Sony has announced four new Crystal LED displays called VERONA. They have been purpose-built to meet the needs of virtual production applications.
The new VERONA Crystal LED displays are the ZRD-VP15EB/23EB and ZRD-VP15EM/23EM.
The new panels incorporate technology advancements developed over several years. Sony also utilized the guidance of filmmakers, with the goal of bringing new levels of quality and efficiency to in-camera VFX applications.
The biggest new development was the addition of a new Deep Black and Anti-Reflection Surface Technology, that is claimed to be able to deliver deeper black levels while greatly reducing contrast loss caused by light from adjacent LED panels and studio lighting equipment.
This technology significantly reduces the difference in contrast between the image projected on the LED display and the actor(s) performing in front of it on set. It allows for the blending of virtual and real elements in a natural way, reducing the time and cost required for post-shooting adjustments.
VERONA is also able to achieve a claimed high brightness of 1,500 cd/m2 and a wide color gamut covering more than 97% of DCI-P3. It also utilizes high-performance LED drivers, which enable high refresh rates of up to 7,680Hz, which are said to drastically reduce scanline artifacts on the camera.
Both new models, the ZRD-VP15EB/23EB and ZRD-VP15EM/23EM, are available in P1.56mm and P2.31mm pixel pitch. They also feature a new easy-installation 1:1 cabinet design so that production crews can quickly and efficiently assemble a display that matches the desired stage size.
They also have large, easy-grip handles, as well as locating pins for easy alignment. In addition, there is a lever-type locking mechanism that can be operated without tools.
The Virtual Production series not only adapts to LED designs that are curved, hanging, and stacking, but now the frames are stronger to support more weight, enabling self-stacking screens up to 23-feet high.
The LED surface and edges are protected by Sony’s surface technology and specifically designed protection mechanisms that prevent damage during installation.
VERONA has been designed to work with leading virtual production LED controllers. The ZRD-VP15EB/23EB works with Brompton Technology’s Tessera SX40, and the ZRD-VP15EM/23EM works with Megapixel’s HELIOS Processing Platform.
The new ZRD-VP15EB model also sees a roughly 27% power consumption decrease when compared to the current ZRD-B15A model.
This launch follows the latest Sony announcement of a new Virtual Production Tool Set designed to tackle common problems with virtual production and to support quality In-Camera VFX. The launch features of the Tool Set are the Camera and Display Plugin and the Color Calibrator. The Camera and Display plugin uses Unreal Engine to connect the real and virtual worlds, achieving synergy between hardware and software through a fully virtualized VENICE camera to aid in design, and visualize and refine the virtual production shots during PreVis. The Color Calibrator tool provides a simple and rapid process to calibrate display-to-camera color, to ensure the LED panels match the specific camera’s color characteristics.
The new VERONA will make its debut at IBC in Amsterdam in the Sony booth, 13.A10 in Hall 13, September 15-18, 2023, and is expected to become available in Spring 2024.
