Sony Electronics announces new firmware roadmap for the BURANO

Sony Electronics has announced the next two firmware updates for the BURANO, the newest addition to the CineAlta family of digital cinema cameras.

The firmware updates, BURANO Version 1.1 and Version 2.0, are planned to be released over the next year and will include additional recording formats, new de-squeeze options and monitoring updates as well as other features and requests from the cinematic community.

BURANO Version 1.1

Planned for release in late June 2024, BURANO Version 1.1 includes new features for live event production and the addition of 1.5x de-squeeze display for anamorphic lenses. Version 1.1 will add S700 Protocol over Ethernetⁱ which enables remote control of a BURANO using an RCP (remote control panel). Controllable settings include exposure, white balance, paint, and others (depending on the RCP model). Version 1.1 also enables support for Multi Matrix Area Indication. This feature allows users to adjust targeted colours during Multi Matrix operation.

In addition, BURANO Version 1.1 also allows support for Sony’s Monitor & Control appⁱⁱ version 2.0.0 which enables in demand features such as Multi-Camera Monitoring function for iPadOS. This in turn allows feeds for up to four cameras and precise exposure monitoring including waveform, histogram, false colour and zebra.

Some other features include intuitive focus control and frequently used functions’ control – a similar operation to Sony’s CineAlta cameras using a mobile device such as frame rate, ND filter, sensitivity, look, shutter speed and white balance. Sony’s Monitor & Control app is free and available for iOS and Android devicesⁱⁱⁱ.

BURANO Version 2.0

Planned to be released in March 2025 or later, 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 prioritise 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:

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 standardised 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 Stabilisation in Full-Frame 6K and Super 35 1.9K 16:9 imager modes.

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