Leader ZEN Series Adds New SDR-HDR Features Ahead of NAB 2024

The visitors of NAB Show 2024 (April 14-17, Las Vegas) will be able to discover the new features of its range of ZEN Series test and measurement instruments from Leader, aimed at the HDR field and improving support with cinema cameras.

The series Zen of Leader grow with a new comprehensive tool bidirectional conversion that allows you to view content HDR into SDR and vice versa. The processing is based on the desired 3D color lookup table, which can be imported via a plug-in USB stick. According to the company, the new 3D LUT functions will simplify live production workflows by integrating HDR/SDR conversion for applications such as camera shading and HDR monitoring. On the one hand, DITs on set will be able to integrate 3D LUTs instead of relying on external LUT boxes, while in post-production, colorists will be able to view 3D LUTs for OTT and OTA deliveries before creating the final master.

Another relevant novelty will be the expected compatibility with SDR Full Range, a type of workflow that is increasingly common in digital cinematography and the production of television series in Hollywood. SDR, as normally broadcast by television channels, covers luminance code value levels 64 to 940 (Narrow / Legal Range) of the maximum 1024 that can be accommodated in a 10-bit digital stream. SDR Full Range spans code value levels from 4 to 1019, enabling greater dynamic range to be delivered without the need to adopt full HDR at any point in the signal flow, from initial production to home viewing.

While Leader's ZEN series already provides the tools necessary for SDR and HDR test and measurement, this new feature expands support for Full Range SDR to display black error, CIE, gamma error, histogram, level error, audio/video sync offset, noise level, test signals, vector and waveform. They also fully support Full Range Cinelite and Cinezone SDR, five bars, frame capture (DPX, TIFF) and image quality adjustment.

Leader Zen – Improved ARRI and RED compatibility

The latest big news from Leader of each NAB 2024 is the camera compatibility ARRI y RED with the Cinezone real-time false color exposure display, expanding the toolset Cinezone/Cinelite which comes standard on all models in the Leader Zen series. Cinelite is an integrated light meter that offers production and post-production facilities the ability to analyze a single pixel or a small area of ​​the image into luminance, RGB, code values ​​or f-stops, while Cinezone overlays false colors on the image, coloring strong and weak areas of brightness on the screen so that an operator can judge the luminance conditions of the entire screen. This helps confirm that a camera is reproducing what is expected.

The ARRI (User-A) and RED (User-R) functions play the false color display tools that were previously only visible on ARRI or RED cameras, so they can be seen by production staff without interfering with camera setup and operation. Both Cinezone and Cinelite can be displayed simultaneously on all Leader Zen series products.