Ikegami Announces Handheld 8K UHDTV Camera System

Ikegami (Booth C7725) has collaborated with Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) to develop an 8K ultra-high-definition television (UHDTV) camera. Designed for live studio and field production, the SHK-810 camera head is compact and weighs less than 20 lb. and can be operated in the same way as existing Ikegami broadcast-camera systems.

Ikegami introduced the first-generation 8K UHDTV camera with NHK in 2002, a second-generation model in 2004, and third-generation camera in 2010, each incorporating the most advanced available technology. With further technological innovation and collaboration, the fourth-generation SHK-810 camera is one-tenth the size of the first-generation model and has significantly improved operability.

Features of the Ikegami SHK-810 8K UHDTV camera:

A single 33 million-pixel Super 35 CMOS sensor achieves 4,000 TVL horizontal and vertical resolution. The color filter on the sensor uses a dual-green SHV color arrangement and achieves a high level of modulation depth.

System Expander enables use of large viewfinders and full studio lenses, converting the portable camera into a full-facility studio/field camera.

Viewfinder detail (VF DTL) function allows the operator to increase the detail edges to the viewfinder and picture-monitor video for easy focusing. A lens-aberration-correction function and communication features (tally, intercom, etc.) are also available for conventional HDTV camera operation.

PL lens mount accommodates 8K lenses, cine lenses, 4K lenses, and custom-designed zoom lenses for single-chip SHV cameras. A flange-back adjustment system is built in, enabling back-focus adjustment of PL-mount lenses without shims.

Standard SMPTE fiber cable can be used between camera head and camera-control unit (CCU) to enable long-distance transmission for live broadcasting.

According to the Japan Ministry of Internal Affairs & Communications (MIC), test broadcasts of 4K/8K via BS satellite television will start at the 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games, followed by 8K on-air broadcasting, which is scheduled to start by 2018 in Japan. A tentative report published by the MIC in September, states that 4K/8K broadcasting is targeted to be in place in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. The MIC expects that 4K/8K broadcasting will be accessible via public viewing points in Japan by the year 2020 and 4K/8K-resolution television sets will be widespread in the consumer market by then. Expectations for 8K UHDTV are increasing strongly.

As the market demand for UHDTV is expected to expand globally, Ikegami is exhibiting both the SHK-810 and a newly developed prototype 4K 3-CMOS camera at NAB 2015 in Las Vegas. Ikegami will make further progress with 8K UHDTV state-of-the-art technology as a leading supplier of professional broadcasting products for the UHD video market.