Sony has announced that it is developing the RIALTO 65, a new 65mm format-capable image sensor block for the VENICE 2. It is expected to be available in the first half of 2027. It is being designed to extend the capabilities of the VENICE 2 platform.
When paired with existing VENICE 2 camera bodies, the RIALTO 65 effectively transforms the system into a 65mm format digital cinema platform, while still preserving compatibility with the current VENICE 2 ecosystem. The new sensor block can be mounted to the VENICE 2 camera body directly or separately from the body via a cable similar to the VENICE Extension System, enabling greater mobility and versatile shooting configurations. This modular approach allows creators to adapt quickly to demanding production environments without compromising image quality.
The new image sensor capable of 65mm format has approximately 2.2 times the light-receiving area of a full-frame image sensor, delivering a shallow depth of field and a heightened sense of scale. The new sensor is claimed to be one of the industry’s largest, with a diagonal size of approximately 64.60 mm (width 53.75 mm, height 35.83 mm) and a 3:2 aspect ratio. In addition to 9.6K 3:2 open gate recording, the new sensor supports recording in multiple readout modes to ensure compatibility with various 65mm format lenses, including some with more narrow image circles. As a comparison, the existing Sony VENICE 2’s 8K sensor is an 8.6K (8640 x 5760) full-frame CMOS sensor (36.2 x 24.1 mm).
When Sony originally launched the VENICE, they made a point to mention that it had been designed to be fully modular and even the sensor block was interchangeable. So, as sensor technology advanced in the far future, you would have the opportunity to upgrade without investing in a new camera.
This is a concept that has been mentioned for a long time. Remember RED’s whole sales pitch many years ago about being able to buy one camera body where you could upgrade the sensor as the years went on? I think the reality of actually being able to do this probably wasn’t feasible at the time, nor does it make a company as much money as selling someone a whole new camera.
In theory, being able to change over a sensor block makes a lot of sense, particularly in a high-end camera where someone is paying a lot of money. Nobody wants to buy a top-tier camera only for it to be superseded within a few years. However, the reality is that technology moves so quickly that the hardware inside a camera and its recording capabilities make it difficult to integrate with newly designed sensors and new features, but that is something Sony seems to have figured out.
The under-development RIALTO 65 is scheduled to be exhibited at the Cine Gear Expo, which will be held in Los Angeles, California, starting Friday, June 5, 2026.
