Sony Electronics Shares Cinema Firmware Schedule

From Sony Electronics:

Sony Electronics Announces Firmware Roadmap for its Cinema Line

New firmware roadmap illustrates Sony’s commitment to the filmmaking community with continued investment in the Cinema Line

LOS ANGELES – Nov. 6, 2024: Sony Electronics announces upcoming firmware updates to its VENICE 2, FX6, FX3, FX30 and BURANO cameras, continuing its longstanding support for its cinema line cameras. The firmware will be available beginning next year through 2026.

“Firmware updates are an important way for Sony to continue to address the needs of our filmmaking community. Our Cinema Line is built for the future and the firmware will allow our products to continue to evolve with the needs of our filmmakers, especially at a time when the industry is undergoing incredible changes. This is yet another way Sony is looking to support the community,” said Theresa Alesso, President of Imaging Products and Solutions Americas, Sony Electronics.

The firmware updates will be available to download for free and include:

VENICE 2 VERSION 4.0

The Sony VENICE Camera System has been used on more than 500 productions including commercials, television and feature films since it was introduced, with the VENICE 2 digital cinema camera recognized as a world-class cinema camera for cinematographers around the world. VENICE 2 Version 4.0 firmware update is planned to be available August 2025 and will add:

Support of the EL Zone System™, created by three-time Academy award-nominated Director of Photography Ed Lachman, ASC. The EL Zone System™ is an intuitive tool that displays exposure values by using stops instead of IRE, bringing back the direct relationship between lighting and lens stops. The EL Zone System™ comes in addition to the existing tools in VENICE 2.

Based on users’ feedback, Version 4.0 will offer the ability to display frame lines in different colors, simplifying the ability to shoot images for multiple delivery formats.

Sony is pleased to continue to upgrade and evolve the VENICE 2 platform over the coming years, protecting the investment for owners and rental houses: Version 5.0 will be made available in 2026 and Version 6.0 in 2027.

FX3 VERSION 7.0 AND FX30 VERSION 6.0

Based on user feedback, the Sony FX3 and FX30 cameras will get a new firmware update in September 2025. This update to the menu system will standardize the user experience and operational menu across the entire Cinema Line. This will be beneficial for users that combine our multiple level of cameras for production or move throughout the line for different projects.

Other new features of this firmware will include:

A new "BIG 6" menu, similar to the BURANO and VENICE. The new BIG 6 menu will allow filmmakers to check and adjust key items at a glance, including ISO, frame rate, LUT, NDs, and more.

The addition of anamorphic de-squeeze 1.5x, due to the rise of anamorphic lens usage by cinematographers. This new ratio brings new flexibility in terms of lens selection.

The capability of HDMI RAW Output for Blackmagic RAW recording with Blackmagic Design’s Video Assist recorders.

FX6 VERSION 6.0

Sony is pleased to announce that FX6 now supports SDI RAW Output for Blackmagic RAW recording with Blackmagic Design’s Video Assist recorder.

FX6 Version 6.0 is planned for February 2026 and will include:

The FX6 will see a new “BIG 6” menu, similar to the BURANO and VENICE. The new BIG 6 menu will allow filmmakers to check and adjust key items at a glance, including ISO, frame rate, LUT, NDs, and more.

Camera data will no longer be overlaid on top of the image in the viewfinder (On-Screen Display (OSD)) to allow operators to see the full image and necessary data more clearly.

1 Sony recommends that users check update timing on Blackmagic Design’s Video Assist recorder.

BURANO VERSION 2.0

Planned to be released in March 2025, BURANO Version 2.0 offers many new features and improvements requested from the user community, including new recording formats, new 1.8x de-squeeze, and monitoring improvements.

Version 2.0 will include new recording formats including a new 3.8K Full Frame crop that leverages nearly the entire sensor and can shoot up to 120 fps. This new recording mode allows the filmmaker to prioritize faster sensor performance depending on the needs of their application. Other new recording formats include the addition of 24.00 fps to X-OCN 16:9 imager modes and the following:

Full Frame 3.8K 16:9 Mode Up to 120 fps

Super 35 4.3K 4:3 Mode (for Anamorphic) Up to 60 fps

Super 35 1.9K 16:9 Mode Up to 240 fps

BURANO Version 2.0 will also add 1.8x de-squeeze setting as well as additional high frame rate (S & Q) modes including 66, 72, 75, 88, 90, 96, 110 fps.

Version 2.0 also offers monitoring improvements, including standardized SDI video output for monitoring across X-OCN and XAVC and an improved on-screen display which places camera status information outside of the image. Version 2.0 will also include View Finder Gamma Display Assist while using S-Log3 for monitoring.

BURANO Version 2.0 also includes additional exposure tools (High/Low Key) derived from the flagship VENICE camera system. Version 2.0 will also expand white balance memory presets from 3 to 8 and support Active/High Image Stabilization in Full-Frame 6K and Super 35 1.9K 16:9 imager modes.

Finally, Version 2.0 will add breathing compensation and image stabilization metadata in X-OCN.

Availability

The new BURANO Version 2.0 will be available in March 2025. Filmmakers can easily download the update directly to their camera using a Mac or PC.

For more information, visit sonycine.com or follow us on Instagram @sonycine for more information.