Hitachi To Debut 4 High-End HDTV Cameras

Hitachi Kokusai Electric America Ltd. will introduce four new HD cameras at the 2011 NAB Show in Las Vegas (Central Hall, Booth C4309). Three of its new cameras — the SK-HD2200 studio-body camera, SK-HD1200 handheld companion, and DK-HD200 P.O.V. box-camera — are all based on 3 Gbps technology. The fourth new camera, model SK-HD2000, is a studio-body camera companion to the popular SK-HD1000.

The new cameras’ primary design concept is full compliance with the SMPTE424M standard.  The new Hitachi cameras employ a new 1080/60p native-scan ultra-advanced 2/3-inch, Interline CCDs (UAIT) that it says ensures the most accurate color reproduction and highest picture detail. They also include 30-bit 175MHz RGB processing, bi-directional fully progressive transmission and HD-SDI multi-format camera outputs.

Users can select how to employ the advanced processing by selecting 1080/60p or 1080/60i operation.  The digital fiber transmission system can be used with a single 3Gbps camera or with two 1080i cameras.  This reduces the required fiber cable and ensures full compatibility with 3D Vision systems that currently use L/R Hitachi 1080i P.O.V. box cameras.  Several aux and prompter channels can be sent to the camera head and provide trunk data in any format to and from the CCU.

The new Hitachi CCUs were designed specifically for the new 3Gbps series cameras.  The CCUs provide multi-format outputs to satisfy any worldwide HDTV standard.  New and re-designed control panels are also available and can be used with any combination of Studio-body, portable, or P.O.V. box camera.  Hitachi’s camera control system is fully TCP/IP compliant.  Off-the-shelf data networking components and inexpensive cabling may be used to set up a sophisticated camera control network across a LAN, MAN, WAN or Internet.