NAB Show: Hitachi Kokusai To Showcase 4K Live Production Camera Solutions

Hitachi Kokusai Electric America (Hitachi Kokusai) will demonstrate its latest 4K UHD camera systems in Booth C6117 at the NAB Show (April 16-19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center). Product debuts include an upgradeable camera system for professional live events and broadcast production with a cost-efficient path to 4K, and a next generation box camera for use in a variety of applications.

The company will showcase its SK-UHD7000, introduced at NAB Show 2022, along with the new SK-UHD7000-S2. The SK-UHD7000, now shipping and in use worldwide, incorporates three 2/3-inch CMOS image sensors with native 4K resolution to enable the pristine capture of 3840×2160 UHD video. The sensors’ global shutter technology minimizes unwanted artifacts including flickering and banding that could otherwise occur when capturing LED walls and asynchronous lighting in event venues. The SK-UHD7000 is designed for live events but also makes premium 4K acquisition cost-effective for everyone from television broadcasters future-proofing their production to houses of worship linking live and satellite feeds.

The SK-UHD7000 offers formats ranging from 480p to 2160p and delivers extraordinary sensitivity and quality for Ultra HD production. Its sensitivity of F11 enables high-quality acquisition in low lighting conditions, while a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 62 dB provides ultra-quiet images. The camera’s new prism design delivers superior color reproduction and compliance with BT.2020 color gamut. Its dual 4K and HDTV workflow enables seamless multi-format productions and supports separate controls for High Dynamic Range (HDR) and standard dynamic range (SDR).

The new SK-UHD7000-S2, now shipping, provides the same pristine quality and production benefits. The SK-UHD7000-S2 leverages Hitachi Kokusai’s latest HD and 4K camera technology, but it can convert to a 4K camera with an affordable license upgrade option. This offers a lower initial purchase point for customers that want high-quality 1080p immediately along with a cost-effective, field-upgradeable path to 4K in the future.

The company says the SK-UHD7000-S2 “delivers spectacular depth modulation, lifelike images, exceptional visual quality, and superior price/performance for live performance applications while providing signal to noise ratio surpassing -62dB on every output. The upgrade license will also integrate new 4K technologies that Hitachi Kokusai develops moving forward, ensuring that customers always receive the latest benefits and features upon upgrading.”

“The Ultra Clear images of the SK-UHD7000 and new SK-UHD7000-S2 must be seen to believe,” said Kenneth Cyr, national sales manager. “The picture is absolutely whisper quiet. Along with astonishing images, both cameras offer our customers more creative freedom than ever. Productions are often in uncontrolled and unpredictable environments and the SK-UHD7000 offers the advanced controls and dual workflow capacity to make the uncontrolled seem controllable and managed with ease.

DK-H700 Reference Display — Hitachi Kokusai will present a reference display of another 4K camera that will provide visitors with a preview of the product. The new DK-H700 is a multi-format, reference display camera that uses 2/3-inch, RGB, 8.3-million-pixel CMOS sensors for the delivery of sharp, clear images. The DK-H700 combines these features with advanced digital signal processing and HDR support “to provide superior picture quality with low noise, faithful lifelike color fidelity, and extraordinary sensitivity.”

The DK-H700 is a versatile solution for a wide array of applications and business verticals. Ideal as a standalone camera system or a complement to the SK-UHD7000 Series in larger productions, the DK-H700 shines in broadcast studios, sports, and live events venues, as well as professional AV applications including corporate, education, and any type of government visual surveillance applications. The DK-H700 also provides a new level of detailed reality for ophthalmology and other medical operations and procedures.

The DK-H700 also fully complies with ITU-R.BT-2020 wide color gamut specs. Complementing the camera’s excellent dynamic range is the ability to operate within REC BT2100 High Dynamic Range standards. These constitute the provision of being able to produce independent programs in a dual workflow configuration for both HDTV and/ or UHD SDI output formats.

The new DK-H700 has also added a ¼ ND filter to produce a minimized depth of field, which will add to artistic value and reduce the moire effect on video walls. Providing the ability to reduce depth of field, while also having 2/3” native global shutter sensors for maximum depth of field, “offers the best of both worlds in creating a maximum artistic experience.”

Cyr adds that as more broadcast and ProAV customers transition to 4K, the DK-H700 delivers an outstanding solution at that can be used with other Hitachi Kokusai cameras. “We have always taken great pride in offering the best technology and performance to our customers,” he said. “By allowing the use of existing components with the new cameras, we make upgrading even more affordable to our existing customers.”