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Reader SurveyIconix Video’s HD-RH1 HD Remote Head Camera System Now Shipping
Nov 1, 2006 3:29 PM
Iconix Video, Inc., a leading developer of advanced high-definition remote head camera systems, announced that its HD-RH1 high-definition POV (point-of-view) three-CCD remote camera system, which made headlines at this year’s NAB 2006, is now shipping. Moreover, the camera with a remote head that weighs only 2.5oz. and a total system weight of less than 4lbs., is garnering increasing interest from the religious broadcasting community.
Religious networks’ faith-based programming have been around for decades and have been traditionally relegated to home video, morning, and weekend morning time blocks. However, the proliferation of digital cable, direct broadcast satellite and Internet broadband services have in recent times expanded the number of viewing venues beyond the time-honored terrestrial broadcasting medium used to deliver religious content to the home. As a result, the ability to multicast over a myriad of distribution mediums on a 24/7 basis have content producers and network executives scrambling to find new and innovative ways to expand their programming, from religion-based kids programming and extreme sports to faith healing and weekend masts. Much like in the movie business, cameras and how they are used plays a significant role on the successful outcome of the production.
“The HD-RH1 is ideal for faith-based production applications that place a high premium on size, weight, performance, versatility, and affordability,” said Charles Rotbart, executive vice president of Iconix Video. “The HD-RH1 will empower DPs and cinematographers to devise new shooting techniques that would either be too difficult to setup and shoot due to weight and power constraints or too costly to configure – the possibilities are endless. Imagine the static or dynamic creative shots that can be accomplished with a rugged 2.5oz. camera head that’s capable of outputting video at full HD rates, whether it is on location at the Crystal Cathedral, shooting the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, mounted on a studio set for wide or narrow pans and zooms, or on a moving vehicle to enhance visual perspective.”
The Iconix HD-RH1 POV camera system, which includes a very robust separate camera head and processing controller unit, is the smallest high-performance HD camera in the industry. The lightweight remote camera system is comprised of a 1.32”x1.50”x1.92” POV camera head weighing 2.5oz.; a 3.5lb. universal HDTV controller unit measuring 8.4”x1.8”x12”; power supply, and 3m, 6m, and 10m cables.
The camera head assembly features a 1/3in. progressive 16:9 image sensor, backed by a 1/3in. three-CCD prism system for optics, using 14-bit quantization at the A/D conversion and processing steps. Standard C-mount lenses are used with the head, which can be tripod-mounted or used with mobile stabilization units previously reserved for still cameras. Different from most digital cameras, whose imagers run at the same rate as the output signal, the HD-RH1 three-CCD prism uses an asynchronous signal processing architecture, which runs the CCD imagers at a completely different clock rate from the output signal, allowing for cooler-running CCDs and more efficient processing.
The camera controller provides the signal I/O and control for the head, and houses the transcoding electronics which enable the unit to capture and provide real-time switching capability between every SMPTE and ATSC standard HDTV format (resolution, frame-rate), and even NTSC and PAL. Retractable push knobs on the front panel allow for gain, color, black and white balance adjustments, as well as having three user-assignable presets. Lens and iris control are also available via remote control, and the front panel can be controlled by menu along with programmable gamma functions and electronic shutter enhancements.
A first for a camera this size, the system can capture and output video in both NTSC and PAL formats in all HD resolutions, including 720p, 1080i, and 1080p while supporting frame rates of 24, 25, 30, 50, and 60fps. Outputs include HD-SDI (SMPTE 292M) as two single-link 4:2:2, or dual-link 4:4:4 RGB/YCbCr; DVI-I; and analog outputs, with genlocking capability to tri-level sync. Remote control protocols are available over RS-232 or 9-pin DSUB connectors. Power requirements are 30W at 12VDC.
“The HD-RH1 is a strong catalyst for cinematographers in the religious market to innovate and invigorate faith-based programming,” added Rotbart. “We believe that it will become an indispensable tool in the cinematographers’ tool bag, enabling a new generation of camera production techniques that were never before possible.”
