Sony is debuting a new camera and matching camera control unit (CCU) with HD-to-UHD upscaling as a transitional system for users looking to gradually move from HD to UHD and HD-HDR studio and live production.

Sony HXCU FB80 CCU

Sony HXCU FB80 CCU

The set-up, which will be on exhibit this week at NAB Show New York, combines the HXC-FB80 portable camera with the HXCU-FB80 CCU, which converts the camera’s HD output to UHD and offers the upscaled output via 12G-SDI and quad-link 3D-SDI outputs.

The CCU will get a free firmware update adding support for HLG HD-HDR content in summer 2018, Sony said.

Sony HXC-FB80 portable camera

Sony HXC-FB80 portable camera

As far as camera specs go, Sony said the FB80 is similar to the existing FB75, with three 2/3-inch-type CMOS Exmor sensors capturing 1920×1080 at a maximum 59.94 Hz.

The new system is expected to ship in early January 2018, with the camera available in three different configurations: camera body only, camera plus lens, portable viewfinder and mic, and camera plus lens and large viewfinder.

Sony: pro.sony.com