Sony and Serie A collaborate on the beautiful game for the Coppa Italia Final

Lega Serie A is using Sony cameras and technology systems for the Coppa Italia Final 2023

Italy’s Serie A is being supported by Sony for the television production of the 2023 Coppa Italia Final, which is taking place on the evening of Wednesday 24 May at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Sony cameras and technology systems will be used for coverage of the game between Fiorentina and Inter, the second year in a row that Sony’s equipment has been part of the production set-up. For this year’s final, the partnership has grown into a large-scale filming operation, using three new and innovative pieces of technology to highlight the drama, improve on-screen detail, and capture the emotions of high-stakes moments.

The technologies being deployed are: a Sony HDC-F5500 as the main camera with a Fujifilm HKZ-25-1000mm lens to broadcast in better than 4K quality; adding a new variable ND filter to Sony HDC-3500s to produce the highest quality image, create the freedom to alter depth of field, and to allow slick transitions between different types of shots without compromising image quality; capturing the drama and emotion in the player’s tunnel with an FR7-Sony’s full-frame, interchangeable lens PTZ camera.

The Sony HDC-F5500 is being used in combination with a Fujifilm HKZ-25-1000mm lens as Camera 1 for the final, delivering the wide shot of the pitch and will be used to broadcast a significant amount of the match.

The camera maintains a broadcast look while delivering clarity and realism to live sports coverage. By using a UHD S35mm CMOS sensor with global shutter technology, the HDC-F5500 delivers clarity alongside the new PL mount HZK lens from Fujifilm to maximise the quality of the most important camera filming the match.

In addition, the HDC-F5500 and HZK lens slot into existing workflows easily, creating a seamless operational experience for operators.

The HDC-3500 cameras being used to film the final are fitted with an optical variable ND filter, offering a new way of shading during image capture. This technology, which is part of Sony’s Virtual Iris function, produces the best picture quality and means vision engineers no longer need to worry about image quality changing due to shading alterations when used in dynamic lighting conditions.

Sony said: “Thanks to the depth of field control capability with variable ND, vision engineers can freely change depth of field without constraint due to the lighting conditions. With this, one camera can perform multiple roles, which is beneficial for media production companies. A single camera with a single operator can switch between two depths of field with minimal effort, perfect for sports broadcasts working in limited space, as well as multiple fast-changing environments to film in a short time period.”

Both the HDC-F5500 and HDC-3500s being used at the game are fitted with one of Sony’s latest full HD OLED viewfinders, the HDVE-EL760. By combining full HD resolution with OLED, a quick response, high brightness viewfinder has been created-perfect for a fast-moving sporting environment.

A Sony FR7 will be used to capture the players’ expressions and emotions in the tunnel of the Stadio Olimpico throughout the night of the final, documenting the players’ reactions as the game unfolds. By using a full framed PTZ camera, viewers will see how the players are feeling up close without background distractions, thanks to the FR7’s shallow depth of field. The PTZ features of the camera will also make it easy to capture players’ emotions remotely in the stadium tunnel, an intimate space not usually fully accessible to cameras.

Elsewhere, Sony is also providing HDC-4800 cameras to film slow motion footage of the game, and FX6 and FX3 cameras to film the buildup to the big final, from the journey of the trophy to the stadium to behind the scenes of the match entertainment.

“Sony has always been at the forefront of technological innovation, so it’s great to welcome their knowledge, experience, and equipment to the Coppa Italia Frecciarossa Final,” said Luisella Fusco, director of media operations and broadcast at Lega Serie A.

“The Coppa Italia Frecciarossa is always packed with action, and with people watching worldwide on screens, it is very important that we get as much of that drama across as we can. Thanks to the Sony team and innovative imaging technology, we are transforming sports content by using techniques normally used in entertainment formats.”