Amsterdam, 9th September 2016: This year, Sony’s ground-breaking F Series cameras and PXW-FS7 cameras have brought superior image quality to numerous fast moving, location-based TV productions in the UK, through camera facilities and crewing provider S+O Media.

Shooting a range of projects for the BBC and ITV, S+O selected Sony’s PXW-FS7 to capture scenes in super slow-motion Full HD with high sensitivity and a shallow depth. Used alongside the popular PMW-F5, the team achieved true-colour reproduction, bringing in the industry leading PMW-F55 to deliver wide colour gamut and retain the high quality levels expected in today’s highly competitive TV industry. One famous example is a segment for Graham Norton’s Adele Special, which sees the singer posing as an Adele impersonator. The team used five Sony F5s and an FS7 polecam on location to capture subtle, behind-the-scenes footage as well as Adele’s on-stage performance. Since being uploaded, the clip has been viewed more than 50 million times, making it the most viewed video on the BBC’s YouTube channel.

“The FS7 and F5 worked beautifully together for this project,” commented Olly Wiggins, DoP and director of S+O Media. “They each capture beautifully realistic, rich skin tones, giving our shots the real-life look and feel that we want. But crucially, their size and portability also make them perfect for shooting without being too obtrusive.”

For the same reason, the S+O team used an FS7, an F5, and four F55s to shoot a promo video for the BBC’s upcoming project Let It Shine. Currently in pre-production, the show sees Gary Barlow searching for five men for a Take That-themed stage musical.

The promotional video features Barlow popping up in a Bristol shopping centre in disguise to play a surprise solo gig, only removing his disguise once he starts to play a piano. Once more, discrete shooting was key to preserving the element of surprise, as onlookers couldn’t suspect that the star was about to appear.
​ Wiggins continued: “We were able to use the cameras’ 4K sensor and centre crop to effectively double our focal range in HD. This allowed us to keep our distance from the piano whilst shooting from remote vantage points around the shopping centre, without the crew being too obvious.”

“In the FS7, Sony has married its reputation for exceptional image quality with its ENG camera heritage. With the talent and skill of our crew, we’ve found that the FS7 can capture footage that rivals the quality of many high-end cameras. When this is used to shoot in concert with the F5 or F55, it’s hard to think of a camera set-up that rivals it for robustness, value, and quality.”

“This announcement demonstrates the versatility of our camera portfolio and the quality they can deliver in a range of TV applications”, explained Claus Pfeifer, Strategic Marketing Manager, Broadcast & Cinematography, Sony Professional Europe. “The FS7 has taken the market by storm since its launch in 2014, and it’s clear that the F5 and F55 remain trusted favourites in the industry, thanks to regular updates which keep the models at the top of their game. The F55 continues to be the camera of choice for high end 4K HDR productions, which is critical for television production companies looking to futureproof their business model.”
​ S+O Media has also recently finished shooting the latest series of Keith Lemon’s Through the Keyhole for ITV, using the tried-and-tested combination of FS7 and F5.

To find out more about Sony visit pro.sony.eu.