Sony FR7 Full-Frame Interchangeable Lens PTZ Robotic Camera

The Sony FR7 is the “world’s first” full-frame interchangeable lens (ILC) robotic camera that combines remote pan/room/tilt (PTZ) technology with what is essentially an FX6 Cinema Camera in everything but name.

Sony says that the new camera is ideal for a wide range of applications including reality style TV shows and live streaming of events including sports and house of worship.

View Sony FR7 Pricing and Availability at Vistek

They also say that it will open up a host of new opportunities for other broadcast disciplines such as cinema, industrial, medical, sports and educational that can make full use of the camera’s cinematic quality and remote operation capabilities.

The camera itself features a back-illuminated Exmor R image full-frame sensor with 10.3 effective MP and BIONZ XR processor (same as FX3, FX6 & a7s III), offering a wide 15+ stops of dynamic range and expandable ISO range from 800 to 409,600.

It supports a wide range of recording formats including up to 120p 4K (QFHD), 240 fps FHD and 4K 60p 4:2:2 10-bit out via HDMI and SDI and us also capable of 4K internal recording, encoding 10-bit depth and 4:2:2 colour sampling with either Full-HD Long-GOP or 4K All Intra compression.

The FR7 also boasts Sony’s autofocus technology including Real-Time Eye-AF and Real-Time Tracking using the 627-point phase detection Fast Hybrid AF system.

One important thing to be aware of is that the PTZ base itself isn’t capable of focus/motion tracking, all focus tracking is done via the FR7 camera itself.

Although Sony hasn’t indicated anything about it, it would be nice to see this capability added in a future firmware update.

The camera also inherits the electronic variable ND system (between 2 and 7 stops) found on other Sony Cinema Cameras featuring a clear filter and three user definable presets.

It also features an auto ND setting that locks ISO, shutter speed and F-stop while making automatic adjustments to keep the correct exposure.

The FR7 is fully compatible with 70 of Sony’s extensive E-mount lenses including their G-Master lineup and larger lenses up to the FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II with FE 2x Teleconverter attached while still offering remote pan/tilt/zoom control.

Sony says that even larger lenses can be mounted, however, the camera will have to be locked into the mount, thus losing the ability to remotely pan and tilt the camera.

The one caveat to using certain larger lenses is that because the camera utilizes a regular E-mount rather than a locking E-mount, you need to use additional lens support to mount them.

Because the camera is mounted to PTZ base, there is one capability that the FR7 doesn’t include, and that’s the ability to record audio natively directly from the camera itself. Instead, audio can be recorded via external microphones using the XLR connection on the PTZ base itself.

Speaking of connections, in addition to XLR, the PTZ base also features the following input/output options:

12G-SDI Out
TC In
HDMI Type A Out
Genlock
Optical Fiber (SFP slot)
LAN
Tally I/F (VISCA over IP, CGI)
5-pin Audio Input (XLR)
Dual slots for CF express Type A / SDXC
Option Port
19.5V power input (DC jack for AC adaptor / PoE++ (IEEE802.3bt Type4)

The PTZ base boasts smooth pan, tilt and zoom capabilities ranging from 0.02 degrees per seconds up to 60 degrees per second with presets that can be set for smooth or fast pan and tilt or rapid repositioning.

It offers a pan angle range from -170 degrees to 170 degrees and tilt angle range between -30 and + 195 degrees when in the normal upright orientation, or -210 to 15+ degrees when mounted upside down on a ceiling or crane mount.

Controlling the camera and PTZ base is done via a free iOS or Android app or by using Sony’s RM-IP500/1 Professional Remote Controller (sold separately) pictured above.

There is also a new dedicated web application that allows pan, tilt, zoom, focus, record, playback and all camera settings to be controlled via a tablet or computer web browser allowing multiple people to remotely monitor the footage coming from the camera at the same time.

Finally, the PTZ base also features dual card slots that will accept CFExpress Type A or SD/SDHC/SDXC cards allowing for onboard recording in in 4K DCI, UHD, or HD in XAVC at up to 600Mb/s.