New DVCAM camcorders from Sony Company

By Alexander Loner

Review contents:

Computer with lens Camcorders of Hitachi-Denshi Company High Definition Ikegami camcorders Ikegami camcorders — a realization of any creative tasks Camcorders of the format D-9 and camcorder heads of the JVC Compact HD-camcorder JVC JY-HD10 with 720/30p format Professional DV series camcorders of JVC company New Panasonic camcorders High speed camcorders from Redlake (USA) New generation of the camera heads Sony DXC series New DVCAM camcorders from Sony Company Modern HD camcorders from Sony for E-cinema Camcorders of Grass Valley a Thomson Brand company

According to world trend of the development of the electronic technology and improvements of the facilities of keeping to information, greater preference in this sector is returned to digital optical carrier on base tapeless technology. In sphere of the professional equipment for TV production this is expressed in broad spreading the equipment with possibility to record on hard disk and other carriers. The examples are disc recorders (see The Magazine 625, #7, 2002) and new camcorders with possibility to record on solid-state memory produced by Panasonic, new generation of the camcorders Ikegami Editcam II and, certainly, the Sony camcorders with possibility to record on videodisk, presented at NAB2003.

However, in spite of new, quickly developing technologies, Sony is not intending to shorten the production of the equipment of traditional digital formats, which relies on tape. Sony, alongside with development of the new digital equipment, in principal different from traditional devices, is continuing the extension of the DVCAM equipment line, long ago recognized by general standard professionals of digital TV production. Design of these devices of different digital formats provides the possibility of their collaboration and provides the more close integration of the technology with different carriers, such as tape and tapeless formats.

Optical disc devices designed by Sony has general with equipment DVCAM interface i. Link and are constructed with provision for their collaboration. Exactly to such equipment pertains submitted for NAB exhibition a new camcorder DSR-390P with DVCAM format. With compact and light monoblock, simple and handy for outside studio shootings, it satisfies to the most high professional requirements and have the broad set of features.

Sony DSR-390P

Sony DSR-390P is equipped by removable lens and three 1/2" CCD Power HAD 4:3 with line transfer of charge. DSR-390P well suits for use in low-budget TV-journalism, corporative video, at creation of educational programs, as well as for shooting of memorable events, for instance, of wedding ceremony. This new model came on change to the model DSR-370.

Specially designed for new camcorder, CCD PowerHAD with line transfer of charge charge has allowed vastly perfecting the quality of the picture in contrast with DSR-370P. Now the sensitivity of sensor of the picture is F13 (in previous model this parameter was equal to F11), the level of vertical smearing is 115 dB (earlier it was 110 dB), and signal/noise ratio is 62 dB (earlier it was 60 dB).

Audio record controls

Ergonomics of the new model have some changes. Now camcorder is equipped by double lid as a matter of convenience access to the main controls of sound. The unveiling of small compartment is made possible to control the switch of channels, but folding the panel completely, is the possibility to control the rest settings of camcorder. Specially as a matter of convenience work with disc recorder there in folding panel is a small window, through which it is possible to keep control on working modes.

Camcorder can record 8 files of pre-settings (5 are from production and 3 are from users) for conservation of settings for the camcorder. By developers of Sony some changes to mode Film Like (“cinema like”) are contributed. Under mode activation the special parameters of the adjusting of camcorder (including perfected gamma-feature and color signal matrix) are fixed automatically, which becomes closer to gamma of the film closer and filming is imitated. By means of functions SetupNavi files of the user and production pre-settings are possible to save on tape DVCAM in the field of Vaux.

In new camcorder the main functions of previous model are saved. For instance, Hyper Gain allows to choose by means of simple switch of videosignal gain factor (step-like, with the following values: 0, 18, 36 and 42 dB) that provides maximum sensitivity of the camcorder equal to 0.4 lux.

The function Freeze Mix provides the imposition earlier recorded “frozen” picture (freeze-frame) on viewfinder picture. The combination Freeze Mix with function of the registration setting parameter SetupLog vastly simplifies the shooting of the repeated takes. The function Pool-Feed (only when the additional board DSBK-501 is installing) is intended for recording and distribution of signal from external TV-camcorder to several video recorders. The function Edit Search provides the quick access to erection point.

The whole internal processing and transformations are solely digital that allows to avoid the hindrances, appearing under analog-to-digital operation. The functions of the digital processing signal vastly raise the quality of the scene and exploiting data of the camcorder. TruEye produces the processing of videosignal on three parameters: brightness, color tone and saturation. A human eye works approximately on the same algorithm. The process TruEye facilitates the reception of natural flesh-colored tone. DynaLatitude, basing on videosignal histograms, justifies the contrast of each pixel for eliminating of any disbalance. Skin Tone Detail creates pleasing, soft facial features, masking defects of the skin structure, Black Stretch emphasizes the contrast in dark areas, Black Compress makes the dark tone deeper.

Further to four built-in filters, in DSR-390P is provided fine turning of the color temperature. When filter is installed on 3200K the 19-step adjusting of the color temperature is possible within the range from 220 to 4300K by menu, displayed in viewfinder. When the filter on 5600K is installed there is 13-step adjusting of the color temperature within the range from 4600K to 12,000K. With using this function it is possible without special equipment to create the artistic effects of coloring, for instance, sundown effect.

The camcorder is equipped with by built-in digital interface i. Link (only DV-output), intended for recording of the signasl on video recorders DV and DVCAM. The additional possibilities for recording is provided by 26-wired interface of the video recorder for joining with portable recording device. Using 26-pin connector and multiple-strand cable, it is possible to connect the DSR-390P with controller of camcorder Sony CCU-D50.

The camcorder has all main inputs and outputs of signal: synchronization (genlock video in), analog video (when additional board DSBK-501 is installed), VBS, component and DV (the interface i. Link). Also, there are inputs and outputs of time code, external source of the sound (2 channels), mike input, output on monitor and others.

Disc recorder DSR-DU1 can be mounted on camcorder and record on 2,5" hard disk with capacity 40 GB. He provides up to 3 hours recording time in DVCAM/DV format. The recorder has several modes of working: parallel record on cassette and disk; unceasing record, when recorder continues the record under stopping of the cassette; loop recording by duration 8 sec. DSR-DU1 can also work and as autonomous erection device that allows to simplify the process of the nonlinear editing.

The dimensions and weight of the camcorder are the same, as its predecessor and their values are the following: 242×247×536 mm, 6.2 kg (with viewfinder, mike, lens, battery and miniDV cassette).

There are three modifications of this camcorder: DSR-390PL (without variolens), DSR-390PK1 (with variolens VCL-719BX) and DSR-390PK2 (with variolens VCL-716BX). Fastening the lens is provided by Sony 1/2" bayonet.

Soon appearance of new model is expected: Sony DSR-590 which will be a change for DSR-570P. It will differ from predecessor by new CCD, perfected values of brightness, signal/noise ratio and better ergonomics, like to changes, which were contributed in model Sony DSR-390.

At NAB 2003 new equipment was represented by well known DVCAM and IMX formats with principal differences from tape by carrier, representing 12 cm (5") repeatedly rewritable optical disk placed in protective cartridge. For recording and playback these videodisks are used the blue laser technology, allowing to realize the higher recording density and broader frequency band in contrast with possibility of usual red laser.

This new system has all known advantages, which peculiar to videodisks, including free access for fraction of a second, low cost of the carriers and absence of the physical contact with head during recording and playback.

The system on the base of the videodisks offers absolutely new approach to organization of news-retrieval, editing in field conditions and transmission of material to TV-station. This simplifies the following in-studio editing and the working process is more efficient. Using optical camcorder as autonomous device, users will be able to produce a marking of the scenes, quickly orientate in selected ingenious clips by means of thumb-nail pictures on LCD monitor and reproduce them in necessary sequences.

The optical video recording devices can work in MPEG IMX and DVCAM formats. The optical disk provides the recording of material in MPEG IMX format with the following streams:

• 50 Mbit/sec during 45 min;
• 40 Mbit/sec during 55 min;
• 30 Mbit/sec during 75 min;
• 25 Mbit/sec (DVCAM) during 90 min.

The devices are completely corresponded to analog and digital standards used in sound and video recording, as well as to IT standards, including compatibility with interface i. Link (IEEE 1394) and Ethernet.

Recording on optical disk is simultaneously realized with high and low (proxy) resolution. Proxy-information can be carried from camcorders directly or from separate mobile device to portable mounting system or to TV-center with 30-times speed.

PDW-530

The line of the equipment with optical disks was submitted for NAB 2003 by two disc camcorders and by three video recorders. The camcorders PDW-530 and PDW-510P are registering the picture of high quality by means of three 2/3" CCDs EX HAD using 12-bit ADC. One of the camcorders can realize recording on optical disk at the option either in DVCAM or IMX format, the other — only in DVCAM format. There is recording function in mode “endless loop”, as well as through certain intervals, in built-in buffer memory. By means of additional adapter PC-CARD is provided connection with Ethernet or wireless connection with local-area network. 2.5" LCD display is intended for playback control, entering of markers of ingenious copies and changing of clip sequences. The load compartment of the optical disk has a lid with double protection from dust. All devices are supporting the interfaces i. Link and Ethernet for transfer of content in Material Exchange Format (MXF).

The video recording on videodisk well suits for owners of the equipment of DVCAM, Betacam SX and MPEG IMX formats because a possibility of their collaboration is already included in architecture of these formats. When using the DVCAM and MPEG 4:2:2 platforms the tape and disk systems will be successfully able to coexist in the future else for many years; that will raise the efficiency of already made investment in this equipment.

Material provided by D&K Corporation and I.S.P.A.-Engineering Company