65K. Dollars, not pixels, not Euros. FDTimes embedded reporters in LA are breathlessly blogging. It’s too late to stop the presses. I’m flying to IBC, our September Issue 44 is printing, and I had guessed the F65 would be somewhere between 70 – 85K (luckily not specified whether that was with SR-R4, dollars or Euros, or whose exchange rate applied).

Today, Sony announced F65 prices and details in LA at the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) and Directors Guild of America (DGA). The camera with viewfinder will be priced at $65,000. With the SR-R4 Memory Recorder, it will be $85,000.

The announcements came a few days before the F65 will be shown to a worldwide audience at the IBC convention in Amsterdam.

The F65 shoots and records 4K resolution (4096 x 2160). Its 8K image sensor, with approximately 20 total megapixels has 16-bit linear RAW File output capability.

Alec Shapiro, senior vice president of Sony’s Professional Solutions of America group, said, “The F65’s incredible imager captures more data, which translates to more information that can be put up on the screen. And access to an open and inclusive platform enables the integration of an F65 file-based workflow into other systems, creating truly exciting, and limitless, production opportunities.”

Sony first announced the F65 at NAB 2011 show in April. With its latest enhancements and features, the F65’s capabilities now include:

• 14 stops High Dynamic Range with much wider color gamut
• Rotary shutter model (F65RS) to remove motion artifacts; 4 ND filters built-in with rotary shutter.
• Wi-fi operation for remote control operation from tablet devices (including the Android-based Sony Tablet S and Apple iPad)
• HD-SDI output with viewing LUT for on-set monitoring with focus assist zoom
• 60 Minutes of 16 bit Linear RAW file recording onto a 1TB SRMemory card at 24FPS

Sony also introduced its dockable SRMemory recorder – model SR-R4 – which attaches to the camera to record directly to an SRMemory card of 256 GB, 512 GB or 1TB capacity with data security and sustained throughput of 5.5 Gbps. The SRMemory card is about the size of an iPhone.

Sony announced a new capability for the F65/SR-R4 combination – the ability to switch recording between 16-bit linear RAW File and MPEG-4 SStP File modes. Users can configure the camera on a project-by-project basis, selecting either 16-bit linear RAW or or MPEG-4 SStP File (HDCAM SR native).  16-bit linear RAW files are for best quality acquisition or high speed operation up to 120 fps. MPEG-4 SStP File (HDCAM SR native) provides excellent quality HD recording.  MPEG-4 SStP File also provides full compatibility for viewing, offline and post production using either the free Sony PC or MAC viewer or products using the new Sony Software Development Kit.

The first rental company in Hollywood to take delivery of the F65 will be Otto Nemenz International.

“The F65 is more than just a new camera; it’s a complete system and a revolutionary approach to the digital production workflow,” said company president Otto Nemenz.

Sony has already installed more than 9,000 4K projectors in cinemas worldwide. Alec Shapiro pointed out that Sony 4K projectors are driving digital cinema in movie theaters and creating demand for 4K content, and the F65 will be part of the “4K lens to theater experience.”

The F65 digital motion picture camera line-up is scheduled to be available in January 2012:

• Sony F65, with viewfinder for $65,000
• F65RS (Built in Rotary Shutter Model) with viewfinder for $77,000
• SR-R4 dockable recorder for $20,000.

All will be available direct from Sony and through Sony authorized resellers.