Amsterdam – Sony, a global leader in innovative technology solutions, has unveiled a quartet of revolutionary Crystal LED displays named VERONA, specifically tailored for Virtual Production applications. These cutting-edge displays introduce industry-leading features, including Deep Black and Anti-Reflection Surface Technology, designed to empower filmmakers and content creators with unprecedented visual excellence.
The newly developed Deep Black and Anti-Reflection Surface Technology delivers an exceptional blend of deep black image expression and minimal reflection, effectively mitigating contrast loss caused by ambient light from adjacent LED displays and studio lighting equipment. This groundbreaking innovation seamlessly bridges the gap between the projected image on the LED display and the actors performing in front of it, creating a harmonious fusion of virtual and real elements. This not only enhances the naturalness of the scenes but also significantly reduces the time and expenses associated with post-shooting adjustments.
In addition to its extraordinary black levels and low reflection, VERONA boasts a remarkable brightness of 1,500 cd/m²* and a wide color gamut covering over 97% of DCI-P3*, faithfully reproducing lifelike shooting environments. Furthermore, it utilizes high-performance LED driver ICs, enabling an impressive refresh rate of up to 7,680Hz, thereby drastically reducing scanline artifacts when captured by cameras. The new models, namely the ZRD-VP15EB/23EB and ZRD-VP15EM/23EM, are available in pixel pitches of P1.56mm and P2.31mm.
In the development of VERONA, Sony collaborated closely with industry professionals, actively incorporating their feedback to craft a display that precisely meets the unique requirements of the film, television, and staging communities. The new 1:1 cabinet design streamlines the assembly process for production crews, offering large easy-grip handles, locating pins for effortless alignment, and a lever-type locking mechanism that requires no additional tools. VERONA is adaptable to a variety of studio configurations, including curved, hanging, and stacking setups. The enhanced frame strength now supports the stacking of screens up to 7 meters in height. Moreover, comprehensive surface technology and various protective mechanisms safeguard the LED surface and edges from damage during installation.
Rik Willemse, Head of Professional Displays and Solutions at Sony Europe, expressed the company’s excitement, stating, “We are delighted to announce four new cutting-edge displays built for Virtual Production filmmaking that are set to elevate the realism of Virtual Production and accelerate its growth in the film industry.”
Sebastian Leske, Head of Cinema Business Development at Sony Europe, added, “Our pioneering Virtual Production technology provides comprehensive solutions that support and contribute to creators’ creative activities and allows them to make virtual sets without limits. We’re the only company who can support virtual production from end-to-end from a solutions and workflow perspective, which has allowed us to gain critical technical expertise. Because of this, we’re in a unique position to leverage our award-winning digital cinema camera VENICE and Crystal LED displays to offer the best possible Virtual Production Systems to studios of any size.”
These new displays seamlessly integrate with controllers widely used in the industry. The ZRD-VP15EB/23EB is compatible with Brompton Technology’s Tessera SX40, while the ZRD-VP15EM/23EM works seamlessly with Megapixel’s HELIOS Processing Platform.
Furthermore, the new models boast an impressive 27%* reduction in power consumption when compared to the current ZRD-B15A model, underlining Sony’s commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency.
This launch follows Sony’s recent announcement of a groundbreaking Virtual Production Tool Set, designed to address common challenges in virtual production and support top-tier In-Camera VFX. The Virtual Production Tool Set comprises the Camera and Display Plugin and the color calibrator, leveraging Unreal Engine to bridge the gap between the real and virtual worlds, facilitating the design, visualization, and refinement of virtual production shots during PreVis. Beyond filmmaking, TV, and commercials, Sony’s Virtual Production technology is gaining traction across live events and corporate spaces, contributing to the creativity of an extensive array of content creation applications.
The highly anticipated VERONA displays are scheduled to hit the market in Spring 2024, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of Virtual Production technology. Sony continues to push the boundaries of innovation, empowering storytellers and content creators with the tools they need to bring their creative visions to life.
For more information on VERONA, please visit pro.sony/verona.
