For filmmakers and the cinephiles who follow their gear, Sony has given a clear signal of where high-end digital cinema is heading. The company is developing the RIALTO 65, a sensor block that lets its existing VENICE 2 camera shoot in a much larger 65mm format, rather than asking studios to buy a brand new camera.
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What Sony announced
The RIALTO 65 is a 65mm-format-capable image sensor block built for the VENICE 2, with a target release in the first half of 2027. When paired with a current VENICE 2 body, it turns the system into a 65mm-format digital cinema platform while keeping compatibility with the existing VENICE 2 ecosystem. The block can mount directly to the camera body or sit apart from it on a cable, similar to Sony's VENICE Extension System, which gives crews more freedom in how they rig a shot.
The new sensor offers roughly 2.2 times the light-receiving area of a full-frame sensor. It measures about 64.60mm across the diagonal (53.75mm by 35.83mm) with a 3:2 aspect ratio, placing it among the largest sensors used in a commercial cinema camera. It supports 9.6K 3:2 open gate recording along with multiple readout modes, which matters because 65mm-format lenses do not all cover the same image circle.
Why a 65mm sensor matters
Larger sensors capture a shallower depth of field and a stronger sense of scale, which is why 65mm film has long been associated with epic, large-screen productions. Sony's approach is notable for being modular: instead of launching a separate 65mm camera, it lets owners extend hardware they already run. The under-development RIALTO 65 is set to be shown at Cine Gear Expo in Los Angeles from 5 June 2026.
What it means for Malaysia
This is a development announcement aimed at the professional production market, so there is no pricing or Malaysian availability to report yet, and a wider release is not expected before 2027. For local production houses and cinematographers who already shoot on VENICE 2, the takeaway is that a path to large-format imaging may not require replacing the camera body. Malaysian availability is not confirmed at this stage.
Takeaway
The RIALTO 65 shows Sony betting on upgrades over replacements at the top end of digital cinema. If it ships as described in 2027, VENICE 2 owners could step up to 65mm imaging without starting their kit from scratch.
Cover image courtesy of Vladislav Smigelski on Unsplash. Illustrative only; not the RIALTO 65.