmware 6.0:
HFR capabilities
- 5.7K 16:9 max. 72fps
- 4K 6:5 max. 72fps
- 3.8K 16:9 max. 110fps
Have a look at the table below that shows the newly introduced frame rates in V6.0 (highlighted in red).
Shooting functions
- Gyro information in metadata
- Support FUJINON Premista series ZEISS eXtended Data
Monitor Out Functions
- 3D LUT adaptation to VF
- New ART (Advanced Rendering Transform) file import
- SDI 1-4 3G-SDI Level A/B switchable
New features and improvements
Shooting assist functions
- Second user frame line
- 9:16 and 1:1 preset frame line
- REC beep and alarm volume can be adjusted individually
- Maintain CamID+Reel# when loading ALL File
- Display Genlock and TC lock status on OSD
- De-squeeze on/off by USER button
- RCP Call function
Download link: https://dmpc.cimediacloud.com/r/2eqiI6fhdNpk
Password: VeNiCe_V6.0
NOTE: Sony states that: “As with the previous releases DO NOT INSTALL THIS FIRMWARE ON A V3.0 VENICE. The camera must already be at V4.0 or higher prior to installation”. We advise you to wait till 15 December, since it appears that this update is not so stable. According to Sony, the V6 firmware will be released on December 15th on the global website https://www.sony.com/venice, together with the initial TECHNICOLOR look library for Venice utilizing the ART (Advanced Rendering Transform) technology. This “look library” will be available online as a resource for cinematographers wishing to quickly access some of Technicolor’s established looks inspired by their cinematic history including film print emulation. Make sure to read our article describing further those features.
The Sony Venice gains popularity
Venice is Sony’s first full-frame cinema camera. This almost 5 years old camera was pretty much operated under the radar. However, it made a breakthrough in 2019. Venice’s advantages and superb imagery were discovered by many acclaimed DPs who have utilized it for their high-end productions. The camera’s unique capabilities to detaching and extending the sensor block were well implemented in many shooting scenarios. For instance, read our article about the cinematography of Top Gun: Maverick (Top Gun: Maverick – Six Sony VENICE Cameras Inside a Fighter-Jet Cockpit).
Moreover, Sony Venice was the most popular camera used to shoot Emmy 2020- 72nd Awards Nominees for Outstanding Cinematography films. The Venice was chosen over other super popular cameras like Panavision DXL2 and ALEXA Mini (explore the chart below).
Also, when analyzing the cameras behind the predicted nominees for the Best Cinematography category in Oscar 2021, Sony Venice seems to take the prestige 3rd place just after the ALEXA LF and Mini (explore the chart below).
Wrapping up
Sony Venice gets better and better for each update. Furthermore, the camera is being ranked higher in high-end productions. That’s one of the reasons that the Venice color science is being implemented in other Sony’s Cinema Line cameras. Will it be the rising star of cinema cameras? Let’s know your thoughts about the hypothesis.
