A new technical document released by Sony in November 2023 has fanned speculation that the company’s next generation of video-focused mirrorless cameras will offer unprecedented 4K recording at 240 frames per second.
The document, which details the latest XAVC codec specifications, lists bitrate requirements for both 8K 120fps and 4K 240fps video modes. Notably, it states that 4K 240fps would require around 480 Mbps at 4:2:0 color sampling or 800 Mbps at 4:2:2 color sampling.
These bitrates are achievable with current media formats like V90 SD cards and CFexpress cards, removing a major technical hurdle for such high frame rate 4K video recording.
While the document does not confirm any specific camera models, the inclusion of these specs hints that Sony is readying 4K 240fps for future video-oriented Alpha cameras like the a7S IV and FX3 II.
The question now is whether these flagship specs will appear in separate a7S IV and FX3 II models, or if Sony opts to merge the lines into a single product category. Regardless, it appears virtually certain that extreme high frame rate 4K video is coming soon to Sony’s pro-video mirrorless lineup.
via: SAR