Sony releases latest BURANO firmware updates

Sony has released the latest firmware updates to the BURANO cinema camera as part of its firmware roadmap. The first update was version 1.1, released last year, and now BURANO Ver. 2.01 has been released.

The Sony BURANO was announced at IBC2023, and is a “close relative” to the VENICE, yet with a more compact body and $25,000 price point. It features a full-frame CMOS 8.6K sensor, 16 stops of dynamic range, in-body image stabilization (IBIS), electronically variable ND filter (0.6 to 21), dual-base 800/3200 ISO range, and more.

Details: Sony BURANO Ver. 2.01 firmware update 

Sony released a roadmap in June 2024, with a planned release date of the firmware Ver. 2.0 on or after March 2025. In January, the company announced there would be more features added to the BURANO Ver. 2.0 update. And now, in June, we have the Sony BURANO Ver. 2.01 update.

There are three new recording formats, which include full frame 3.8K 16:9 mode up to 120 fps (XAVC and X-OCN), Super 35 4.3K 4:3 mode (for anamorphic) up to 60 fps (X-OCN), and Super 35 1.9K 16:9 mode up to 240 fps (XAVC). A 1.8x de-squeeze setting was also included, which helps when filming with anamorphic lenses. 24.00p support of X-OCN 16:9 imager scan modes was also included.

Sony has also added a View Finder Gamma Display Assist when filming in S-Log3. Other monitoring improvements or additions include [Monitor FHD], a factory preset for SDI output (XAVC and X-OCN). Plus the camera status information is displayed outside of the image in [Monitor FHD], HDMI and SDI, and Time Code and Clip Name metadata are part of the output. 

New exposure tools are included (High/Low Key) and white balance memory presets, which have gone from 3 to 8. There have also been improvements to monitoring such as standardized SDI output to X-OCN and XAVC. 709tone is part of the Base Look and improved image quality when 3D LUTs are added.

There is now compatibility with commands for PL lenses and Cooke i/Technology. Additionally, image stabilization and breathing compensation are recorded as metadata in X-OCN files.

The complete details of the latest Sony BURANO firmware update can be found here. It will be interesting to see if Sony releases another updated BURANO firmware roadmap in the coming months.