Sony’s Jaw-Dropping $80,000 Rialto 65 Extension System Requires a $60,000 Camera
Sony has announced that its Rialto 65 Camera Extension System for the Venice 2 CineAlta camera will launch in the first half of 2027 for a cool $80,000, about the same price as a brand-new, luxurious BMW M3 or, to keep things camera-related, over 16 Sony FX5 bodies.
Sony’s sales pitch is that the Rialto 65 Camera Extension System (CBK-6510XS) and its giant image sensor promise exceptional video quality unlike anything else Sony has made before. That may very well be true — the sensor is remarkably big. The 65mm-format sensor measures 53.75 millimeters wide and 35.83 millimeters high, creating an image area about 2.2 times larger than a full-frame sensor.
The large-format image sensor supports 9.6K 1.5:1 Open Gate readout. It also offers a 9.6K 2.20:1 readout mode with a diagonal of about 59 millimeters, which Sony says accommodates a wide range of lenses.
The camera has dual base ISO settings at 2500 and 10000. At the lower base ISO, Sony says Rialto 65 delivers over 15 stops of dynamic range.
With the huge sensor, the Rialto 65 promises extreme resolution and superior subject separation, all else equal. Sony says this makes it easier for filmmakers to emphasize their main subject and create an image that draws the viewer in.
The Rialto 65 offers two shooting modes. Extension Mode separates the camera head from the Venice 2 body, enabling shooting in situations that are traditionally challenging for large-format cinema cameras. The system supports 4.5-meter (14.8-feet) and 12-meter (39.4-feet) cables. The Studio Mode is more traditional, with the extension attaching directly to the body.
The 4.5-meter cable is included with the camera, while the longer cable is an optional accessory. The longer cable is $9,000.
Another optional accessory is the CBK-NDK6510 ND Filter Kit. It includes 11 drop-in ND filters equivalent to those included with the Rialto 65, and the filter kit costs $8,000. These filters have electronic contacts to communicate directly with the camera.
The Rialto 65 itself measures approximately 115 x 154 x 63 millimeters (4.5 x 6.1 x 2.5 inches) and weighs about 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds).
Because the Rialto 65 interfaces with the Venice 2 body, it can use Venice’s wide-ranging high-end video features, including the Venice color science and 16-bit X-OCN internal recording.
“We’re excited to explore the 65mm visual format in ways never done before with the new Rialto 65 extension system,” says Yang Cheng, Senior Vice President, Imaging Solutions, Sony Electronics Inc.
“As we grow our lineup of extension systems that enhance freedom and flexibility, we look forward to showcasing our commitment to the scope and deep expression of large format filmmaking by providing our Venice 2 customers with more sensor options,” Cheng continues.
As mentioned, the Rialto 65 Camera Extension System will cost $80,000 when it arrives in the first half of 2027. It also requires the Sony Venice 2 Digital Motion Picture Camera, which is itself around $60,000. Of course, a high-end cinema camera system like this is rarely purchased outright; it’s much more commonly rented for specific projects.
Image creditsSony
