By Carl Mrozek, March 27, 2008
After a decade-long procession of new and improved HD cameras and camcorders at NAB, what more can we hope to see this year? Will it be a year of dramatic breakthroughs, of cameras that exceed expectations, or will cameras finally meet core expectations? Obviously, that depends on your expectations.
If you were hoping to find a CineAlta-type camera for under $10,000, you might be disappointed. The latest addition to Sony's CineAlta camera family, the PMW-EX1, is already on the market for around $6,000. Unlike the HDW-F900, it captures 720p and can operate at 50 or 60Hz. Not bad for less than the cost of a "cheap" 2/3-inch HD lens.
If you were expecting a 4K cine-style camera for under $20,000, you also might be disappointed. That was last year's breakthrough in the RED ONE, although RED Digital Cinema promises something comparably impressive this year, but in a much smaller package and for a smaller price. If you prefer bigger cameras, with 2/3-inch full-raster HD sensors, at bigger prices, you shouldn't be disappointed as there should be several offerings for sale this year.
If you're expecting great things in small (camera) packages, you shouldn't be disappointed, either, as there will be more than a few new camcorders with 1/3-inch sensors, able to capture full-raster HD at 1920x1080, in multiple formats and even standards (50Hz, 60Hz). If you prefer even smaller cameras, there will be something for you, too.
In short, there is likely to be something for every camera taste at NAB, even if they don't meet all of your expectations. Then again, what cameras ever have?
ARRI -- noted for 16mm and 35mm film cameras as well as the digital ARRI D20 (1080p) camera -- promises to have something new and exciting in its digital cine line, possibly a variation on the D20 that one can actually (afford to) buy.
CANON USA was tight-lipped regarding additions to its XL and XH series of HDV camcorders at NAB 08, but reps cited two "consumer" camcorders introduced at CES this year: the HF100 and HF10. Both are palmcorder sized and have 1/3-inch CMOS imagers with a gross pixel count of 3.3 megapixels. Both use the AVCHD codec and record on solid-state media, but the HF100 records to SDHC memory cards, while the HF10 records to memory cards and to an internal 16GB Flash drive.
HITACHI will present its SK-HD1000 studio and field production camera with 2.2-megapixel CCDs featuring improved signal performance, 60dB S/N ratio at f/10, 14-bit A/D conversion, high dynamic range, 1,100 TV lines, a 12-vector masking system and gamma functions for film-like imagery. The SK-HD1000 is a two-piece camera that offers fiber or digital triax/coax transmission and an optional cross-converter (1080i to 720p).
ICONIX VIDEO will demonstrate the latest generation of its HD-RH1F camera system, "the smallest HD camera in the world." Despite being smaller than the smallest palmcorder, the HD-RH1F captures 19+ HD formats (1080i @ 50/60Hz, 1080p @ 24/25/30/50/60Hz, 720p @ 24/25/30/50/60Hz and 1080PsF @ 23.98/24/25/29.97/30Hz) and has SDI, DVI-D and analog outputs, genlock, remote control, programmable gamma, electronic shutter and image enhancement.
IKEGAMI will debut its latest tapeless HD/SD camcorder, the HDS-V10 GFCAM HD ENG system, which features Flash-based video capture of 1080i/720p in multiple modes. The current maximum capacity of a 64GB Ikegami GFPak is 128 minutes (1080i).
Ikegami's HDK-79EX-III and HDK-727P HD camera systems (studio or portable) feature 2/3-inch AIT CCD sensors and capture both 1080i and 720p. The HDK-79EC has 2/3-inch, 2.5-megapixel CMOS sensors that natively capture interlaced and progressive HD, including 720/120p slow motion. The HS model also does 1080/60p. Ikegami will also display the HDL-50 series of box cameras and the latest edition of Editcam HD, a tapeless HD camcorder.
I-MOVIX's SprintCam Live captures 720p and 1080i HD at astonishing frame rates up to 8,000fps, with instant replay in SD and HD. SprintCam Live has real-time control of image quality settings, including gamma, knee and white and black balance. A new sensor offers increased dynamic range and image quality.
JVC will introduce the GY-HD200B, which can capture and record 720p at multiple frame rates; it can also output (live) 1080i at 50 and 60Hz via IEEE 1394. It comes with Focus Enhancements' HD100 dockable drive, which records up to seven hours of 720p. JVC's GY-HD250 will also output 1080i at 50 or 60Hz, but via HD-SDI. JVC plans to sell both enhanced models at the same price as their predecessors.
PANASONIC will showcase its AJ-HPX3000, a native 1080p one-piece camcorder. With three 2/3-inch, high-density, 2.2-megapixel CCDs, the HPX3000 captures 35mm-quality images at full-raster 1920x1080 resolution using 4:2:2 10-bit sampling and the AVC-Intra codec. The HPX3000 achieves diverse cinematic looks with the aid of a 12-pole matrix color correction, advanced gamma settings and the VariCam-like Film-Rec mode. It has a sensitivity of f/10 at 1,000 lux in 1080i and can record with only .64 lux illumination (at +56db gain).
AVC-Intra's efficiency makes it possible to double the storage capacity of P2 cards or to double the amount of data per frame for better video quality. This capability makes the HPX3000 ideal for episodic television, filmmaking and commercial production -- wherever mastering quality is paramount. The HPX3000 can record 1080 in 24p, 25p, 30p, 50i and 60i. Using the AVC-Intra 50 codec, DVCPRO HD quality can be realized at 50Mb/s (vs. 100Mb/s), doubling a P2 card's capacity. With 16GB P2 cards in all five P2 slots, you can record 100 minutes of 1080p with AVC-Intra 100, 200 minutes of DVCPRO HD in AVC-Intra 50, or 800 minutes of DVCPRO 25. Double these capacities if using Panasonic's 32GB P2 cards. 64GB cards will be available later this year.
A more economical new Panasonic camcorder, the AG-HMC150, uses a more efficient compression codec: AVCHD, based on MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 high profile encoding. AVCHD is also twice as efficient as DVCPRO HD and doubles the HD capacity of each data card. The HMC150 comes with a 28mm Leica Dicomar wide-angle zoom lens with built-in optical image stabilization and records 1080i and 720p at 13Mb/s. A higher-bit-rate mode will be added in the future. The HMC150 also supports essentially the same HD formats as the AJ-HPX3000 (1080 60i/50i/30p/25p and 24p native, 720 60p/50p/30p/25p and 24p native) and is switchable between 50Hz and 59.94Hz standards.
The AG-HMC70 also uses the AVCHD codec -- it's the first shoulder-mount camcorder to do so -- and is geared for event videographers and others who need its versatility and the fast production workflow enabled by SD card recording. It's available for $2,500.
Panasonic's AW-HE100 1/3-inch-CCD HD/SD camera features an integrated pan-tilt-zoom mechanism for applications requiring remote control. It supports 1080i, 720p and 480i formats and can simultaneously output clean HD and SD signals using 19-bit DSP.
Also new is the AK-HC1800 HD multipurpose camera with three 2.2-megapixel CCDs. It has high sensitivity, a S/N ratio of 60dB, 38-bit DSP, plus advanced functions including CineGamma curve, Dynamic Range Stretching and an "intelligent function" that auto-adjusts color temperatures and image settings.
POLECAM will introduce the 2-megapixel HD MiniZoom camera, a Flash XDR HD Xstream Flash video recorder and a Fishface submersible pan-and-tilt camera housing. The HD MiniZoom, by Camera Corps, includes a remote-controlled zoom lens. The pint-sized HD MiniZoom has a 1/3-inch CMOS sensor and captures 720p/1080i at 50/60Hz. It can be used in full auto mode, with controllable pan and tilt, while in the rubberized Fishface housing.
MiniZoom records to the Flash XDR HD Xstream solid-state data recorder, billed as "the world's first CompactFlash-based ultra-portable HD recorder," which records (in MXF) 164 minutes of 50Mb/s 4:2:2 MPEG-4 on four 16GB CompactFlash cards. 32GB cards are also available now ($180); 64GB cards are due soon. It also supports MPEG-2 4:2:2 at 100 and 160Mb/s, plus HDV via IEEE 1394.
RED DIGITAL CINEMA hopes to upstage last year's debut of RED ONE with a virtual information blackout on its second camera, called Scarlet. What is known is that Scarlet will be considerably smaller than the RED ONE -- it's described as "pocket-sized" -- and will cost considerably less. Also, unlike RED ONE at NAB 07, it will actually be for sale at NAB 08. The first 100 RED ONE buyers will have the option to be the first to buy Scarlet. However, some may be more interested in first rounding out RED ONE's feature set with the latest software upgrades, a few more RED lenses, larger Flash drives, hard drives and the latest firmware upgrades in order to realize RED ONE's full potential. The RED team has been busy over the last year working to make that dream a reality. "We are obsessed with advancing the digital format to higher levels and think that you may want to see our vision of the future, crafted from the feedback of many," says RED CEO Jim Jannard.
SILICON IMAGING and partner P+S Technik have added a suite of new features to the SI-2K digital cine camera, including a film camera-style optical viewfinder, OLED electronic viewfinder, stereo 3D and multi-camera frame-accurate synchronization and recording. Also look for a Mini-Rig for ergonomic single-handed or shoulder-mount camera operation, a modular and upgradeable SI-2K enclosure, and integrated CineForm RAW QuickTime recording. Silicon will also feature a multi-camera controller for powering and synchronizing up to nine SI-2K cameras to create immersive videos for 360-degree-projection venues or for background plates for special effects at up to 18-megapixel resolution.
SONY will finally unveil its F35 2K/4K camera. It will be designed for use with 35mm PL-mount film lenses and will likely mimic the F23 physically. Its feature set might also be similar to the F23, though few details are available before the show.
Sony will show the PDW-700, the first camcorder in the XDCAM HD family to use 2/3-inch CCDs. The camera sports 2/3-inch Power HAD FX progressive CCDs with 1920x1080 resolution; it employs MPEG-2, 4:2:2P@HL compression at up to 50Mb/s and dual-layer optical recording with 4:2:2 color sampling for an enhanced recording capacity of 50GB per disc. It captures multiple formats in 1080i and 720p, and downconverts them to SD, or cross-converts from 1080i to 720p. Pool feeds are possible via SD/HD-SDI or composite inputs.
There will also be a companion half-rack recording deck, the PDW-HD1500. Its tilt-up front panel supports multiple I/Os: HD-SDI, SD-SDI, i.LINK (IEEE 1394) and Ethernet. The dual-layer discs will have a maximum capacity of 95 minutes and 150 minutes at 35Mb/s, or 200 minutes at 25Mb/s HD. It offers eight-channel, 24-bit audio recording with dual optical pickup for high-speed file transfers.
Sony will also showcase three new HDV camcorders: the HVR-1000, HVR-Z7U and HVR-S270U. The latter two have interchangeable Zeiss 12x HD lenses that can be swapped for any of a growing assortment of bayonet-mount 1/3-inch HD lenses, and for half- or 2/3-inch lenses using adapters.
All three camcorders include high-resolution color viewfinders and use Sony's 1/3-inch ClearVid CMOS sensor system, enhanced by Exmor technology for high-res, low-noise imaging in light as low as 1.5 lux. This capability should enable capturing video comparable to that captured with the half-inch PMW-EX1 camcorder. Both the HVR-Z7U and HVR-S270U offer 1080 24p and 30p native progressive recording but can also record 1080i HDV, plus DVCAM and DV. They can also downconvert to SD and output via i.LINK. The HVR-Z7U also has HDMI, while the HVR-S270U is available with SD/HD-SDI.
Both the HVR-Z7U and HVR-S270U can record to tape and Flash simultaneously with a new Flash recorder by Sony, which attaches to the back of the HVR-Z7U or the side of the HVR-S270U. The Flash unit auto-synchronizes with the camcorder's tape recording; it can capture the HDV 1080i, DVCAM or DV stream output from the camcorder and record HDV/DVCAM/DV files to a standard CompactFlash solid-state memory card. Two 16GB Flash cards can record up to 2.5 hours of HDV content.
THOMSON GRASS VALLEY will showcase the Infinity camcorder, which boasts three 2/3-inch Xensium CMOS imagers and multiformat support, including 720 50p/60p, 1080 50i/60i, 525/60i and 625/50i. Infinity records JPEG 2000, MPEG-2 and DV25 to standard CompactFlash, to REV PRO media and to external devices. Metadata, video and audio content are written in an MXF-based wrapper. Infinity has SD/HD-SDI and IT-based I/O, plus an HDMI viewfinder connector and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity.
VISION RESEARCH will introduce the Phantom v5.2 digital high-speed camera. At a full resolution of 1152x896, the Phantom v5.2 is capable of capturing up to 1,000 pictures per second. This performance can be boosted to an astounding 148,000fps, but at lower resolutions. Phantom v5.2 features Extreme Dynamic Range for capturing details in hot spots that would be blown out with conventional camera settings.
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