Fortunately, 4K and HDR are being developed almost in tandem, though the latter has lagged a bit behind. As HDR televisions become more common, the problem shifts from the consumer to the creator; without HDR content, there’s nothing to watch. Sony recently outlined its plans for end-to-end HDR workflows at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show, with plans for cinema, online video, and even live broadcasts.
While most of the new tech deals with the back end of production environments, Sony is keeping the lower-budget creators in mind as well. The compact FS5 cinema camera and Z150 camcorder both support Sony’s new Instant HDR workflow. Instant HDR gives lower-scale productions an efficient way to shoot, edit, and deliver HDR content without the need for color grading. This will be useful for corporate and event videos, news, and any other projects with quick turnaround times.
On the higher end, Sony unveiled an entirely new video file format, called X-OCN, that sort of bridges the gap between RAW and compressed formats. Available for the F55 cinema camera, X-OCN offers significant space savings over RAW and even professional compressed formats like Apple ProRes, while including the full tonal range of the sensor with 16-bit precision. While Sony stated it does not intend for X-OCN to replace RAW for large studios, the format should greatly help lower-budget productions which can’t afford the storage requirements for RAW video but still want to maximize image quality.
For more on how HDR works, check out our guide to the technology.
Editors' Recommendations
- The best soundbars for 2021
- Why your next TV could very well cost a lot more
- The best TVs for 2021
- LG’s massive 325-inch DVLED TV costs more than three Ferrari SF90s
- Best Buy may have just won Labor Day with this 65-inch Sony 4K TV deal
