The manufacturer has introduced a new field camera system and PTZ camera as well as debuted its KAIROS video production platform
Panasonic recently unveiled a number of new products for the video production sector including the cost-effective AK-HC3900GJ/GSJ 1080p HDR studio camera system and the AW-UE100 integrated pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) camera, and debuted KAIROS, a new IT/IP video processing platform.
The new HC3900 (pictured above) follows in the footsteps of the company’s AK-HC3800, and steps up that camera’s feature set, including full simultaneous HDR/SDR with an expanded multi-format capability (1080: 59.94p, 50p, 59.94i, 50i, 29.97PsF, 25PsF, 23.98PsF; 720: 59.94p/50p) and future optional upgrade to 4K 60p/50p production. The AK-HC3900GJ/GSJ captures its raw image from an internal 4K imaging system to deliver its stunning HD HDR images with ITU-R BT.2020 wide color space. The Internal 4K capture also means that the future optional 4K system upgrade will yield a full 2000 TV lines horizontal resolution. The AK-HC3900GJ/GSJ achieves a high sensitivity of F10 at 59.94Hz (2,000 lx) and a S/N ratio of 62 dB. The camera offers a built-in motorized ND filter.
The new cost-effective AK-HCU250PJ/PSJ/EJ/ESJ camera control unit (CCU), in combination with the new AK-HRP250GJ remote operation panel (ROP), will connect the high-grade uncompressed video and control to the camera head via optical fiber or utilize SMPTE Hybrid cable to provide camera power as well. The new CCU includes all the system features of the HC3800 along with simultaneous output of HDR/SDR, and the HC3900’s expanded multi-format capability and 4K upgrade path. New features include 3G trunk and 3G prompter functions. The new ROP now includes PoE power (no power supply required) for easy installation.
Both the CCU and the ROP are equipped with SD card slots, which can be used for storing various settings or upgrading firmware. Camera operators will have a choice of two electronic viewfinders, either the AK-HVF100GJ nine-inch or AK-HVF75G seven-inch LCD color models.
The AK-HC3900GJ/GSJ, AK-HCU250PJ/PSJ/EJ/ESJ and AK-HRP250GJ will be available in the fourth quarter 2020, with pricing to be announced.
Panasonic’s new AW-UE100 integrated pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) camera supports a wide variety of IP transmission protocols, including high-bandwidth NDI, high-efficiency NDI|HX and Secure Reliable Transport (SRT). This new PTZ camera with newly-designed direct drive motor for smooth pan and tilt movement offers installation flexibility, low noise and high-resolution image capture, and will facilitate high-quality live remote and studio production in broadcast, staging, corporate, sports and house of worship applications.
The AW-UE100 features a 1/2.5-type 4K MOS sensor to produce stunning UHD 4K/60p video and offers a wide variety of interfaces including 12G-SDI, 3G-SDI, HDMI and IP. For capturing images in tight spaces to large venues, the UE100 has exceptional capabilities. A wide-angle lens with a horizontal angle of view of 74.1 degrees enables a wide area to be shot from a limited installation space, and its 24x optical zoom maintains high image quality at high zoom ratios, permitting shooting in large indoor spaces.
For low latency, live video transmissions, the AW-UE100 offers high-bandwidth NDI for transmitting 4K/60p video at speeds of approximately 250 Mbps and for transmitting full HD video at approximately 100 Mbps, all over a single LAN cable. It also offers high-efficiency, low bandwidth NDI|HX to enable video transmission at low bitrates. Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) maintains stability when transmitting high-quality video, even in unstable network environments; and its RTMP/RTMPS function provides direct streaming via a single cable to live broadcasting services such as YouTube Live and Facebook Live.
Its FreeD output enables connection with AR/VR systems and allows camera tracking information (pan/tilt/zoom/focus/iris) to easily build systems without an encoder. The inclusion of a Direct Drive mechanism with roll compensation improves stillness and quietness during pan/tilt operations.
The camera’s panning range is ±175° and tilting range is -30° to 210°. Other key features include a four-position ND filter (Clear, ¼, 1/16, 1/64), a Night Mode for infrared shooting, and PoE++ power supply support.
The AW-UE100 will be available in both black and white versions in third quarter 2020.
KAIROS, Panasonic’s next generation IT/IP video processing platform, offers an open architecture system for live video switching with complete input and output flexibility, resolution and format independence, maximum CPU/GPU processor utilization and virtually unlimited ME scalability.
As a native IP, ST 2110 system, KAIROS supports transitions to live IP workflows and can eliminate dedicated hardware constraints. This COTS-based system creates new production opportunities involving a mosaic of IT ecosystems with a variety of vendor components from several industries.
“KAIROS is introduced as the content creation industry transitions to live IP workflows, requiring broadcast and event producers to think about how they will future-proof their productions and facilities,” said Michael Bergeron, Panasonic senior product manager for live production systems. “With an ever-growing set of tools and hardware, producers need a comprehensive solution for multiple applications to break free of the boundaries of traditional hardware. As an IT/IP platform based on an open software architecture, KAIROS takes the various components of a broadcast program and virtualizes them, so productions are flexible, dynamic and powerful.”
For television studios, KAIROS seamlessly integrates into a facility’s ST 2110 infrastructure without requiring additional IP gateways. For houses of worship, KAIROS handles current screen management and linear broadcast needs, but can also accommodate new devices or nontraditional displays. For sports and entertainment venues or event productions, staff with diverse experience and background can employ the user-friendly GUI to deliver engaging content or set up complex systems with limited training time.
KAIROS system centers around the KAIROS Core, main frame, which handles all video processing. Version 1 main frame will manage video I/O through a Deltacast gateway card and/or a Mellanox 100 GbE NIC (Network Interface Card) connection to COTS IP devices and SDI and HDMI gateways. Control will all be managed on devices operating over a separate Gbit Ethernet including Kairos Creator, GUI software for set up and software-based control panel and KAIROS Control, Panasonic’s premium quality 2ME style hardware control panel.
Panasonic also announced it has established a KAIROS Alliance Partners program which includes IP COTS hardware manufacturers and leading vendors of graphics, automation, and media servers. For the KAIROS platform linking with other vendor’s components is important, as KAIROS utilizes a variety of IT ecosystems based on COTS technology and easily expands functions and links to external devices by adding application software.
