IKEGAMI CMOS CAMERAS PROVIDE HIGH DEFINITION FORMAT FLEXIBILITY FOR YES PRODUCTIONS

July 17, 2008

Source: Ikegami

The arrival of HDTV has introduced new challenges for television production services providers, whose clients may ask them to create video programming in any of several HD formats. For Yes Productions, a sports and entertainment production company and wholly owned subsidiary of WYES-TV in New Orleans, this challenge was met by purchasing nine Ikegami HDK-79EC CMOS-equipped HD Native Multi-Format Camera Systems for field and studio use. The HDK-79EC's three 2/3-inch 2.5 Mega-pixel 1920H x 1080V CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) imaging sensors are switchable between native interlace and progressive-readout modes and can provide 1080/60i, 1080/24p, or 720/60p performance. Optional formats also available include high-speed dual-link 1080/60p, 1080/50i and 720/50p, and – for Super Slow Motion – 1080/120i and 720/120p.

"These CMOS cameras from Ikegami are native in any format which makes for much better resolution," explained Jim Moriarty, Vice President and General Manager of Yes Productions. "There is no conversion process after the camera. I think it's really going to help us step up to the next level."

"Ikegami is proud that its HDK-79EC CMOS-equipped HD Native Multi-Format Camera Systems have been chosen by Yes Productions, which is a widely respected leader in providing mobile and studio production services," noted Teri A. Zastrow, Ikegami Electronics U.S.A.'s Director of Sales & Marketing. "We are especially excited that our long-standing relationship with Yes Productions is moving forward into the HDTV era. The HDK-79EC CMOS-equipped HD Native Multi-Format Camera System is designed to provide maximum flexibility for unparalleled HD production performance."

An historic addition to the Ikegami product line, the HDK-79EC CMOS-equipped HD Native Multi-Format Camera System incorporates Ikegami's sophisticated Chip C4 ASIC technology for unsurpassed processing of the digital video output provided by the camera's three CMOS sensors. ChipC4 processing includes: Knee, Gamma, Color, and DTL (detail) corrections; DTL corrections controlled include Soft DTL, Skin Tone DTL, horizontal/vertical/diagonal DTL, and DTL boost frequency. The HDK-79EC camera's sophisticated Chip C4 technology enables it to easily handle the wide dynamic lighting encountered in outdoor broadcasting, with such advanced digital-imaging features as Knee Detail, Smooth Knee, and Super Color Knee.

The HDK-79EC CMOS-equipped HD Native Multi-Format Camera System is configurable for hand-held use or "hard" field-camera operation using the Ikegami SE-79D System Expander, which includes a 9-inch 16:9 color LCD viewfinder (with wide viewing angle and low lag) and an interface with "box-style" HD telephoto zoom lenses. The camera has docking-style construction, allowing easy interchange between triax and fiber adapters to meet the cable requirements of different clients and different venues.

Moriarty notes that the versatility of the Ikegami HDK-79EC CMOS-equipped HD Native Multi-Format Camera System is providing superior HDTV performance for Yes Productions' myriad clients, ranging from the Professional Bull Riders to the New Orleans Hornets of the NBA. He adds that even though Yes Productions has only recently made the transition to HD production, they have been using Ikegami cameras for more than 25 years.

"We've used Ikegami cameras since we first hit the road in 1982, so when it was time to upgrade to HD cameras, we really wanted to stay with Ikegami," Moriarty explains. "We do a pretty wide range of sporting events, and once we had the opportunity to get the flexibility that CMOS delivers from a name we trust, it was a no-brainer."

"Ikegami enables us to convert – in just a matter of minutes – to and from whatever HDTV format the client may want," Moriarty continues. "One night in one city it's 720p, the next night in another city it's 1080i. We come in and change the HD format from what we shot the night before. It's seamless to our clients. We do a lot of 1080i, but we can go in and convert the cameras and our truck in a matter of a few minutes to 720p, and away we go. True HD is really spectacular. The picture quality is phenomenal. The HDK-79EC has great color representation and the picture quality clearly shows even tiny details."

The HDK-79EC cameras will be installed in YES Productions' flagship HDTV truck, the YES HD. Earlier-model Ikegami HD cameras that had been carried on the truck will be used to upgrade a second YES Productions mobile unit to HD. As the popularity of HDTV grows, the Yes Productions fleet will continue to expand its HD inventory as needed. Moriarty is confident that his Ikegami cameras will enable the company to continue its leadership in an increasingly competitive market. "Ikegami is leading the camera industry in many ways," he concludes. "CMOS is the wave of the future, and with the HDTV performance we've had from Ikegami cameras, plus the commitment to quality support, we are very pleased to be working with them."



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