I have 2 5500 and 3 5800. And HDCAM-SR is now a software codec in addition to a tape.
If you have the 5800/2 with the data option you can pull the file media off of the tape media. And the SR-R1 SR-MASTER recorder will soon support recording to SR codec.
There is even a QT plugin support for SR codec and AMA plugin for Avid. Sony has done a great job adding support for the format.
http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/show-highend/resource.solutions.bbsccms-assets...