Sony has announced it is developing a new image sensor block for the Sony Venice 2 digital cinema camera. Called the Rialto 65, it transforms the Venice 2 into a 65mm format camera.
What is 65 mm format?
The format has a long history. David Lean shot Lawrence of Arabia on 65mm film back in 1962, and modern IMAX cameras still use 65 mm film running horizontally through the camera. The format came to digital cinematography with ARRI’s Alexa 65.
A 65 mm digital image sensor is more than twice the size of a full-frame sensor. It’s roughly 3.5 times larger than a Super 35. That extra real estate delivers highly detailed images with a very shallow depth of field.
Rialto 65
Sony says the Rialto 65 sensor block effectively turns the Venice 2 into a 65 mm digital cinema platform. The sensor measures 2.1 inches (53.75 mm) wide by 1.4 inches (35.83 mm) tall, for a diagonal of around 2.5 inches (64.60 mm). It supports up to 9.6K 3:2 open gate recording and offers multiple readout modes for compatibility with different 65 mm lenses, including those with narrower image circles.
How it works
The Rialto 65 can mount directly to the Venice 2 body or connect via cable, similar to the Venice Extension System. That second option gives cinematographers greater mobility and more versatile shooting configurations. Sony says the sensor block will allow filmmakers to “capture both intimate character detail and expansive spatial depth, enhancing visual storytelling with a more immersive and epic presence that only large-format imaging can provide.”
What we think
The Venice 2 and its predecessor have already earned strong reputations in the industry, appearing in productions like A Complete Unknown, Ferrari, Perfect Days and Top Gun: Maverick. With the Rialto 65, Sony is giving filmmakers a credible alternative to the ARRI Alexa 65 without the cost and logistics of shooting on celluloid.
It’s a smart move. Large-format digital has been ARRI’s territory for years, and Sony stepping into that space with a modular solution built around an established camera body is a genuine proposition. The Rialto 65 could open up large-format filmmaking to productions that couldn’t previously justify the expense.
Pricing and availability
Sony is targeting a release in the first half of 2027. In the meantime, a prototype will be on display at Cine Gear Expo in Los Angeles, which opened June 5, 2026.
