Cameras at IBC Come in All Shapes and Sizes
If nothing else, image acquisition tools are now as diverse as the people that use them. At IBC all of the major camera manufacturers, and a few non-traditional ones, continued to advance their optic systems and add new features, while (in some cases) reducing prices.
The Arri Arriflex D-21, a film-style digital camera, was shown with significant improvements to the image-processing engine to provide improved image quality. New output options include a 2K raw data output mode and the use of anamorphic lenses.
Based on Arri Imaging Technology (AIT), the D-21 produces outstanding images with a single Super-35-sized CMOS sensor and the same lenses as 35mm film cameras. It also has cinematic depth of field and can be used with anamorphic lenses. The camera includes a bright optical viewfinder and is capable of acquiring mages at variable frame rates. In addition, the D-21 outputs either the raw sensor data for a 2K workflow or a standard HD signal.
Ikonoskop, the Swedish maker of the A-cam SP-16 lightweight 16mm film camera, introduced a new digital motion picture camera that moves it into direct competition with world’s best high-definition video cameras.
The A-cam dII is the only electronic camera that offers uncompressed images in the high-definition RAW format. Rather than the camera, the computer does the image processing in post. When recording in 1920 x 1080 pixels from one to 60 RAW frames per second, users can master directly to HDCAM, HDCAM SR or any other full HD format. To print the video to film, the native 1.78:1 aspect ratio can be used without any loss of pixels. Ikonoskop calls this “WYSIWYG-HD.”
The A-cam dII records at 240 MBps to an 80 GB memory cartridge developed by the manufacturer. A single cartridge holds about 15 minutes of video, audio and metadata.
The camera’s Super-16-sized CCD sensor works with all Super-16mm lenses. This enables use of a wide range of cine and prime lenses. As one of the few camera manufacturers in the world to support all the de-facto industry standard mounts, Leica M, PL, IMS and C-mount lenses can also be used.
The camera is extremely lightweight—3.3 pounds—and costs under $10,000 including lens and 80 GB flash memory card. It ships with Ikonoskop’s 9mm, f/1.5 wide-angle cine lens. Ikonoskop is now taking pre-orders for delivery by the end of the year.
Thomson introduced a new “Elite” series of LDK HD cameras. There are three new models: the Thomson Grass Valley LDK 4000 Elite, LDK 8000 Elite (in Standard and WorldCam versions), and the LDK 8000 SportElite. All offer new levels of camera performance while opening the product up to a wider production community. Thomson also added 24p capability to its Thomson Grass Valley Infinity digital media camcorder.
Among the new enhancements, the LDK Elite and SportElite HD series significantly improve on the existing cameras’ internal digital signal processing circuitry by incorporating all-new DSP circuits. It’s a completely updated software platform that performs all camera image management functions – such as knee, gamma, contours, and variable matrix – with three channel 22-bit digital precision. The SportElite adds 2x Super Slow-Motion sampling functionality in both 720p and 1080i HD formats.
A newly designed chipset used across the entire Elite series contains additional features, such as digital cosmetics – sometimes known as negative skin contours – with independent dual-skin tone selection. Extensive colorimetry and color-matching tools are also available, giving users the choice of performing matrix processing before or after gamma.
Among the other majors, Panasonic didn't exhibit on the show floor, but did host a digital cinematography session where the P2 solid-state versions of its Varicam (the AJ-HPX2700 and 3700) were discussed as along with the company’s AVC Intra codec and its AJ-HPX3000 camera. Support for AVC-Intra compression across the product lines of Autodesk and Avid Technology was announced at the show.
Sony introduced the PMW-EX3 XDCAM EX solid-state (SxS cards) camcorder to Europe, with its interchangeable lens. The company also added a new compact “Hybrid-ready” HDV camcorder to its portfolio: the HVR-Z5E, which borrows from the existing HVR-Z1E and DSR-PD170P camcorders to offer excellent low-light performance, a new 20x “G” lens and hybrid workflow with the optional HVR-MRC1K solid-state memory recorder. The lightweight unit can be mounted on a HDV camcorder and provide users with a hybrid recording system that can record to CompactFlash solid-state memory and tape simultaneously. A single 16 GB CF card can record about 72 minutes of HD material at 25 Mbps.
By Michael Grotticelli, StudioDaily
