What the FLEX Series Is and Why It Exists
The FLEX series was designed for productions that need more than wireless video monitoring. Every unit in the range carries broadcast-quality HD-SDI video as its primary function, but each adds a second or third capability on the same wireless link, removing the need for parallel wireless systems running alongside each other on set.
That matters practically. Running separate wireless video and wireless data systems on the same location means more transmitters, more RF coordination headaches, more battery management, and more potential for interference between your own systems. A combined link that carries everything you need from a single transmitter simplifies the RF environment and reduces the amount of kit that needs to be rigged and managed.
All three FLEX systems share the same core specifications: sub-1 ms system latency, up to 600 m line-of-sight range, dual-band operation, and V-Mount or Anton Bauer battery compatibility on the transmitter.
FLEX IP: HD Video Plus IP Data
£175/dayThe FLEX IP carries HD video and IP data on a single wireless link. It provides two HD-SDI outputs and an HDMI output at the receiver end, alongside a 150 Mbps IP data channel protected by WPA2 encryption. The IP data channel operates concurrently with the video link.
This combination suits productions where the camera position also needs a network connection, for metadata workflows, return feeds, file transfer to a production server, or monitoring data from an on-camera device. ENG crews shooting news content that needs to push footage back to a desk, or drama productions using on-camera scripting systems, will find the FLEX IP handles both requirements on one link.
At £175 per day (£525 per week, £1,575 per month), the FLEX IP is the entry point of the FLEX range.
View FLEX IPFLEX S700: HD Video Plus Sony Camera Control
£200/dayThe FLEX S700 carries HD video and Sony 700 camera control on a single wireless link. In addition to two HD-SDI outputs and HDMI at the receiver, it provides a Sony camera-control interface with 128-bit AES encryption protecting the camera-control and status data stream. The 900 MHz frequency option on the FLEX S700 is available for environments where lower-frequency operation provides better penetration through obstructions.
This unit is the specification for any production where a shader in an OB truck or a gallery needs full remote control over a Sony broadcast camera at a position where running a physical CCU cable is not practical. It removes the need to run a separate wireless camera control system alongside the video link.
At £200 per day (£600 per week, £1,800 per month), the FLEX S700 sits in the middle of the range.
View FLEX S700FLEX Fusion: HD Video, IP Data, and Sony Camera Control
£225/dayThe FLEX Fusion carries all three functions simultaneously: HD video, IP data, and Sony 700 protocol camera control on one wireless link. It represents the highest-capability option in the FLEX range and is the right specification when a camera position needs a shader-controlled Sony camera with a concurrent network connection.
Live broadcast productions where cameras feed both the production gallery and a streaming encoder, multi-camera OB setups where each camera position also feeds timing data or metadata back to a server, and large-scale live events with complex return-path data requirements are the environments where the FLEX Fusion earns its place.
At £225 per day (£675 per week, £2,025 per month), the premium over the FLEX S700 is modest for the added IP data capability it brings.
View FLEX FusionHow to Choose Between the Three
The decision comes down to what data, beyond HD video, your camera positions need to carry.
| Specification | FLEX IP | FLEX S700 | FLEX Fusion |
|---|---|---|---|
| HD video | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Receiver outputs | 2 x HD-SDI and HDMI | 2 x HD-SDI and HDMI | 2 x HD-SDI and HDMI |
| IP data | 150 Mbps, WPA2 encryption | No | 150 Mbps |
| Sony 700 camera control | No | Yes, 128-bit AES | Yes |
| Daily rate | £175 | £200 | £225 |
| Weekly rate | £525 | £600 | £675 |
| Monthly rate | £1,575 | £1,800 | £2,025 |
- If you need HD video and a network data path but no camera control:FLEX IP
- If you need HD video and full Sony RCP shading control but no concurrent network data:FLEX S700
- If you need HD video, shading control, and a live network data path simultaneously:FLEX Fusion
The common mistake on specifications is choosing the FLEX Fusion by default because it is the most capable unit, when the production only needs the FLEX IP or FLEX S700. Unnecessary capability at each camera position means higher hire cost on multi-camera jobs where the difference multiplies across several units.
What All Three FLEX Systems Share
Every FLEX system in the range provides the same core wireless performance: sub-1 ms system latency, up to 600 m line-of-sight range, dual-band operation, two HD-SDI outputs and an HDMI output at the receiver end, and V-Mount or Anton Bauer battery compatibility. The form factor and RF performance are consistent across all three. Only the additional data channels differ.
Further Reading
- SMPTE standards Published standards for broadcast and media technology, including HD-SDI.