Sony had a few pre-NAB releases this week. The first is the HDVF-C30WR, which is the upgrade to the original HDVF-C30. Sony  released a C35 model a while back, which was physically larger, but some of you may have noticed that it didn’t exactly fit the F35 or F23 with a prime lens on. The C30WR has some big improvements over the original. Here is some info from the press release:

• The new viewfinder has a 2.7-inch LCD screen (viewable area, measured diagonally), a pixel resolution of 960 by 540, and a new image processor – the same one used in Sony’s BVM-L230 LCD monitor. It provides comfortable and accurate framing and focusing operations by enabling more faithful color reproduction, with new and enhanced focus-assist functions.
• A flexible mechanical design minimizes interference between the lens and the viewfinder, especially when attached to the F23 and F35 cameras.
• Improved focus assist features include 2x (dot by dot) magnification to smooth out diagonal edges and a color peaking function. Luminance levels are easily indicated by color. Improved luminance transition (panel gamma compensation) and 3D LUT color space compensation help to provide more natural-looking luminance and color accuracy.
• The viewfinder includes an image inversion function (top/bottom and right/left), and selectable color temperatures are 6500K (standard), 5600K and 9300K. A new mechanism protects the LCD panel in direct sunlight, and a polarizing filter and IR cut filter attenuate the energy of sunlight.
  

The viewfinder works on the F23, F35, XDCAM HD422 optical and HDCAM camcorders, and the Sony studio HDC-1500/1000/1550/1400/1450 cameras. Should be beautiful.

Check out the Press Release here.