Hitachi: 4K camera showcase at CABSAT
February 10, 2015
At CABSAT, Hitachi Kokusai Electric Turkey (Stand E2-10) will stage the first ever Middle East showcase of its SK-UHD4000 4K Ultra-HD broadcast camera system. First introduced at IBC last September, the camera system provides the market’s most advanced 4K UHD performance capabilities and a straightforward upgrade pathway since it can use the 2/3-inch B4 mount lenses found in conventional HD broadcast cameras.
From studio production to documentaries, sports or live-events, this new Hitachi camera systems offers an elegant migration pathway from HD to 4K Ultra-HD. The use of standard HD lenses with the SK-UHD4000 eliminates the need for special conversion adapters. This feature allows broadcasters to effectively use their existing lenses and shoot video in 4K resolution, while at the same time retaining the easy handling and operability of broadcast cameras currently in use.
“The SK-UHD4000 is our most advanced camera system: an innovative 4K Ultra-HD camera that makes it easy to produce programmes shot in 4K resolution which is forecast to become the industry standard in the near future,” said Cemal Yilmaz, General Manager of Hitachi Kokusai Turkey. “It provides effective solutions to the challenges of live sports broadcasts outdoors, such as sensitivity and depth of field.”
The SK-UHD4000 is equipped with a newly developed Hitachi 2/3-inch MOS sensor. This sensor makes it possible to produce video images with high sensitivity and high resolution. It also helps to significantly reduce the amount of power consumed.
Key features
Direct installation of B4 lenses for conventional HD broadcast cameras
The 2/3-inch B4 lens mount enables broadcasters to use their existing lens stock, allowing them to continue using these valuable assets. Operationally, since the SK-UHD4000 has a 2/3 inch prism, optical characteristics such as depth of field and focus will be the same as a 2/3 inch Broadcast HD camera. For demanding applications, such as live sports broadcasts, 4K-resolution content can be produced just as easily as with conventional HD programs.
Handling and operability comparable to existing HD broadcast cameras
Despite its exceptional output capabilities, the SK-UHD4000 is as easy to handle as existing HD broadcast cameras. Once again, it can also be used in combination with standard HD camera accessories such as a studio adaptor for mounting high-magnification studio lenses.
High quality video in 4K resolution
Hitachi’s newly developed 2/3-inch MOS sensor delivers industry-leading levels of sensitivity and resolution, whilst the optical system originally developed by Hitachi Kokusai Electric allows for the reproduction of colour in high-fidelity. To get the most out of 2/3-inch lenses, Hitachi Kokusai Electric applied its high-precision lens bonding methods and original video signal processing technology to produce exceptionally high levels of resolution.
Small 2U-size 4K camera control unit
The camera control unit for the SK-UHD4000 stands 88 mm (2U size) tall. The compact size of the camera control unit lends itself to operation which the confines of outside broadcast (OB) vehicles.
The SK-UHD4000 generates HD and 4K video signals separately, enabling HD and 4K video outputs at the same time, and to extract HD-quality video from 4K footage.
Low power consumption
The SK-UHD4000 features Hitachi Kokusai Electric’s proprietary technologies for digital video signal processing, optical transmission, and high-efficiency power supply – the combination of these technologies achieves a lower level of power consumption. The amount of power consumed by the camera head is suppressed to 38W – equivalent to the power consumption of a 1080p HD broadcasting camera.