In Broadcast - December 2017 - 29

29

www.inbroadcast.com | Vol: 7 - Issue 12 | December 2017

InFocus

Cameras And Camcorders
Contributing Editor David Kirk looks
at the latest imaging innovations...

T

elevision
broadcasters
and
content originators face an ever
widening choice of cameras and
camcorders, ranging in size and price
from 4K-capable mobile phones to
studio cameras with resolutions of
8K and higher. The following article
summarises the most recent additions
in dedicated production cameras. It
is all 'flat-screen' kit; VR has yet to
prove that it will fly outside the games
market.
Cameras
Camera Corps' Qx HD camera
incorporates the features of the
established Q-Ball and Q3 plus a more
advanced camera module. Among its
new capabilities are 3D noise reduction
and shading correction. Available
both for rental and purchase, the Qx
has a 1/3-inch CMOS Full HD sensor
delivering 1080p60, 1080p50, 1080i
and 720p. Shutter speed range is 1/4
to 1/8,000 second, imaging sensitivity
is F5.6 at 2000 lux and minimum
illumination level is 1.5 lux at F1.6.
Enhanced IR capability allows live
video capture in zero visible light
conditions using infra-red illumination.
Features include an integral 18x zoom
lens, automatic exposure, auto white
balance, colour correction, edge
enhancement, noise reduction and
gamma control. Genlock allows easy
synchronisation with other equipment.
Combining the Qx with Camera Corps'
hybrid electro-optical links allows
operation across distances of five
kilometres or more.
Also added recently to the Camera
Corps range, Clarity is a miniature high
speed broadcast camera head which

can capture HD at
up to 480fps, eight
times real-time at
50p or 60p frame
rate. Finished in
black and measuring just
66x25x120mm, the Clarity
head is designed to be almost
invisible to other cameras covering
a scene. Image capture is via a 7
megapixel micro four-thirds sensor.
The camera can also be genlocked
and has a wide temperature tolerance,
allowing outdoor use from winter
sports to the hot mid-summer events.
Completing the Clarity system is a fullfunctioned remote control panel with
paint, focus, iris and zoom control.
Optical fibre cabling allows easy setup
and long-distance signal transport.
Additional features include a positivelock lens mount plus a global shutter
with speeds of 1/60, 1/125, 1/500 and
1/1000 second. Sensitivity is 2000 lux
at F11 aperture. Video can be output in
1080p, 1080i and 720
formats at 50 or 59.94
Hz.
Grass
Valley's
LDX 86N/86 4K and
LDX 86N/86 offer the
ability to shoot 4K UHD
with 2/3-inch B4 mount
lenses. The LDX 86N/86
also provides high frame rate
acquisition in HD and 3G. The LDX
86N/86 can operate in ITU-R BT.2020
extended colour gamut. The LDX 86
Series may be software-upgraded to
offer full 15 F-stops of high dynamic
range for all 50/59.94 Hz formats.
Hitachi's Z-HD6000 HD camera uses
2.6 megapixel 2/3-inch MOS sensors

- Advanced HD camera
Camera Corps' Qx
Camera Corps' Clarity -

Hitachi's Z-HD6000 HD camera

and is claimed to deliver F12 standard
sensitivity with over 60dB of video
headroom. Seven different responses
are provided to increase exposure
latitude in shooting conditions where
lighting and scenery vary widely in
intensity. The camera also includes
real-time lens aberration correction
and is housed in a two-piece dockable
camera body with a choice of digital
fibre or triax cable. The Z-HD6000
includes triple-masking functions,
linear matrix and skin tone masking.
Ikegami's UHK-430
4K/HD portable
camera system

Ikegami's HDK-73 dockable HD
studio/EFP camera, introduced at the
April 2017 NAB Show, incorporates
a newly designed imaging head
with three 2.6 megapixel 2/3-inch
CMOS sensors. It delivers 1,000 TV
lines horizontal resolution, greater
than 60dB signal-to-noise and F13
sensitivity.
User-adjustable
gamma for HDR picture
origination is provided,
including preset Hybrid
Log Gamma, enabling
high-contrast scenes
to be televised with full
picture detail across
the entire brightness
range from highlights
to shaded areas. Full digital
signal handling is performed by a
newly developed processor operating
in up to 38 bit depth.

The camera outputs in either
1080i or 720p and can interface
with portable recorders via SDI to
control the record trigger. In standalone configuration,
external
devices
such as wireless
transmission or a
solid-state/HDD
recorder can be
attached. The SE-H750 system
expander enables use of a studio
viewfinder and full studio lenses,
converting the portable camera into
a full facility studio camera. Optional
controllers include the OCP-300 which
supports
Ikegami's
conventional
control, Arcnet based control systems
and Ethernet based control. The
OCP-300 includes a touch screen
LCD with rotary encoders and an SD
memory card slot for full camera
setup and data filing. Also available
is the compact OCP-10 which can
control basic functions such as iris,
white balance, black balance, paint,
gamma and master black. The OCP10 supports Ethernet based control
allowing customers to choose between
Ikegami's traditional ICCP control and
Ethernet based control system.
Also new from Ikegami is the UHK430 4K/HD portable
camera system. This
employs three newlydeveloped 4K-native
2/3-inch
CMOS
sensors which provide
full 3840x2160 ultrahigh definition resolution
plus the depth of field required
for studio and outdoor production.
The camera head can be detached as
a compact unit and operated up to 50
metres from the camera body. A high
frame-rate option is available for slowmotion effects.

Dockable HD studio/
EFP HDK-73 camera
http://www.inbroadcast.com http://www.hitachi-keu.com/test/broadcast/hdtv_broadcast_production_cameras/z_hd6000_e.htm http://www.ikegami.de/uhk-430.html http://www.ikegami.de/hdk-73.html http://www.cameracorps.co.uk/
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