I recently had to service my RX100M7 I bought at Best Buy in the US and I was told I needed to get a replacement through the extended warranty I had purchased.
Unfortunately the replacement was actually just getting store credit at Best Buy for the original purchase amount. I tried to get the same camera again but now it’s out of stock when I’m pretty sure it was available one or two weeks earlier. Checking Amazon, B&H and the Sony website I’m realizing that it is also unavailable there.
Does this mean it has been discontinued or replaced by something else? I just thought it was interesting reading your reports of a possible new camera that could compete with the Fuji X100VI.
A couple of weeks ago I reported that the Sony RX1rII has been discontinued…and now it seems the RX100VII is going to encounter the same destiny. I will soon share some info about possible new series of compact cameras ;)
Sony Electronics Announces a 4K 60p Pan-Tilt-Zoom Camera with AI-based Auto Framing
Seamlessly Integrating with Sony’s Ecosystem, the BRC-AM7 Also Features Proven Image Quality and an Integrated Lens
Sony Electronics is releasing a flagship 4K 60p pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera model with an integrated lens, the BRC-AM7. Incorporating PTZ Auto Framing technology, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology for advanced recognition, the camera facilitates accurate and natural automatic tracking of moving subjects. These innovations enable simplified high-quality video production for broadcast, live event, and sports productions.
Sony’s BRC-AM7, a 4K 60p pan-tilt-zoom camera with AI-based Auto Framing and an integrated lens, offers proven image quality, robust system interoperability, and support for various protocols.
The BRC-AM7 is also the world’s smallest and lightest integrated lens PTZ camera1, measuring 168.7mm in width (approximately 6.64 inches), 225.2mm in height (roughly 8.87 inches), and 192.3mm in depth (about 7.57 inches), with a weight of about 3.7kg (approximately 8.16 pounds). The size and weight promote greater freedom including increased installation flexibility, broader accessibility in challenging locations, and more vantage points. The BRC-AM7 also works effortlessly alongside Sony’s professional camera ecosystem, providing compatibility and seamless color matching.
“The BRC-AM7 enhances Sony’s rich legacy of PTZ cameras renowned for their image quality and reinforces Sony’s connected ecosystem of solutions,” said Kento Sayama, Deputy Vice President, Imaging Solutions, Sony Electronics. “We recently incorporated AI-based auto-tracking and Auto Framing technology into our models and the feedback was tremendous. The camera’s ability to consistently track and frame talent will provide production efficiencies by taking time and guess work out of creating content while providing high production values.”
The BRC-AM7 is planned to be available early 2025. It is scheduled to be on display April 14-17, 2024, in Sony’s booth (C8201) at the National Associations of Broadcasters (NAB) Show in Las Vegas.
Sony’s advanced PTZ Auto Framing technology, which is currently featured in the SRG-A series of PTZ cameras optimized for corporate and education customers, will expand to additional models. Planned for spring 2025 or later in the U.S. and Canada, Sony will provide a Ver. 3.00 firmware update that will add the PTZ Auto Framing technology to the FR7 full-frame, interchangeable lens PTZ camera.
Excellent Picture Quality By combining the 1.0-type 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) compatible stacked Exmor RS™ CMOS image sensor and the latest image-processing engine BIONZ XR®, the BRC-AM7 achieves 4K 60p high-resolution imagery with less noise. 5K oversampling allows users to capture high-resolution 4K video, and it also supports 4K HDR imagery, which clearly depicts both bright and dark scenes.
The newly developed all-in-one lens is equipped with a 20x optical zoom and Clear Image Zoom, an all-pixel super-resolution zoom that allows high magnification zooming while maintaining resolution, providing telephoto capture up to 30x in 4K or 40x in Full HD.
It also has a built-in unique electronic variable ND filter that allows for seamlessly adjusting the filter transmittance from 1/4 to 1/128. In addition to being able to adjust the exposure without changing the depth of field, users can also take advantage of auto settings to automatically adjust the light intensity to the level set on the camera to accommodate environments with challenging lighting conditions.
Advanced PTZ Auto Framing Technology Sony’s PTZ Auto Framing technology, which also incorporates auto focus, employs built-in AI analytics for advanced recognition, automatically tracking a subject based on detailed information such as the person’s skeleton, head, face, and clothing. The intuitive operation and remote capabilities help create efficiencies in managing a production or live event.
The newly developed pan-tilt rotation mechanism enables quick, smooth, and quiet operation at a speed of 0.004 degrees per second up to 180 degrees per second. It expands the range of applications, to include scenarios requiring accurate framing movement, such as dance, concerts, faith services, and sports. Furthermore, the BRC-AM7 is equipped with a pre-set function that allows the camera composition to be registered and recalled for effortless reproduction.
Robust System Interoperability The BRC-AM7 easily integrates into Sony’s camera lineup, employing “ITU709,” “709tone,” “S-Cinetone™,” and “S-Log3” compatibility for simplified color matching. It also features a familiar user experience and operation. The camera supports GENLOCK terminals and is compatible with Sony’s Master Setup Units and Remote-Control Panels, enabling multi-camera operation, as well as integration with Sony’s switchers.
Additionally, the camera’s compact and lightweight design allows for capture in difficult-to-install locations including on ceilings, cranes, or batons on stage, as well as tripod shooting using the 3/8-16 UNC and 1/4-20 UNC screw holes on the bottom surface.
In terms of power supply, the BRC-AM7 is compatible with the versatile XLR 4-pin connector and supports PoE++ (Power over Ethernet Plus Plus)2.
Versatile audio inputs and video outputs allow for increased system expansion and customization. The camera features 12G-SDI and HDMI® outputs, and 3G-SDI for monitor output. For audio, the BRC-AM7 has two channels of XLR 3-pin connectors and a φ3.5mm stereo input.
IP and free-d Compatible for Supporting New Video Production The BRC-AM7 supports SRT, RTMP, RTSP, NDI3, and optical fiber, enabling remote production over IP networks. It is compatible with VISCA™ over IP, S700PTP protocol, and CGI, allowing for remote camera control via external commands. It also supports IP Tally, providing comprehensive support for remote production.
Furthermore, the BRC-AM7 is compatible with the free-d protocol, which is commonly used in virtual productions such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). It can accurately output camera tracking information (pan/tilt/zoom/focus/iris) into a 3D space, allowing for seamless integration of live footage of real people with 3D Computer Graphics backgrounds and characters, creating realistic composite images.
Sustainable Construction and Packaging Elements of the BRC-AM7 incorporate sustainable materials including SORPLAS™ recycled plastic and more environmentally conscious packaging.
The Fuji X100VI is so hyped that you can expect to wait many months before your preorder at BHphoto, Adorama, Amazon,FotoErhardt. Calumet. WexUk will ship out. And this is due the TikTok/Instagram foolish exposure around the previous X100V model. I am yet not sure about this, but I think that this hype might have brought some benefit to Sony too. As people maybe will look for more alternatives that are available now. I took a quick look at google trends and I noted a curious pattern:
The interest for both the Sony RX1 and RX100 bottomed out in late 2021. Note, that’s when the X100V hype started
Since then the interest for both cameras did increase slightly. The late 2023 searches for both cameras are now above the searches they had in 2020!
As you know the Sony RX1 has been officially discontinued so it won’t be available for a long time at Amazon and BHphoto. Let’s hope Sony has a plan to keep the RX lineup alive!
Four reliable sources confirm to me that the Sony 16-25mm f/2.8 G will be announced next week. And that should be it, there doesn’t seem to be anything else at that press event. The next big Sony event is scheduled for May (June at the latest). We will have the ZV-E10II, the 85mm f/1.4GMII and hopefully the 24-70mm f/2.0 GM.
But like I told you before, there is going to be MAJOR announcements right after the ZV-E10II. One of the cameras coming is a new FX, but there are also new Alpha cameras and maybe also one “surprise” ;)
–
Some more news: Sony officially scheduled two announcements for Bravia and Music products:
On April 11 at 9am pacific time Sony will announce something music related (see video above) UDPATE: A source (Thanks!) told m we should get new WF-1000XM5 successor!
On April 18 at 9am pacific time Sony will announce some new Bravia related products (see youtube video below)
