Sony at InfoComm 2025: Tracking the Future of Lecture Capture
Sony’s presence at InfoComm 2025 (#2001) was a masterclass in precision — not just in engineering, but in aligning innovation with the real needs of today’s learning environments. Their booth wasn’t about speculation or vaporware; it was packed with AI-enabled 4K PTZ cameras, workflow enhancements, and firmware upgrades — all aimed at making classroom video capture smarter, smoother, and more scalable.
From immersive demos to firmware reveals, Sony’s message to higher ed AV teams was clear: lecture capture isn’t just a feature — it’s a strategic function. And the tools are finally catching up to the moment.
SRG-A40 and SRG-A12: AI on a Budget
Sony spotlighted their SRG-A40 and SRG-A12 PTZ cameras — built for classrooms, lecture halls, and hybrid learning spaces where automation and clarity are key. With AI-driven Auto Framing and Auto Tracking, these cameras remove the need for manual operation while still delivering professional-quality video.
Specs that matter:
- Up to 20x optical zoom (and 40x with Clear Image Zoom)
- 1/2.5″ Exmor R CMOS sensor for crisp imaging
- Seamless USB, IP, and HDMI outputs
Coming soon in Version 3.0 firmware are features like:
- Smooth subject releasing and tracking zones
- Fixed-angle framing presets
- Pre-installed NDI for IP-based workflows
- RTMP/RTMPS streaming support for direct-to-platform delivery
- Lead room effect to intelligently frame moving subjects
These updates further simplify deployment in higher ed settings, where instructor movement, multi-modal teaching, and lecture capture happen every day — and automation is more than a luxury, it’s a necessity.
BRC-AM7: Premium Intelligence for Hybrid and Auditorium Capture
Sony’s BRC-AM7 took its turn in the spotlight as well, showing off the power of high-end PTZ control, smart tracking, and deep integration. With Version 2 firmware coming in summer 2025, the AM7 line is gaining even more situational awareness:
- Multi-person framing for classroom discussions
- Face registration to lock onto known presenters
- Improved tracking range and dynamic camera logic
- Lead room effect, just like the SRG models
In larger rooms, multi-speaker events, or high-stakes hybrid setups, the BRC-AM7 adds intelligence where it counts. And because Sony’s PTZs all share a common control platform, schools can scale across spaces with consistency.
Integrated Solutions: Displays, Video Walls, and AV Ecosystems
While the PTZ lineup drew the most attention for academic technologists, Sony also showcased their complete AV ecosystem, with tools designed to support signage, engagement, and immersive content across campus:
- Pro BRAVIA 4K Displays for digital signage, interactive learning, and room endpoints
- Crystal LED and MicroLED video walls for large-format viewing or flagship spaces
- XR and AR solutions for emerging academic programs and simulation environments
- eSports-ready display and capture tech for schools investing in next-gen digital experiences
Each of these offerings benefits from Sony’s consistency in image quality, hardware reliability, and compatibility with modern AV-over-IP and control platforms.
What’s Coming Next
Across both PTZ and display lines, Sony emphasized its upcoming firmware timelines and strategic updates. The summer 2025 firmware rollouts for the SRG-A40, SRG-A12, and BRC-AM7 point to a company that is not only evolving its core platforms — but doing so in ways that directly respond to the needs of education technologists.
With built-in NDI, direct streaming options, face tracking, and smarter automation baked into the same devices already widely adopted across institutions, these updates can be rolled out without needing to re-engineer systems or retrain users.
For AV Teams, It’s About Balance
The real story at Sony’s booth wasn’t just the specs. It was how they’ve aligned their gear with the full range of AV needs in higher ed:
- Ease of use for instructors who just want to teach
- Advanced automation for AV teams managing many rooms
- IP readiness for scaling across networks
- Firmware evolution for long-term investment protection
It’s a product roadmap shaped not by flashy trends but by classroom reality — one that balances high performance with serviceability and student impact.
Final Take
Sony’s InfoComm 2025 showing was a reminder that real innovation in higher ed AV doesn’t always mean brand-new categories — sometimes, it means improving the systems we already rely on. With smarter tracking, easier integration, and a growing suite of campus-ready tools, Sony continues to position itself as a key partner in the evolving story of academic video.
And for higher ed institutions navigating the demands of hybrid teaching, live capture, and AV reliability at scale, that steady hand matters just as much as the tech itself.
🔗 Learn more at pro.sony/avsolutions or check out their recap at Sony’s InfoComm 2025 Event Page.
