Sony was drawing the biggest crowd to the Cine Gear Expo floor this year, and the reason was because of the presence at their demo table: Rialto 65A new 65 mm format sensor block under development for VENICE 2. We spoke to Sony to take a closer look at what the company is building – and what they believe is a more important announcement than a new camera body.
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Sony announced the Rialto 65 ahead of Cine Gear, and visible at the booth was a pre-production unit mounted on a Venice 2 body, paired with a unique Panavision Primo lens capable of covering a 65 mm image circle. This combination was attracting cinematographers who, by Sony’s own admission, did not normally spend time at its booth.
The announcement has sparked speculation about VENICE 3, but Sony’s position is that the RIALTO 65 is a deliberate statement to the contrary. The company is extending the lifespan of VENICE 2 instead of replacing it. “What I like is that Sony is not only launching a 65 sensor, but it’s also showing a commitment to Venice 2,” he said. “If you’re looking for a second camera – no, that’s where we’re going. You don’t have to worry about buying a whole new camera body. You can just buy the sensor, and it plugs right in.”
sensor
The RIALTO 65’s new image sensor has a diagonal of approximately 64.60 mm – 53.75 mm wide and 35.83 mm tall – a 3:2 aspect ratio and approximately 2.2 times the light-receiving area of a full-frame sensor. For reference, the VENICE 2’s existing 8.6K sensor measures 36.2 x 24.1 mm. The RIALTO 65 captures 9.6K 3:2 open gate and supports multiple readout modes to maintain compatibility with 65mm format lenses that have narrow image circles.
That 9.6K resolution figure wasn’t arbitrary. Katie explained that taking pixel count into account was a practical decision with many downstream benefits. “When I first heard we were going to do a large-format sensor my biggest concern was: Are we going to 12K, 15K? That was a big concern. But being able to keep it at 9.6K keeps a manageable pixel density for sensitivity, and it also keeps the data manageable – and I’ve got high expectations about where we’ll go with higher frame rates.”
Frame rate specifications have not been confirmed. The cameras on display were pre-production and not capturing images, so formal details for the higher frame rates are still to come. Heat management is one of the engineering challenges that Sony has had to address with this sensor size. “When I took it apart, the VENICE 2’s 8K and 6K sensors have a heatsink behind them with air flowing through the back,” he said. “With the Rialto 65, they changed the approach – more fans, more ventilation, and the body itself acts as a natural heat sink.”
Rialto Mode and what it really means for production
Like the existing Rialto Extension System for VENICE 2, the Rialto 65 can be detached from the camera body and attached via cable. That modular approach is what excites Sony most about where this product lands in the production workflow.
“Since the Rialto 65 is now part of the pipeline, it can also be used in Rialto mode,” Katie explained. “It means I can take this super large sensor – which has historically been a huge camera – and put it in a car, get really tight angles, even use it for body camera footage. Imagine: an IMAX-sized sensor, in such a small body. It blows my mind.”
The practical implications of car shoots and tight-space cinematography are significant. The Rialto 65’s smaller form factor means the 65mm format is no longer confined to the large, bulky rigs traditionally required to accommodate sensors of this size.
lens and barrier to entry
Larger formats have historically come with a lens problem – the image circle required to cover the larger sensor size significantly limits the pool of compatible glass. Sony says they moved to address this issue by coordinating with lens manufacturers and rental houses in advance of the announcement.
“There has been a massive synchronized effort between Sony and the lens manufacturers and rental houses,” Katie said. “We’re saying, hey, we’re coming out with a large-format sensor, let’s talk about lens options. The barrier to entry, which once seemed so difficult, is now going to be vastly more accessible.”
At the booth, the demo unit was fitted with a Panavision Primo designed to cover a 65mm circle – described as a one-of-a-kind piece. Katie pointed to the way the larger sensor changes lens behavior as a fascination for cinematographers: “There’s something very romantic about the feeling of it – the way the focus falloff happens. These lenses are so beautiful, and they cover 65 sensors from wide open to f/5.6. It’s almost like you have three different lenses in one. That’s attributable to the lens, but also to the larger sensor. It gives you a lot of flexibility. Have more paintbrushes in your toolkit.”
ND Filter System
Because the 65mm sensor is much larger than what the Venice 2’s existing spinning ND turret system was designed to cover, Sony redesigned the filtration approach for the Rialto 65. Instead of rotating between two turrets like the Venice 2, the ND for the Rialto 65 will slide from the side – the same method used on the Rialto Mini. Available densities will also include clear with 3, 6 and 9-stop options.
who shoots with it
Sony expects high-budget feature productions to be the first adopters, primarily because they have post pipelines to manage data and workflow. But Katie was clear that the overarching ambition is accessibility. “Once those people start really getting it, I think the indie world will start to move forward. And the barrier to entry with lensing — which once seemed so difficult — is going to be a lot more manageable.”
The rental market is expected to be a major driver. Because the Rialto 65 is attached to the existing Venice 2 body, rental houses can offer it as an upgrade rather than a completely separate camera package. “You don’t have to buy a brand new camera,” she said. “That’s what makes it accessible and makes our rental home partners happy.”
Timeline and Pricing
Sony is targeting availability in the first half of 2027, although Katie said Sony has a history of delivering its announced Windows faster than expected. On pricing, no figures have been given. “I could put a number out there, but it would be the most absurd estimate ever,” she said. “I have high expectations that this is more of an accessory than a full camera, so pricing should be manageable.” Cine Gear’s unit was still a machined, unfinished silver prototype – not yet in final production form.
Specifications (as announced)
- Format: 65 mm
- Sensor Diagonal: ~64.60mm (53.75mm × 35.83mm)
- aspect ratio: 3:2
- Open gate resolution: 9.6K
- Light receiving area: ~2.2× a full-frame sensor
- Compatible Body: sony venice 2
- Growing up: Direct body mount or cable separation (Rialto mode)
- ND system: slide-in filter; Clear, 3, 6, and 9 stops
- High frame rate specifications: tbd
- Availability: first half of 2027
- Price determination: tbd
The Rialto 65 is still under development. Sony’s full announcement can be found in our original coverage here.
Sony VENICE 2 8K available at B&H. Sony VENICE 2 6K also available at B&H.
