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BLACKMAGIC | Design Production Camera 4K
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SONY | F55 CineAlta 4K Digital Motion Picture Camera
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IKEGAMI | HDK-55 Full Digital HDTV Portable Camera System
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PANASONIC | AW-HE120 HD Multi-purpose Camera
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RED SCARLET | Digital Cinema Camera
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HITACHI | Z-HD6000 HD Production Camera
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JVC | GY-HM600 ProHD Handheld Camera
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CANON BU-51H High-Definition PTZ Camera
While the rate of change and improvement in all technology continues to amaze, nothing changes faster than video camera technology. What $5,000 cameras can do now compared to just a few years ago is remarkable.
For larger churches where a significant percentage of the attendees cannot make out facial expressions of those on stage, image magnification (called IMAG for short, where close-ups of those on stage are projected onto video screens in the room) is becoming increasingly affordable. Resolution, lens quality and pricing all play into making IMAG a reality for churches needing it.
“Higher resolutions and the ability to move higher quality video in and out of cameras affordably is really changing how effectively IMAG can be used in churches,” states Bob Caniglia, senior regional manager of Blackmagic Design. Alan Keil, vice president and director of engineering for Ikegami concurs, stating, “The resolution of HD is a key feature for large screen image projection. In general, HD will give a higher resolution image, including higher color resolution, but at the same time a less harsh, more natural reproduction of the details and facial expressions.”
Additionally, John Rhodes, product manager for Panasonic's system cameras and switchers, adds that better signal-to-noise ratio is also important to achieve better facial detail, as is increased dynamic range. “All of these are related to better sensors and to improved digital signal processing (DSP) functions in the new generation of cameras,” he states.
Higher than HD resolution cameras can also change how IMAG is performed, even for 720p or 1080i video projection systems.
Rob Willox, director of large sensor technologies for Sony Electronics, explains: “By using a 4K, progressive-scan chip, we can reframe, pan and scan or zoom while retaining full HD image quality. A great example of this occurs in sports, for in-stadium image magnification. This capability will allow the replay operator to have a wider initial framing, ensuring range of focus and that you're catching the whole image. 4K can be thought of as a 2x extender with absolutely no loss of HD quality. An optical 2x would cost you half your lift and would decrease your depth of field. You may not have the object you want to zoom into actually in focus. The ability to reframe and resize is powerful, since a single camera can essentially double as two cameras. This essentially gives you a second chance at storytelling, using one camera set-up.”
Churches using their IMAG cameras for transmitting video to satellite campuses will also see an advantage. “1920x1080 images will give you a much more realistic look at the remote campus,” adds Danny Stevens, Southeast sales manager for Hitachi.
Dave Walton, assistant vice president of marketing communications for JVC Professional Products Co., adds, “Today, lens manufacturers are offering more powerful lenses, and it is possible to build these higher-magnification lenses right into the camera.” This enables better close-ups from the back of the room, possibly removing the need to go with a more expensive removable-lens camera.
And for those churches that like the idea of doing IMAG, but don't like the aesthetics of manned camera stations around the room, remotely controlled cameras are also seeing innovations.
“One of the most useful innovations in video camera technology for IMAG is the increasing availability of high-definition pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) cameras that can be operated by remote control,” states Chuck Westfall, a technical information advisor for Canon. “Remote control enables these full HD cameras to be placed in discreet locations and reduces the need for individual camera operators.”
Blackmagic | Design Production Camera 4K
Blackmagic Design's Production Camera 4K is a new high-resolution 4K digital film camera with an innovative large Super 35-sized sensor with a professional global shutter, combined with precision EF mount optics and high quality Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) file recording.
The camera's native resolution of 3840x2160 gives churches four times the pixels of 1080HD and is designed to create an amazing viewing experience. Movement during sermons, concerts and other events magnified to even the biggest screens looks smooth and detailed, the company reports. And it comes with a 6G-SDI 10-bit output, allowing it to connect with 6G-SDI switchers to make an easy 4K IMAG workflow.
"By using a 4K, progressive-scan chip, we can reframe, pan and scan or zoom while retaining full HD image quality. "
Rob Wilcox
Director of Large Sensor Technologies, Sony, Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
MSRP: $2,995
Canon BU-51H High-Definition PTZ Camera
The BU-51H is a highly versatile, turnkey HD pan-tilt-zoom camera system intended to address a range of indoor applications. It features a pan-tilt head, a built-in 20X zoom lens with 2X digital extender, and a three-CCD HD video camera all housed in an elegant design. Canon says the central premise of the BU-51H design is an extremely low operational mechanism noise level so that the system can be actuated within venues, which, by their very nature, are unusually quiet. The camera outputs an uncompressed HD-SDI (or SD-SDI) signal. The HD-SDI signal and an SD Composite signal can be output simultaneously. The SD signal can be used for monitoring. In addition, the BU-51H features Genlock for video synchronization. A built-in RS-232C serial port communicates with many popular remote controllers from suppliers such as Vaddio and Telemetrics.
MSRP: $21,500
Hitachi | Z-HD6000 HD Production Camera
Hitachi Z-HD6000 utilized MOS sensor technology, which the company says features the most sensitive sensor technology currently available. This enables the camera to work well in low-light situations, providing high gain with low noise, and allows a church to have a quality projected image without having to light up the church as much. The camera can be set for 1080i camera or 720p; as a 2.6 Megapixel 2/3-inch MOS sensor; a bayonet-style lens mount that accepts any broadcast lens; and HD-SDI output.
MSRP: Call for pricing
Ikegami | HDK-55 Full Digital HDTV Portable Camera System
The HDK-55 is a high-performance, full-digital HDTV camera that the company says offers superb picture quality and system versatility for studio and field production. The HDK-55 features a newly developed FPGA with advanced full digital process ASIC; video processing technology to maximize the benefit of 16 bits; a 2/3-inch 2.3 Mega pixel AIT CCDs (1080i/59.94Hz, 50Hz); docking-style camera body; sophisticated features made possible with digital
technology; camera operator assist functions; lens aberration
correction function; and affordable camera control units.
JVC | GY-HM600 ProHD Handheld Camera
The JVC GY-HM600 is designed to deliver exceptional imagery, superior low-light performance, and excellent sensitivity. It features a built-in Fujinon wide-angle 23x autofocus zoom HD lens, plus three 1/3-inch, 12-bit CMOS sensors, each with 1920x1080 pixels. The lens has a wide focus range of 29mm-667mm (35mm equivalent) and has manual focus, zoom, and iris rings, along with three ND filters. The GY-HM600 is also equipped with a LANC remote, time-code sync input, and HD-SDI and HDMI outputs.
Panasonic | AW-HE120 HD Multi-purpose Camera
The AW-HE120 has received a warm reception from the house of worship video community. Panasonic says it combines high-resolution, excellent signal-to-noise ratio, broadcast-quality optics, and a broad dynamic range. It also delivers smooth pan-tilt performance and versatile IP/Serial control—in a compact PTZ camera with an MSRP of $8,900. Although the HE120 is compatible with third-party controllers, the camera functions best in IMAG applications when controlled by Panasonic's AW-RP120 system controller (MSRP $4,995). The RP120 includes tracing memories, enabling the recording and smooth “playback” of complex PTZ movements, such as a slow pan and zoom-in opening shot. The RP120 also has group and scene memories to help ensure that every camera is in the right shot at the beginning of every part of the service. These and other RP120 features, such as camera “painting” setups, reportedly can be backed up to SD card, so users always have their chosen system setup right at hand.
MSRP: $8,900
Red Scarlet | Digital Cinema Camera
With an array of features ranging from HDRx to interchangeable Canon EF/PL mounts, the Red Scarlet's compact design and price point represents a democratization of superlative imaging technology for cinema and photo professionals. Scarlet-X takes advantage of the cutting-edge ability to capture photos and motion simultaneously, using digital still and motion camera (DSMC) technology to enhance productivity in the field. Red says the Scarlet offers the next generation of imaging innovation, bringing quality and accessibility to light for all those in the film and photography industry.
MSRP: $7,950 (camera brain only)
Sony | F55 CineAlta 4K Digital Motion Picture Camera
Sony says the F65 and F55 cameras are both ideally suited to IMAG, especially the F65 with its 8K sensor. Equipped with Sony's newly developed 8K CMOS sensor, the company says the F65 offers higher resolution, increased exposure latitude, and a wider color gamut than any previous digital motion picture camera. The company also says F65 creates brilliant HD, 2K, and true 4K images, and it is ready to go far beyond 4K in the future as the industry's needs evolve.
