As it did last Cinegear, Sony has sketched out the BURANO firmware roadmap for the coming year, this time round taking us up to a full v2.0 release.
According to Sony, BURANO firmware Version 1.1 (this month) and Version 2.0 (March 2025, if not later) will include additional recording formats, new de-squeeze options and monitoring updates, as well as the usual list of other features and requests from the cinematic community.
Here are the details:
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 Ethernet which enables remote control of a BURANO using an RCP. 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, which allows users to adjust targeted colors during Multi Matrix operation.
It will also allow support for Sony’s Monitor & Control app version 2.0.0 which enables features such as Multi-Camera Monitoring function for iPadOS which allows feeds to up to four cameras, as well as precise exposure monitoring including such as waveform, histogram, false color, and zebra. Some other features include intuitive focus control and frequently used functions control with similar operations as CineAlta cameras using a mobile device, such as frame rate, ND Filter, sensitivity, look shutter speed and white balance.
Planned to be released in March 2025 (or later, says Sony, but not sooner unfortunately) BURANO 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 filmmakers 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:
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Full Frame
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3.8K 16:9 Mode
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Up to 120 fps
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Super 35
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4.3K 4:3 Mode (for Anamorphic)
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Up to 60 fps
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Super 35
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1.9K 16:9 Mode
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Up to 240 fps
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It 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 output which places camera status information outside of the image. And there is View Finder Gamma Display Assist while using S-Log for monitoring.
There will also be 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.
It's a long time to wait, but it's going to all be fairly neat when it arrives.