Hitachi will demonstrate its new 4K broadcast camera at the 2015 NAB Show. The portable SK-UHD4000 is a 4K Ultra-HDTV camera system that uses standard 2/3-inch B4 mount HDTV lenses.
This is the first time that HITACHI Kokusai will show this camera at an NAB show. Be sure to stop by booth #SL3910 for a closer look.
This camera’s use of standard HDTV lenses is a technological advantage for broadcasters and production companies. Existing camera lenses can be used to shoot video in 4K resolution, eliminating the need for optically degenerative lens mount adapters. High-zoom ratio 2/3-inch lenses are the industry standard for outside broadcast of live sports events.
Housed in a standard portable camera chassis, the Hitachi SK-UHD4000’s four sensor high precision optical system utilizes dual green sensors to realize the 4K resolution image of 8.8 million effective pixels. The patented 4-port RGB prism delivers the 4K performance of a 35-mm single Color Filter Array sensor. Standard 2/3” broadcast lenses can be used, and the camera fits seamlessly into live field and studio TV production workflow using 2K (1920 x 1080) or 4K (3840 x 2160).
The SK-UHD4000 has the clear advantage of optically capturing images in its red, green and blue color components. Color resolution is superior to single sensor cameras, and avoids the artifacts of the de-bayering process of color separation from the single color filter array sensors used in most 4K cameras.
Hitachi’s SK-UHD4000 is already in field use. Gearhouse Broadcast used the camera the ATP World Tour Finals in the UK and again in Australia to produce the first native 4K OB super truck. Known as HD8, the supertruck will handle all processes from acquisition to production. 12 of Hitachi’s new SK-UHD4000 ultra-HD cameras, of which Gearhouse purchased the first 50, are the star attractions of the new OB truck.
Gearhouse COO Kevin Moorhouse reported that the camera workflow is very much like its predecessors which is very beneficial in the broadcast market. The cameras similarity means it can be set up quickly without operators having to learn new equipment. At the ATP World Tour Finals, Gearhouse used the camera in 2K and 4K at the same time.
The camera has four HD outputs, two 4K outputs and four SD outputs. The low power consumption of the camera (38W) allows quiet and stable operation.Other features of the camera include independent 2K CUTOUT from the 4K raster, the ability to switch the 4K transport stream from SQUARED vision to 2-sample interleave, Level-A/B switchable 3G HD-SDI and the previously mentioned simultaneous 2K and 4K output.
The new low-noise 2/3 inch MOS sensors on the SK-UHD4000 acquire video images with no smear, high sensitivity, high resolution and power efficiency increase. The Real Time Lens Aberration Correction (RLAC) allows the SK-UHD4000 corrects the lateral chromatic aberration of some 2/3-inch HDTV lenses.
Hitachi Kokusai SK-UHD4000 Data Sheet
Be sure to stop by Hitachi’s booth #SL3910 at the 2015 NAB Show to see this innovative camera.
