The latest 2/3-inch HD camera from Hitachi offers 14-bit A-to-D processing for a clean signal

Hitachi has significantly improved the internal processing of its SK-HD1000 high-definition studio and field production camera. Among the upgrades is a 60dB HD signal-to-noise ratio at F10 and a resolution of 1,100 horizontal TV lines.
The company said these specs translate into the cleanest, sharpest digital processing HDTV camera picture on the market in its price range. The camera also comes with new functions, control panels, CCUs, and other production accessories.

Starting with its latest-generation of high-dynamic-range RGB 2/3-inch progressive CCDs, each with 2.2 million pixels, the camera implements 14-bit A-to-D converters and a digital signal processor to transparently display the captured image. The company said new digital circuits help achieve exceptional depth of modulation, tonal reproduction and highlight-handling characteristics,

A 12-vector masking system allows control of hue and saturation to tailor color reproduction to EBU, SMPTE or any other color standard for HD and SD separately. The two-memory flesh-tone detail adjustment has automatic hue and saturation adjustment that make implementing the function a snap, on-air or off.  

Optical and electronic color-correction filters work in conjunction with eight scene files that store all functions’ status and video adjustments, providing users with white balance pre-sets for 16 different shooting situations. A control provides fine adjustment of the gamma curve and colors in the darkest potions of the picture, allowing film-like image capture.

The new CCU design model CU-HD1000 provides the choice of fiber, digital triax/coax transmission, and an optional cross-converter to make 720p out of 1080i and embedded digital audio in the HD-SDI outputs. The CCU can accept a front-mounted control panel and uses a full 4 RU high EIA 19-inch rackmount and blank panel since the unit is only a half-rack wide.  

The SK-HD1000 in studio configuration (with fiber-optic transmission) lists for $53,000, without lens.

For more information, visit http://www.hitachikokusai.us.