High Definition Ikegami camcorders

 

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

Only few specialists will argue with statement that market of digital broadcasting develops not so quickly, as was expected at beginning. However, accent in investment for production of the digital broadcasting equipment was greatly displaced with systems of the transmission of the signal to technology, intended for production of the programs. The requirements to studio equipment, including television camcorders and monitors all more are tightened. The level of the developments exactly in this area is a strong point of the Ikegami.

What the experience of the electronic movie theater shows, one of the last trend is need for high-end equipment for cinema production. Some producers of the broadcasting equipment have already represented such formats, as 1080/24p (24 frames/sec, progressive scanning), 720p (the changeable frequency of the frames change, progressive scanning).

However purpose of the Ikegami in sphere of the high-end camcorders is to offer the higher quality of the scene, than provide by camcorders, which are shooting at 24 frames/s. So company has conducted variety of tests, in accordance with picture processing.

Within the framework of already mentioned a trend the creation of multi-objective multi-format camcorders is expected, the need for which is defined, in particular, by existence of the 1080i format (50 frames/sec, interlacing scanning). Moreover, the last achievements in CCD production technologies to make HD-camcorders more compact, light, economical have allowed, than usual camcorders with standard resolution.

The reflection of all recent trend developments and need of the user is new compact and light HDTV camcorder Ikegami HDK-79EX equipped by control module CCU-790A. In this camcorder the branded know-how LSI and experience, accumulated for time production digital camcorders, are realized.

In exploitation the HDK-79EX is simple; then, controller CCU-790A contains branded DSP. This camcorder is created on base of the matrixes ASIC. This matrix has been constructed from 3,000,000 photosensitive elements with size 0.18 µm each of them. HDK-79EX has inherited all functions of well proved camcorder HDK-79E. Besides, in new camcorder are taken into account the experience and new technological developments, which have been accumulated during producing of HDK-79E. A result is that the signal into DK-79EX is 90% processed digitally.

Aside from this, HDK-79EX is more compact, weighs about 4.6 kg and consumes not more than 28 W. Under its portability HDK-79EX is intended for HDTV programs, which number in the future will invariably grow.

In the range of useful camcorder’s function Super Knee is included (color correction in linear range, adjusted color effects and perfected transmission of the details in dark area of the picture). Hence the requests of the users of the Ikegami camcorders were taken into account.

HDK-79EX with high definition lens and other accessories

Besides, HDK-79EX camcorder allows the operator to use the functions with the help of very simple interface. The engineers-developers have provided for this camcorder a very saturated color rendition and higher features. Further to the main system of the pictureprocessing the scene a possibility of the reception of such picture is added, which is required depending on terms and tasks of the shooting. For this purpose the functions of the detailed picture adjusting are existed (including the color rendition of exposed areas, improvement quality of shaded areas and correction of flesh-colored tones).

Under shooting by HDTV camcorder even small deterioration of the focusing greatly influences upon quality of the scene. When use 2" viewfinder aiming HDTV camcorder on sharpness represents itself a no simple task. This is of special importance at shooting with big relative aperture of the lens and big depth of sharpness. For decision of this problem engineers from Ikegami have conducted the large number of the field test on subject of the testing of the viewfinder circuits. Basing on result of these studies, they have equipped HDK-79EX by viewfinder with Clear VF-DTL function, which allows the realize of very exact focusing. This feature became possible due to additional, independent from the main circuit ACIS, signal processing of the circuit, enterring on viewfinder.

For improvement of the camcorder balancing at shooting from shoulder the HDK-79EX is provided with shoulder-strap made from specially designed material. This device safely holds the camcorder on operator shoulder even under weight changing of theshooting apparatus or changing of center of gravity that can be caused, for instance, by change of lens. Camcorder itself has low located center of gravity that perfects its balancing and facilitates movement with her at shooting.

The camcorder is delivered with built-in interface data communication. This allows to get on leaving the camera head videosignal HD-SDI and provides the bidirectional relationship between camcorder and station of control.

The interface data communication provides the information exchange between control station and device, connected to camcorder that else more increases versatility to last. The extended functions include control of camcorder under installation on crane, remote operated panoramic head etc. Moreover, fibre-triaxial converter TFC-790 allows to use the camcorder where triaxial cable is laid.

In general, camcorder HDK-79EX saves the operator from all difficulties and problems, which are usually associated with this type of the equipment. For reception of the high-quality picture it is enough to execute some simple operations.

Muliti-format control station of camcorder CCU-790A is specially designed with provision for support of different signal formats. This station can be connected to camera head of 1080i or 720p format, which are supported by Ikegami. Equipped by the board of multi-format converter, this station provides the different transformations and their combinations. Further to this there is the function of converting of the frame frequency, which, due to presence of the circuit of the revealing the motion and digital filter, allows to realize the optimum transformation. This is illustrated in table.

Camera head	Output CCU-790A
1080i/50Hz	1080i/50 (drawing 2:3 and variable frequency of the frames)
	1080p/29,97
	1080p/29,97 (segmented frames)
	1080p/23,98
	1080p/23,98 (segmented frames)
	720p/50
	PAL-SDI standard resolution

CCU-790A has a possibility of great perfection of the picture quality, since the camcorder is provided with varied function to digital correction of details (DTL), as such as frequency raising, correcting the flesh-colored tone etc. The level of flesh-colored tone and color correction can be adjusted automatically or manually with control panels.

The control station is also equipped with raising and lowering converter of the inverse videosignal and supports the signal of the standard PAL resolution. For inverse videosignal, enterring on camera head is provided before four inverse channels (two or four depending on modification of the camera head) plus two Q-TV channels.

The station menu allows choosing the input signals by HD-SDI, SD (PAL)-SDI and VBS type. There is possibility to use the external supporting PAL signals (625/50) and HDTV (1080i/50). At reception at station output the signals, transformed in different formats HDTV (optional), supporting output signals can be used as signals of external synchronization.

CCU-790A is provided by interface RS-422 for realization of the possibility of the remote control of pan head, camcorder lens or other equipment, connected to camera head.

HDK-79EX also contains the module of the extension, allowing transformation of the movable camcorder in studio camera, having joined powerful lens and compact base station BS-79 to her.

HDL-40 HD camera

In the nearest future Ikegami will release compact triaxial adapter and adapter for extension of the possibilities of the fiber-optic interface that the camcorder would make as more universal.

Aside from series HDK-79, the Ikegami has developed supercompact two-matrice HDL-20 and monoblock HDL-40 HDTV-camcorders.

All these camcorders already are successfully used in Japan, but soon they will begin its way all over the world.

Material provided by Tokio Den-On Company