UHK-X700RF - 4K/HD WIRELESS PORTABLE CAMERA SYSTEM
In a modern live production environment - be it in studio or outdoor applications - wireless camera systems play an increasingly important role. New transmission technologies, improved codecs and miniaturization of electronic circuits enabled the engineers of broadcast equipment to manufacture wireless transmission systems with highest performance, low latency and outstanding signal robustness. Due to a clever integration into the existing Ikegami UNICAM-XE portable camera (type: UHK-X700), the Ikegami wireless camera solution remains compact and lightweight and gives the same operational feeling to the camera operator as if a conventional camera with fiber cable would be used. However, the wireless technology liberates the camera operator from cable restrictions and will allow him to freely move around shooting new and creative perspectives.
The UHK-X700RF is Ikegami's latest addition to its UNICAM XE system camera series. Like its sister model, UHK-X700 (with fiber transmission), the UHK-X700RF incorporates three newly developed 2/3-inch CMOS 4K sensors with Global Shutter to eliminate rolling shutter distortion and flash-banding artefacts. The camera is equipped with Ikegami's self designed AXII video processor which enables direct 4K video output from the camera head.
The UHK-X700RF shares the basic technology with its sister model UHK-X700:
- 2/3” 3 CMOS 4K sensors
- Global Shutter technology
- Direct video output
- Conventional B4 lens mount
- No colour aliasing due to three-chip technology
- 16-axis colour correction and focus assist function
- Wide colour gamut and HDR (High Dynamic Range) support
- Compact, lightweight and user-friendly
The Concept of the Ikegami Wireless Camera System
The Ikegami wireless camera system was designed to be perfectly integrated into the UHK-X700 portable camera. Instead of the conventional fiber transmission section, a very similar looking wireless section was integrated. As such, weight, weight balance and size of the portable camera has not changed. The visible difference to the fiber version of the camera are just the two antennas on the back (one for the main video signal, the smaller one for the telemetry data) and the battery to power the camera.
The core wireless system consists of two separate transmission systems, the main video link for the HD/UHD camera signal plus the SHF-link for remote control (camera racking) and Tally.
On the camera side, both links (i.e. for the main video signal plus the bi-directional signal for camera remote and Tally) are combined in one unit that is an integral part of the camera body. As such, we can see two antennas on the back side of the camera, each of them designed to meet the specific characteristics of the transmission technology employed.
On the receiving side, we have two separate units, one transceiver for the camera remote control including Tally and one receiver unit for the main video signal incl. decoding part.
Receiver and Decoder Unit (Sapphire-RXD4)
The Receiver and Decoder Unit for the main video signal (Type: Sapphire-RXD4) comes delivered in a half 19”-rack wide chassis, designed to be mounted in a conventional 19” rack. It employs DVB-T modulation in QPSK, 16QAM and 64QAM mode. The bandwidth is switchable between 8 MHz, 7MHz, 6MHz and 5MHz mode. To assure a very robust signal quality, even under critical circumstances, the DVB-T Guard Interval can be switched in 4 discrete steps: 1/32, 1/16, 1/8, 1/4. The forward error correction (FEC) is also flexibly selectable from 1/2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8 and 2/3 as a default value.
Sapphire-RXD4 employs H.265-HEVC, H.264-AVC and MPEG-2 video coding (switchable via menu) and supports almost all conventional broadcast frame rates for HD and UHD both in SDR (standard dynamic range, ITU-R BT.709) as well as in HDR (high dynamic range, ITU-R BT.2100 and -BT2020 for wide color gamut).
The receiver unit comes equipped with 4x SDI outputs and supports 1.5G, 3G and 12G SDI formats including embedded audio. It also features 2 analogue audio outputs (2x XLR-3-pin), a genlock input (BNC) and a 4-pin XLR connector for 12V DC power input.
In a standard configuration, the Sapphire RXD-4 can connect directly to up to 8 downconverters (i.e. 4 pairs of antennas) by conventional BNC cables (up to 100m cable extension).
If longer distances between receiving antennas and Sapphire-RXD4 are to be covered, it is possible to employ a fiber base unit in combination with a fiber extension unit. As such, a conventional SMPTE Fiber hybrid cable with LEMO connectors can be used, a standard cable in the broadcast industry widely available in studios and OB vans. It allows an extension of about 1000m. In addition, the base unit will also supply power to the extension unit via the same cable.
Fiber Base Unit (FIBSMPTE-2-B)
This fiber base unit can be used to position antennas remotely from receivers using standard SMPTE or ST fiber cables.
The fiber base unit (FIBSMPTE-2-B) is connected by a conventional BNC cable to the receiver unit (Sapphire RXD-4). A conventional SMPTE-Fiber cable with Lemo connectors is used to connect it to the Fiber Remote Unit (FIBSMPTE-2-R). The maximum fiber cable extension is about 1000m.
Fiber Remote Unit (FIBSMPTE-2-R)
The fiber remote unit can accept UHF signals from two external downconverters (Type: DCBGSB-200270) that are fixed to the receiving antennas. It translates the UHF signal into a signal that can be transported via the SMPTE-Fiber cable to the fiber base unit. The maximum coax cable extension between the downconverter and fiber remote unit is 100m.
Downconverter (DCBGSB-200270)
The DCBGSB-200270 downconverters feature low noise, allow to select gain (low/high) and offer flexible mounting options. For each antenna one downconverter is to be used. Ikegami recommends combining 2 receiving antennas to maximize the signal input to the fiber remote unit or to the Sapphire-RXD4 Receiver.
The extended system does not only provide a very flexible and remote position of the antennas by a common broadcast cable (i.e. SMPTE fiber hybrid cable) but at the same time provides high robustness of the transmitted signal via fiber since interferences by external sources can completely be ruled out.
In case antenna diversity is required to cover critical situations, up to 4 fiber remote units can be connected to one Sapphire-RXD4 Receiver unit.
Camera Remote Control and Tally Signals
Tally and remote control signals for the camera (bi-directional signal) are transmitted via a separate IP-Mesh data transceiver (type: pMDDL-5824).
The ultra compact transceiver (pMDDL-5824) is integrated into the camera body and features a very low power consumption to assure long operational time of the camera. In a standard configuration (one transceiver on each side), the maximum distance to be covered is approx. 500m.
In case the receiving antennas are positioned far away from the base unit it is possible to cascade several IP-Mesh data transceivers. In total, up to 22 transceivers are possible.
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E-Mail: broadcast@ikegami.de
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2/3" 3 CMOS 4K GLOBAL SHUTTER SENSOR
A 3-CMOS optical system using newly developed 2/3-inch CMOS sensors boasts an S/N of 62dB and a sensitivity of F11 in 4KP50.
The high dynamic range of the sensors produces high-quality images with excellent colour reproduction. The CMOS sensors incorporate a global shutter pixel architecture, enabling the camera to capture natural images even under challenging situations. Fast moving objects are free from geometric distortion and there are no flash bands when the camera is shooting strobe lights or flashes from still cameras.
NO COLOUR ALIASING
Three-chip optical technology drastically reduces colour aliasing which is always an issue with single-chip cameras.
With the additional optional Low-Pass-Filter (OLPF-XE) aliasing effects can be reduced even more effectively which is especially helpful when shooting LED walls.
OPTICAL VIGNETTING CORRECTION (OVC)
Automatic electronic compensation of F-drop and vignetting.
* with supported lenses
DIRECT 4K OUTPUT
With a newly integrated video process the UHK-X700RF can output 4K video directly from the camera head via 12G-SDI (switchable to 3G-SDI for HD output).
REMOTE BACKFOCUS ADJUSTMENT (RBF)
The Remote Backfocus Adjustment function helps setting accurate backfocus even when the camera
head is located in an environment where it is hard to reach the back focus adjustment on the lens or
difficult to critically see the viewfinder picture.
*with supported lenses
16-AXIS COLOUR CORRECTOR
Ikegami’s new ASIC AXII delivers full functionality including 16-axis colour correction and focus-assist for 4K and HD video modes. View more details.
FOCUS ASSIST FUNCTION
Finding the correct focus can be especially difficult while working with 4K cameras.
Ikegami's Quick EZ Focus Assist function is a newly incorporated useful tool, providing very distinct enhancements to the viewfinder signal, enabling the camera operator to make critical focus adjustments. The contour extracted from the 4K image is displayed in the viewfinder to assist precise focusing. The area size, area color, edge color, and display time on the viewfinder are adjustable in the camera menu.
WIDE COLOUR SPACE AND HDR
The UHK-X700RF provides an HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) mode conforming to ITU-R BT.2100 which is an international standard for HDR. It is now possible to expand the range represented from dark to bright, providing superb bright pictures with High Dynamic Range. HLG and various other kinds of gamma curves can be flexibly set by users.
BT.2020 wide colour space and BT. 709 colour space are supported in 4K and HD modes.
COMPACT, LIGHTWEIGHT AND USER FRIENDLY
The compact body of the UHK-X700RF and its low weight of 5 kg combined with the low center of gravity create the perfect balance together with the adjustable shoulder pad while shooting on the shoulder. Additionally, the viewfinder can be adjusted in three axis.
VIEWFINDERS
Two viewfinder models are available for the UHK-X700RF. The digital interface allows access to the camera menu from the viewfinder (VFL201D for shoulder operation, VFL-P700AD for tripod/studio application).
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