Sony Japan has revealed the prices of the recently announced cinema camera flagship, the VENICE 2. The highest price is located in the range of the ARRI ALEXA Mini LF. However, for now, the RED V-Raptor might be defined as the best value in the cinema camera landscape. Will Sony eventually reduce the price of the first VENICE?
Sony VENICE 2
The VENICE 2 is Sony’s newest cinema camera flagship that was announced yesterday. The camera is armed with a newly developed 8.6K image sensor, that produces 16 stops of dynamic range. Go here to read our full coverage (Sony VENICE 2 Announced: A New 8.6K Full-Frame Cinema Flagship). Basically, there are two versions of the cameras: 8K and 6K. The VENICE 2 camera with an 8.6K image sensor is scheduled to start shipping in February 2022 and VENICE 2 camera with a pre-installed 6K image sensor in March 2022. In addition, the VENICE 2 6K can be used with the existing VENICE Extension System, and a next-generation Extension System for VENICE 2 8K is planned to be released by early 2023.
Below you can watch the first reel shot on the new CineAlta VENICE 2
Prices
The prices were disclosed in the Japanese press release. Explore them below:
- VENICE 2 8K (main unit only): Tax not included: around 6,200,000 yen ($54,270 USD). Tax included: around 6,800,000 yen ($59,500 USD).
- VENICE 2 6K (main unit only): Tax not included: around 5,600,000 yen ($49,000 USD). Tax included: around 6,200,000 yen ($54,270 USD).
- AXS-A1TS66 1TB:Tax not included: around 480,000 yen ($4,200 USD). Tax included: around 528,000 yen ($4,600USD).
Furthermore, Sony confirmed that the price of the VENICE (1) will not be reduced.
Discussion: 8K competition in the high-end segment (Price-wise)
For now, the only high-end cinema cameras that offer 8K resolution (and also full-frame) are the Sony VENICE 2, RED Digital Cinema cameras (MONSTRO 8K VV, DRAGON 8K VV, V-Raptor), and Panavision DXL2. Of course, there’re more extraordinary 8K cameras, but allow us to focus on those that are used in high-end productions. Our reference is the ‘Netflix Approved’ list. Although the VENICE 2 and V-Raptor are not on that list, they will get approved sooner or later. Sony has located the VENICE 2 on the ARRI ALEXA Mini LF price range. However, RED gives a solid fight with its new V-Raptor that costs half of the VENICE 2. In spite of that, rental houses believe in the new beast. For instance, Dynamic Rentals, which is a rental house for rental houses, has ordered 50 units of the VENICE 8K, anticipating the high demand for this camera. Nevertheless, price-wise, RED wins, as the V-Raptor might be defined as the best value in the cinema camera landscape. And that assumption can lead to a price reduction of the VENICE 1.
Product List
Here’re the products mentioned in the article, and the links to purchase them from authorized dealers.
- Sony VENICE 2 Digital Motion Picture Camera (8K)
- Sony VENICE 2 Digital Motion Picture Camera (6K)
- RED V-RAPTOR 8K VV DSMC3
