Hitachi Adds HDR To Broadcast Cameras

Hitachi Kokusai Electric America has announced the addition of HDR to its UHD 4K and HDTV broadcast cameras. The upgraded cameras will be on display at Telemundo Cine Video Television Expo, 28 June – 1 July.

At the show, the company will demonstrate a number of HDR-upgraded cameras, such as the Hitachi Z-Series, SK-Series and DK-Series ranges. High Dynamic Range (HDR) has been added to the Hitachi SK-UHD4000 UHD studio/field camera. It has an industry standard B4 2/3-inch bayonet mount and 2/3-inch sensors, meaning operators can still use their existing HDTV lenses. HDR has also been added to the Hitachi Z-HD6000 HDTV studio/field production camera system, which captures 1920x1080 resolution video. A native 2K camera, it utilises 2.6 megapixels and 2/3-inch MOS sensors and offers F12 standard sensitivity with >60 dB of video headroom and real-time lens aberration correction (RLAC).

The cameras will be on show at two booths run by Hitachi's Mexican distribution partners – Escape Audio Video (Booth C-6) and Comtelsat. Furthermore, in a limited-time promotion, any new Hitachi camera purchase made before September 30, 2016 will include the HDR feature at no additional charge. Escape Audio Video will show several Hitachi cameras upgraded with the HDR feature, including the Z-HD5000 and SK-HD1000, as part of its product demonstrations. Comtelsat (Booth B-4) will showcase the Hitachi SK-HD1300, a top-of-the-line progressive scan HD studio and EFP camera, which captures 1080P images with its three 2/3-inch, 2.3 megapixel progressive scan MOS imagers, also upgraded with the HDR feature.

Both Escape Audio Video and Comtelsat will use these cameras as acquisition systems as part of a larger video/IT workflow demonstration that encompasses third-party products by video vendors such as Avid, SAM (Snell Advanced Media), Riedel Communications, PrimeStream and Editshare.

Sean Moran, COO, Hitachi Kokusai, said: "We're excited to offer High Dynamic Range capability on our UHD and HDTV broadcast cameras because we're confident that TV viewers will appreciate the increased contrast, richer color and dynamic lighting of the video it captures. With the way we've designed and implemented HDR in our cameras, broadcasters and other video professionals will be able to produce significantly superior HDR imagery without having to upgrade their existing infrastructure or transmission systems. HDR – which will be part of the emerging ATSC 3.0 standard – produces brighter, crisper, more luminous imagery, including UHD 4K video, resulting in a more immersive and engaging viewer experience."

"With its support for HDR, Hitachi has once again solidified its position at the vanguard of broadcast camera technology," added Fernando Riestra, Marketing Director for Escape Audio Video.

Israel Gomez, General Manager, Comtelsat, commented: "The Mexican broadcast market is one that demands uncompromised quality at affordable prices. With its current HDR promotion, Hitachi cameras will be especially hard to beat."

Image: Hitachi Z-HD6000 HDTV studio/field production camera.

www.hitachikokusai.us

(JP/LM)