Sony has been involved in the research and development of digital technologies for many years. Sony was the first in the world to introduce high definition video systems for broadcast. Products like the fully-fledged HDCAM-SR and the highly portable XDCAM and HDV have become the choice of many professionals involved in image production, from broadcast to cinema, and from producers to creators.
The HDW-F900, Sony’s first digital cinema camera in the HDCAM series released in 2000, was developed to address Hollywood’s needs and used in shooting Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, directed by George Lucas. Prior to its release, film was commonly seen as the recording media most capable of meeting the cinema industry’s demands for image quality, color tone and rendering. Unfortunately, with film the actual image can only be reviewed after its developed. In addition to the time-consuming process of editing, numerous copies needed to be made for distribution to cinemas.
By contrast, with digital cinema cameras any shot can be reviewed on the spot, and re-shot immediately if necessary. Being in digital form, the material is easy to collate and edit. And, because digital data is used instead of film, it also reduces the cost of delivery to cinemas. In addition, HDCAM technology was well received in the cinema industry for its image quality and functionality, which were long-standing issues in the change to digital, and because it brought about technological innovations in movie production. Digital video production also boosted efficiency in 3D production. Today, a number of 3D movies have been made, and Sony’s digital cinema cameras have been used for shooting many of these films.
But cinema isn’t just about cameras. Sony successfully developed a high-precision projector featuring its very own 4K SXRD (Silicon X-tal Reflective Display) LCD display device, capable of 4 times the high resolution of Full HD. It is currently being used in cinemas in Japan, U.S. and many other places in the world. If a purpose-made 3D projections lens unit is attached and the ultra-high-precision 2D/4K used, it can be used to project 3D/2K high-quality images. In this way, Sony is providing 3D capabilities for the entire movie production process.
Sony’s 3D imaging is now entering many other fields. Very early on in the development of 3D, in addition to cinema Sony also focused on the potential capabilities 3D could bring to the live production of sports, concerts, plays and other events, and started developing a wide range of equipment. For example, in sporting events, a compact 3D camera system can be positioned in places such as the goals which are inaccessible to camera operators. A 3D-capable multi-format switcher can display captions in real time showing players’ names and scores. Also under development are processors for 3D production that electronically correct parallax and synchronicity in 3D video taken with 2 cameras, and monitors for 3D production. Research is also underway for a single lens 3D camera as the future 3D shooting technology.
From shooting to screening, Sony has a wide range of 3D-compatible products available. With its accumulated technologies and knowledge, Sony is now making high quality 3D contents possible, and contributing in the expansion of 3D entertainment.
*The 3D digital cinema system, including Sony’s 3D projection lens unit, is supplied by RealD of U.S. (as of December 2009)
