Hitachi Kokusai Electric, Hofstra Sign Deal for 4K Cameras
Hitachi Kokusai Electric (Booth SL3910) has announced that Hofstra University has purchased eight SK-UHD4000 4K broadcast cameras to support educational initiatives in broadcast, journalism, and more across two departments as the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication completes the HD transition of its production studios.
The SK-UHD4000 is a multiformat studio- and field-production camera suitable for HD and 4K workflows, enabling users to gradually transition to 4K as requirements evolve. That flexibility was a significant reason for selecting Hitachi, according to Evan Cornog, dean of the Lawrence Herbert School.
“We have set out to create the best possible HD facility with our infrastructure rebuild, which will continue through this summer,” he says. “Camera technology is well ahead of studio infrastructure equipment, and we saw an opportunity to leap forward on the content-acquisition side as we finalize our HD transition. With Hitachi and its 4K expertise, we, as an early adopter, have the benefit of working with a major international innovator that also has a significant local presence near campus. It’s an ideal opportunity to navigate how this cutting-edge technology will benefit higher education.”
Cornog envisions an “exploratory process” at the start, with the SK-UHD4000 as the educational cornerstone for learning how to use 4K technology. Faculty and students in the Radio/TV/Film and Journalism/Media Studies/Public Relations departments will use the cameras for a variety of curricular and extracurricular productions.
Randy Hillebrand, training coordinator and adjunct associate professor of radio/television/film, envisions the 4K production message as an enticing draw for future students. Coupled with Hofstra’s proximity to Manhattan, offering a forward-looking technical infrastructure will be attractive to students exploring a career tied to the two departmental curricula.
“These cameras [will] introduce us to that next level of 4K technology,” says Hillebrand. “At the same time, these are the best HD cameras on the market today, with unparalleled image quality. This means we can absolutely proclaim to prospective students that we offer a state-of-the-art learning environment.”
He adds that, from a technical perspective, the transition from the existing triax cable system to fiber optic will strengthen interconnection between the building’s master control and production studios, while simplifying ongoing maintenance and providing a more flexible and longer potential life span. It also exposes students to a connectivity technology that is quickly becoming the industry standard.
The SK-UHD4000, which features standard, ⅔-in., bayonet-mount lenses, offers a pristine 4K image today as well as the best 2K, progressive images attainable with modern digital technology. Hitachi will demonstrate the SK-UHD 4000 alongside other broadcast, production, and film cameras at NAB 2015.