Avatar, Black Panther and Top Gun were all shot on Sony cameras

By Lauren Scott
published

Remember when everyone said Sony's E-mount wouldn't catch on? These Hollywood blockbusters beg to differ!

Avatar, Black Panther and Top Gun sequels were all shot on Sony
(Image credit: Sony Pictures UK)

Sony UK has recently taken to Twitter to share that its Venice camera was used to shoot three massive movies in 2022; Avatar: The Way of Water, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Top Gun: Maverick – blockbusters that not only made millions at the box office but were reviewed favorably, too.

As well as being used in Hollywood, unsurprisingly the Sony Venice and Sony Venice 2 are on the official Netflix camera list (opens in new tab), along with the Sony FX3, which features in our guide to the best Netflix-approved cameras (opens in new tab).  The original Venice camera was launched in early 2018, while the Venice 2 camera (with its choice of 8K and 6K sensors) started shipping in early 2022 – slightly too late for filming the three major blockbusters.

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Make no mistake, these full-frame cinema cameras have been created by and for the cinematographer, although they can take the best Sony E-mount lenses (opens in new tab). CVP has created a brilliant YouTube video on why the Sony Venice and Rialto 2 are Sony's Best-Kept Cinema Camera Secret:

So why should we care? While pretty much none of us are ever going to shoot a Hollywood blockbuster movie or a Netflix series (sorry), it's still interesting to know what cameras were used for filming. 

In the same way that we often want to know exactly what gear our favorite professional photographer has in their kitbag, finding out what camera a world-class director or filmmaker has chosen gives that camera, and brand, some serious kudos. And as the lines between professional filmmakers and hobbyists blur, so too do the best cinema cameras (opens in new tab) available to consumers.

Given that the Sony Venice 2 costs about $58,000 at retail value with the 8.6k sensor, it's not something you'd be using for a YouTube channel (and if it is, props to you). It's a serious camera for serious cinematographers, but what's interesting is that the tech inside the latest broadcast-quality cameras tends to trickle down to hybrid cameras (opens in new tab) and cameras for video (opens in new tab) eventually. Until you win the lottery, then, you might also like our best Sony camera (opens in new tab) guide, which has reviews of all the latest models.

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Lauren Scott
Lauren Scott
Managing Editor

Lauren is the Managing Editor of Digital Camera World, having previously served as Editor of Digital Photographer (opens in new tab) magazine, a practical-focused publication that inspires hobbyists and seasoned pros alike to take truly phenomenal shots and get the best results from their kit. 


An experienced photography journalist who has been covering the industry for over eight years, she has also served as technique editor for both PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine (opens in new tab)PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine and DCW's sister publication, Digital Camera Magazine (opens in new tab). 


In addition to techniques and tutorials that enable you to achieve great results from your cameras, lenses, tripods and other photography equipment, Lauren can regularly be found interviewing some of the biggest names in the industry, sharing tips and guides on subjects like landscape and wildlife photography, and raising awareness for subjects such as mental health and women in photography.

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