Sony, apparently in the midst of a successful recovery for the hearts and wallets of HD consumers based on its brand, after some initial hesitation in the flat-screen arena, is rarely overshadowed these days when it comes to generating NAB buzz on the industry side of the equation.
The company wasted little time this week, unveiling a portfolio of both enhanced and new product lines, including a 3x HD super slow-motion camera system HDC-3300. The unit produces a 3x slow motion scheme in full HD resolution with 2/3-inch high-speed progression CCDs that allow recording at 1920 x 1080/180i or 150i, and also 1280 x 720/180p or 150p.
The new Sony cam also features flicker reduction, shade correction, white balance, and auto iris detection.
Sony has also enhanced its HDW camcorder to produce the new HDW-F900R. The unit is lighter and houses a smaller chassis, is equipped with HD-SDI outputs and new accessory boards for slow shutter, image inversion, and downconversion with 3:2 pulldown. Using an optional video cache element, the upgraded camcorder can record up to 4 channels of AES/EBU digital audio (or 4 simultaneous channels of analog audio). If using Sony BCT-40HD cassettes, the HDW-F900R can record up to 50 minutes at 24P. Otherwise, if the output of the HDW-F900R is connected to a studio HDCAM VTR like the HDW-2000, 155 minutes of record time in 24P is possible with Sony's BCT-124HDL cassettes.
Panasonic also is displaying new or upgraded HD cameras and support units with the HD P2 solid-state camcorder, which was introduced at NAB2005 and began shipping last December, and its new AJ-HPC2000 camcorder with 2/3-inch CCDs and 14-bit A/D processing. Panasonic also is touting its new AJ-HPS1500 P2 DVCPRO HD Recorder.
Ikegami demonstrated new multi-format CMOS imaging sensors for the HDK-79EC/HS that can capture in standard or high-speed in both 720p or 1080i.
Grass Valley showed its Infinity Series digital media camcorder with HD/SD support, as well as a new HD Wireless Camera System (designed for its own HD cameras, of course) that permits wireless movement for sports and other fast-moving events.
JVC introduced a feature-laden HDV model GY-HD25OU with 60p options, genlock, and various studio features as CCU, HD-SDI output and Cinema Gamma.
More NAB2006 news to come in the weeks ahead…
