Ikegami: UHD and IP compatible solutions at NAB 2024

Cameras and monitors Ikegami present in NAB 2024 (April 13-17) will represent the company's commitment to the standardization of UHD, as well as its willingness to offer hybrid solutions capable of working in both SDI and IP environments.

Ikegami will put the focus on the studio camera UHK-X600, presented at the previous edition of the Las Vegas fair. The solution features three 2/3-inch upsampling UHD CMOS sensors that provide 1000 TVL resolution, minimal aliasing and 2000 lux sensitivity at f10 (60p). Standard features include full Hybrid Log Gamma HDR support with the ability to select between BT.2020 and BT.709 chroma spaces. Plug-in hardware-based options include an SMPTE ST 2110-compatible media-over-IP interface card and an optional 12G output card. Additionally, when combined with the Ikegami BSX-100 base station, the camera optionally supports simultaneous output in UHD and HD video formats.

Another key solution will be UHK-X700, designed to combine high signal quality with versatile connectivity. The front consists of three 2/3-inch UHD CMOS sensors with a global shutter to minimize artifacts when recording LED screens or scenes illuminated with flash or strobe. Includes full HDR/SDR support, plus the ability to choose between BT.2020 and BT.709 chroma spaces. Optionally, HFR can be recorded at up to 2x speed in UHD or up to 8x speed in HD via the base station. When combined with the Ikegami BSX-100 Base Station or CCU-X100 Camera Control Unit, the UHK-X700 can output UHD/HD video formats simultaneously. In addition, IP video, audio and intercom I/O interface is available according to SMPTE ST 2110 standards as an option on the base station or CCU. The camera will be accompanied by the UHK-X750, which eliminates the more portable features of the X700 to create a solution aimed 100% at studios.

The HDK-99, attachable camera for portable and studio applications, will also be present in NAB 2024. The solution uses three 2.6 megapixel CMOS image sensors that deliver high image quality in HDR with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 with progressive scan. Processed 4K can be obtained from the camera's control unit, while its HLG mode maintains the high contrast needed for HDR and complies with the international ITU-R BT.2100 standard.

Box camera and helicopter camera

Ikegami's selection for NAB 2024 also includes the UHL-43, a compact box-type camera designed for applications such as robotic studies, broadcasting of live events, parliamentary television and capturing images from the viewer's point of view. The camera head can be used on “virtually any support device,” such as a remote pan and tilt, long-range arm, or aerial mount. The UHL-43 employs three 2/3-inch UHD CMOS sensors in the same remote control and workflow structure as the UHK-X700 and UHK-750. Unlike cameras that use a single Bayer pattern chip for color separation, the integration of three UHD resolution CMOS sensors and a prism block provides true 2000 TVL capture resolution, high-quality color reproduction and a complete absence of color aliasing. The UHL-43 is also available as an HD model, UHL-43HD, which can be upgraded via a software license key to offer 4K-UHD.

Additionally, the UHL-F4000, a compact and lightweight UHD HDR camera with low power consumption, has been designed for applications such as helicopter-mounted aerial video capture in a wide range of night or day conditions. The camera head features three global shutter UHD CMOS sensors that capture natural images “completely free” of geometric distortion and flash banding effects. Image adjustment functions include noise removal, digital zoom, haze reduction, image sharpening, vertical image inversion and HD-UHD segment selection. A duplex fiber optic connection connects the ultra-compact camera head and the small CCU, which can be placed up to 10 km away. The CCU is compact and lightweight, simultaneously delivering UHD and HDR-compatible HD video.

Monitores Ikegami en NAB 2024

Finally, Ikegami will also show examples of its range of broadcast production monitors. These include three 4K/HD models: the HQLM-3125X 31 inches and the HQLM-3120W, in addition to the HQLM-1720WR 17-inch, and three HD monitors: the HLM-2460W 24 inches, the HLM-1760WR 17 inches and the HLM-960WR 9 inches.

A key 4K/HD model is the HQLM-3120W, a 31-inch wide color gamut 4K/HD production monitor equipped as standard with two 12G-SDI input channels for efficient setup with 4K equipment such as cameras and switchers. The system has 3G-SDI, HD-SDI and HDMI inputs as standard, as well as employs a 4096 x 2160 pixel UHD LCD panel with LED backlighting and can play high-resolution 4K and 2K images. Its screen has a contrast ratio of 1500:1 and horizontal/vertical viewing angles of 178 degrees, and built-in functions include waveform monitoring, vectorscope and time code display at vertical intervals, as well as subtitle monitoring. Audio features feature a 5.1-channel surround sound downmix output.

Alan Keil, vice president and director of engineering at Ikegami Electronics, assesses the company's presence at NAB 2024: "Our emphasis at NAB 2024 will be focused on moving towards 2160p 4K-UHD as the preferred standard worldwide for producing high-value television content. Ikegami's next-generation solutions offer a low-cost, low-license way to add new tools or meet new standards as or when necessary: higher resolution, high range dynamic, wide color gamut and high frame rate production, as well as SDI to hybrid SDI/IP or full IP connectivity. launch of a major Ikegami product during or shortly before the fair. Stay tuned.”