Now that the Sony F5 and F55 are starting to ship it will only be a matter of time before we get to see some great (and probably some not so great footage too) from these cameras. Sony has really upped the ante with these new F cameras offering not only a RAW format with 16 times more precision than RED, but 14 stops dynamic range, global shutter on the F55, and other features both cameras share like simultaneous RAW recording and SXS Pro+ cards.

Check out the FD Times 96 page report for more information and details behind the promo shorts shot with the F5/F55; Manout, Dig,  and The Contract.

Some of the biggest differences between the F5/F55 and RED Cameras:

• The F5/F55 can record HD or 2k internally using a variety of formats from MPEG, XAVC and SR Codec. (The F55 can record 4k internally as well).
• F5/F55 provides dual recording in two ways: two formats to the same SXS Pro+ card (for example XAVC and MPG at the same time to the same card), or simultaneous RAW recording and  HD/MPG/XAVC/QFHD to SXS Pro+ card. This feature makes it ideal for editing smaller and manageable proxy files and later linking up your RAW files when you’re ready for color grading and final output.
• The bit-depth of the Sony F5/F55 RAW format is 16-bit offering 65,000 levels of data quantization which is 16 times more data precision than RED’s Redcode Raw format.
• RED shoots 2k in a windowed mode (cropped sensor) while Sony uses the full sensor for lower than 4k rez formats.
• The F5 is rated 800 ISO in standard mode, and 1600 and 2000 ISO in SLOG and SLOG2 modes. The F55 is rated 500 ISO in standard mode, and 1000 and 1250 in SLOG and SLOG2 modes. (The F55 is rated lower due to global shutter)
• RED is rated somewhere between 400 and 800 ISO, and pushing to 1600 is also possible depending on the scene.
• The F5/F55 has built in ND filters of 3 and 6 stops.
• The F55 has a global shutter.

RED definitely seems to have their work cut out for them on their next “sensor upgrade”.