Hitachi Demonstrates Advanced Super Slo-Motion HDTV Camera

On its stand at NAB (C4309), Hitachi Kokusai Electric will showcase the new 16-bit SK-HD1500 1080/6G high speed HD production camera. Developed for super slo-motion applications and capable of 3X speed 1080-line HD operation, Hitachi has brought to market the first 6Gbps, fully digital optical transmission system in an HDTV production camera.  Reflecting its specialist development programme, Hitachi’s new super slo-motion camera offers superior signal to noise performance to rival cameras when operating at normal and 3x speeds.

The camera’s use of 6Gbps data transmission contrasts with competitive systems, which all use 10Gbps transmission. Hitachi’s implementation of 6Gbps transmission technology significantly extends the maximum cable length possible between camera head and control unit, by around 4000m.

Gearhouse Broadcast serves up ace at Australian Tennis Open
The technical superiority of this new 3X high speed HDTV production camera was clearly demonstrated whilst televising the action at the Australian Open Tennis Tournament in Melbourne this January. TV coverage of 2013’s first tennis major was brought to sports fans worldwide by international broadcast rental, project solutions, systems integration and equipment sales company, Gearhouse Broadcast.

At the Melbourne-based event, Gearhouse Broadcast exclusively used Hitachi High Definition (HD) cameras to televise the sporting action. The company provided broadcast services for host broadcaster Channel 7 in Australia, as well as bespoke support to international broadcasters, ESPN, the Tennis Channel and Tennis Australia.

In Melbourne, Gearhouse Broadcast installed 55 Hitachi SK-HD1200 high-end multi-format 1080p/3G production cameras as well as seven channels of Hitachi’s new SK-HD 1500 HD Supermotion system camera.The cameras are providing coverage of the event’s seven main show courts at Melbourne Park, split between the iconic Rod Laver Arena and the newer Hisense Arena.

Gearhouse Broadcast reports that in a wide range of different lighting conditions, the team enjoyed excellent picture quality from the Hitachi cameras and in particular they have been impressed by the new super slo-motion camera.

“Using the SK-HD 1500 we find that its picture noise levels are very low – even at 3dB gain the picture quality was totally acceptable,” commented Kevin Moorhouse, chief operating officer at Gearhouse Broadcast. “The camera intercuts very well into coverage with standard speed SK-HD 1200 channels.

“We had zero pixel errors throughout this high pressure two-week production, which is exceptional since this can be an issue with other triple speed camera systems,” continued Moorhouse. “We have worked on the Australian Open for many years and this kind of live sporting event always brings its own stresses and strains, but this year the new Hitachi cameras have proved ultra reliable and robust in every scenario that we have encountered.”

Hitachi High Speed HD production camera
The SK-HD1500 represents Hitachi’s most accurate transport available for the 1080-line 150/180 images from the camera head to the camera control unit. All command audio and video signals to and from the camera are digitally transmitted hence, totally immune to EMI/ RFI interference.

Hitachi reports that in developing this camera, it has benefited from extensive beta testing in a range of live production environments at recent major sporting and cultural events. The company reports that users highlight superior HD image resolution through the camera’s use of 16-bit digital signal processing, good signal to noise (-58dB) and excellent depth of modulation (60% at 27.5 MHz) as being key features of the SK-HD1500.

“Slow motion HD video is an area that defines a broadcaster’s programming in so many genres from sport to natural history. The right camera choice can help broadcasters differentiate their channels from rivals and at Hitachi we have aimed to create a camera that enables this,” commented Paddy Roache, Director and General Manager of Hitachi Kokusai Electric Europe. “The SK-HD 1500 represents the market’s most advanced slow motion HD production camera and when combined with the SK-HD 1200 they offer a powerful and elegant HDTV production proposition.”

Each essential part of the Hitachi SK-HD1500 camera system has its own DSP processor. Different DSP ICs are used independently for the HDTV camera head processing, the transmission system and the Camera Control Unit (CCU) processing. The new, power-efficient Digital Signal Processor LSI’s are designed under the 40nm rule with dynamic processing capability in excess of 38-bits per pixel, per RGB channel.

Hitachi’s DSP processors are designed to easily manage the higher bandwidth of progressive readout HDTV sensors. The increased dynamic headroom of the SK-HD1500, allows faithful reproduction of even the most contrasting images. An outstanding overall signal-to-noise ratio is achieved by using Hitachi’s proprietary low-noise circuit technology without needing to resort to noise filtering methods. Even at high gain, clear images are obtained with little noise.

Camera power and cable condition supervision are also performed when using standard SMPTE311-type Hybrid Fiber Cable. The maximum HFOC length with applied camera power and fully operational facilities is 4,000m (13,200 feet) with no utility power.

The SK-HD1500 incorporates an additional 1.5G HD video channel from the camera head to the Camera Control Unit (CCU) forming a second camera channel. The CCU provides significantly reduced power consumption and improved functionality. SDI (1080i/720p/480i/ 576i) inputs/outputs are offered as standard and this flexible system is capable of providing many modern HD/SD-SDI video signals required by today's HDTV program production demands.

The SK-HD1500 is shipping now and is available to customers worldwide.

About Gearhouse Broadcast
Gearhouse Broadcast are a market leader in the field of Broadcast Services specialising in broadcast equipment rental, equipment sales, project solutions and systems integration, operating globally with offices in the UK, US, Australia, India and Qatar.  The company offers a vast degree of experience and a proven track record in its involvement in major world sports events.  
Gearhouse Broadcast can meet the most complex, mission critical project requirements locally or on location anywhere in the world.  The people are among the best in the industry, drawing on a broad spectrum of experience, offering the latest technology equipment for hire or as part of an overall project solution.

About Hitachi Kokusai Electric
Broadcast and professional video cameras made by Hitachi Kokusai Electric are synonymous for innovation and ultimate performance - Hitachi has been one of the most significant Japanese companies in developing broadcast camera technology.
Hitachi launched the first portable Professional Video Camera that could directly compete against studio-cameras in the early 90s - a technical revolution in its time. The company is also responsible for the development of digital TRIAX-technology.
Today Hitachi is even more successful in developing and providing high-end broadcast technology. It is committed to meeting the needs of its users today, while helping to forge a migration path for tomorrow. Studio productions, documentaries, sports or live-events, Hitachi offers sophisticated camera systems for a wide range of production techniques.