Sony reveals HDCAM SR strategy to revolutionize high-end production and widen market appeal

Nov 25, 2009

“Today, we have shown the power of a total HDCAM SR solution as well as a future-proofed roadmap that offers a path to 4K and 3D native recording. It doesn’t get any better.”

Product Roadmap to deliver:

• Camcorder for life: New SRW-9000 ships today at affordable price point and with future upgrade path
• Open and Efficient File-based Workflow with MXF and SR Lite
• Workflow Benefits with EDL data and colour correction using CDL files
• Delivery of new SR memory as media of future
• Strong tape archive strategy and realignment of media pricing

Power of Images, London UK - Sony Professional today unveiled a series of announcements for its HDCAM SR range that offers unprecedented developments in the areas of acquisition, storage, archive and workflow efficiency.

Delivering new opportunities for high end acquisition and post production, Sony’s HDCAM SR technology is set to go beyond today’s quality standards and bring the benefits of file-based SR operations at a more cost-effective price point. 

For the high-end user, the roadmap delivers the next evolution in SR beyond today’s quality standards and the arrival of new products and solution to deliver file-based acquisition and production. For the more mainstream market, Sony delivers an SR strategy that brings the benefits of file-based SR operations at a more cost-effective price point. The scale of the developments is unprecedented in the history of the format.

Camcorder for life: 2/3’’ or 35mm PL mount option and file-based memory upgrade path for SRW-9000

Launched at NAB 2009 as the next generation of digital 24P technology, Sony’s SRW-9000 combines the format’s renowned image quality with the versatility of a one-piece camcorder. It ships from today for less than the popular HDCAM F900R as a full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution camcorder using 2/3-inch CCDs and is capable of 4:2:2 10-bit recording as well as being configurable up to 4:4:4 in multi-frame rate from 1 to 60p.

Within the industry, the SRW-9000 is recognised as the highest quality 2/3’’ camcorder on the market . Today, based on customer feedback and recognising a market requirement for a 35mm PL mount ‘B’ camera to the prestigious F35, Sony is unveiling an upgrade path for the SRW-9000 to 35mm to further strengthen the flexibility the camcorder can provide.

The F35 will maintain its prestige position in the camera range with further refinements delivered to customers in the future. “When Sony’s SRW-9000 launched in April. It was undoubtedly a no-compromise product that is head and shoulders above anything else available. Today’s news sees us add to the momentum and interest around the product as well as reinforce its market leadership in terms of price, media and long-term investment potential,” explained Olivier Bovis, General Manager, Content Creation Group, Sony Professional.

“While SR is already a file-based format, supporting data recording in 4k and DPX today, file-based recording continues to gain momentum and the move to non-linear acquisition is also becoming increasingly important. Therefore Sony is today committing to a future upgrade path to SR memory for the SRW-9000,” he added.

Open Workflow with MXF and SR Lite

Since its introduction, HDCAM SR has established itself as a mainstay of post production. As HD programming has become more commonplace, so has the demand for higher video bit rates, higher frame rates, and greater format flexibility as well as workflow optimisation. 

Across the SR range, Sony can deliver up to 1080/60P and 50P recording through the use of 880 Mb/s data rate and today introduced a next generation file transfer and storage technology. 

Based on the open MPEG-4 SStP (Simple Studio Profile) codec together with an MXF wrapper, which ensures data remains compressed during transfer and enables an almost real time exchange over the GB Ethernet connection. SR Lite (220Mbps*) is available to provide more flexibility for the SStP file based workflow. HDCAM SR can now deliver increased workflow efficiency with a de-facto standard and open codec that is ideal for high end broadcast production. In addition, HDCAM tape can also be integrated into the MXF SStP file-based operation as the system is backward compatible.

In addition, using the benefit of SR compression the storage requirements are reduced to a quarter, so a compressed future 4k file has the same storage transfer characteristics as native 2k today.

These three transfer rates of 880Mbps, 440Mbps and 220Mbps will all be available in future products, but more importantly within the current SRW-5800 with some straightforward hardware updates.

Workflow Benefits with EDL data and colour correction using CDL files

To derive the greatest benefit from a Digital Cinema camera, every HDCAM SR cassette has a Telefile label built-in as contactless memory storage. This data can be used to generate an EDL that relates exactly to the actual shooting as an automatic logging system. Currently, Sony is working with the Filmlight Truelight box as an on, or near set first pass grading system. CDL files, an industry standard, are generated and will be recorded onto SR tape. Providing an automated EDL and CDL directly to the grading suite will tremendously speed up the process of a one light grade.

Delivery of new SR memory as media of the future

Sony’s technology will enable users to move to a revolutionary and unique Nonlinear Media. The new memory cards deliver transfer rates of up to 6Gbp/s and a native acquisition from 3D 1080p all the way up to 4k. Initially available in 250GB and 500GB, the storage reliably transfers data 9x faster than any other device!

Plans to deliver an upgrade path to SR memory on the existing SRW-9000 have been announced together with a memory adapter for the F35.

“We have unveiled the media of the future,” noted Sony’s Olivier Bovis. “There is nothing else capable of this level of quality native recording anywhere on the market today. Sony has extensive experience of taking customers from tape to file-based workflow. Today, we have shown the power of a total HDCAM SR solution as well as a future-proofed roadmap that offers a path to 4K and 3D native recording. It doesn’t get any better.”

HDCAM SR Tape

The new HDCAM SR roadmap and the strong commitment to move to file base workflow will see SR tapes offer value at every point in the workflow from acquisition with the first SR tape camcorder, to archiving with further opportunities foreseen with upgrades to the SRW-5800 VTR. 

While acquisition is moving to file-based working over time, archive solutions will remain tape-based. Combined with the new pricing policy delivered today, SR Tape remains the most robust and reliable option for archive and with the future upgrades to the SRW-5800 it will record content at twice real time.

HDCAM SR features:

Breathtaking HDCAM SR Picture Quality

The SRW-9000 is a one-piece HDCAM-SR camcorder that delivers full HD resolution images and employs 2/3-type IT CCD. Combining this CCD with a high-precision 14-bit A/D converter and digital signal processing, the camcorder is able to capture and reproduce stunning-quality 1080/60P and 1080/50P images with low noise and high sensitivity. Furthermore, Sony’s BP-GL Series of on-board batteries can be attached to provide an additional power supply. With its self-contained recording media (based on the HDCAM-SR format) and compact one-piece design, the SRW-9000 delivers powerful mobility and comfortable shooting – both indoors and outside.

Full-bandwidth RGB 4:4:4 Digital Image Capturing

With the addition of the optional HKSR-9003 RGB 4:4:4 Processing Board, the SRW-9000 offers a full-bandwidth digital 4:4:4 high-definition Red, Green, and Blue signal processing and output capability for highly demanding picture productions. The SRW-9000 also offers S-LOG Gamma with the same optional board, allowing users to flexibly adjust images in the post-production process.

Variable Frame Rate Image Capturing

By adding the HKSR-9002 Picture Cache Board, the SRW-9000 is capable of recording images at a variable frame rate from 1 fps to 60 fps in 4:2:2 mode. And by combining the HKSR-9002 with the HKSR-9003, it can perform the same function even in 4:4:4 mode.

Wide Choice of Viewfinders

The SRW-9000 accepts three types of viewfinder, including the HDVF-20A/200, HDVF-C35W, and HDVF-C30WR. The newly introduced HDVF-C30WR is especially suited for use with the SRW-9000, offering improved focus assist functions, a color brightness level indicator, and numerous other beneficial features. Moreover, with pre-installed viewing LUTs (look-up tables) for S-Log Gamma, this viewfinder provides users with easier focus adjustment and a more intuitive photo-shooting operation.

Versatile Gamma Settings

Including unique S-LOG Gamma (HKSR-9003), HyperGamma, and customizable gamma curve (standard).

Picture Cache Re-recording Capability

Everything captured up to a maximum of three seconds before the REC button is pressed is recorded to HDCAM-SR tape when the camcorder is in stand-by mode.

I/O Expandability

When using the HKSR-9001, additional dual-link HD-SDI outputs and an additional AUX input port are provided, allowing the camcorder to be connected with an external audio multiplexing device.

Wide Range of Accessories

The SRW-9000 is compatible with a wide range of accessories for the HDW-F900, F23, SRW-1, and ARRI.

Sony showed off a new shoulder-mounted HDV camcorder at both NAB and IBC this year. The camcorder doesn’t have a model name yet, but we do know it will record HDV/DVCAM/DV using three, 1/3″ ClearVID CMOS sensors. It will also be capable of 1080p recording in the HDV format and will be compatible with full-size cassettes for up to 4.7 hours of recording.

Also shown at IBC but not named was a small form factor HDV camcorder also featuring three, 1/3″ ClearVID CMOS sensors. Both camcorders will have a 1/3″ bayonet mount for accepting interchangeable lenses.

Balaji notes: The above unnamed HDV Camera from sony was showcased in NAB and IBC.

Check out this article from digital content producer