Sony HDC-2000 + HDC-2550 cameras

Sony’s pre-NAB announcements continue with the addition of two new live production studio and outside broadcast cameras to its range: the HDC-2000 (pictured above) and HDC-2550 (below).

Both use a newly developed 2/3-inch CCD image sensor and digital signal processing with a 16-bit analogue-to-digital converter.

The HDC-2000 also comes in beige

The HDC-2000 is the studio version of Sony’s existing portable HDC-2500, which is designed for studio and sports applications and offers a variety of signal output formats, including 1080/50p and 59.94p and RGB 4:4:4 output.

Like the HDC-2500, it uses 3Gbps, high-bitrate fibre transmission to deliver higher frame rates without compression and support 3D operations as two single camera signals can be transmitted in parallel through a single fibre. It also allows 2x slow motion picture production when used with the SR-R1000 SRMaster storage unit.

This means the HDC-2000 will allow sports productions to shoot slow motion from all angles in the field, although it is not purely a slow motion camera.

The 3Gbps fibre can also enable dedicated IP network communication between the HDC-2000 and its control panel, the HDCU-2000, which should offer further advantages for live camera operations.

HDC-2550

The portable HDC-2550 includes a standard triax cable interface, for simple integration with existing studio or outside broadcast infrastructures.

However, it also has a new changeable transmission side cover allowing users to easily switch between fibre and triax connections.

The camera body has a carbon fibre outside cover, which makes it firmer and stronger without adding weight.

Other features include: a dual optical filter wheel; and variable frame rates: 1080/50i or 59.94i and 720/50p or 59.94p as standard, with progressive frame rates 1080/23.98PsF, 24PsF, 25PsF and 29.94PsF as an option.

The HDC-2550 can slot into a studio cradle

“Both the HDC-2000 and HDC-2550 build on Sony’s legacy in live production and help us to push the boundaries of what is possible in live sport production. Through technological innovation, both cameras have been built so they are as operationally efficient as possible, with the real customer and operator in mind,” said Claus Pfeifer, Strategic Marketing Manager, Sony Europe.

The HDC-2000 and HDC-2550 will begin shipping in May.

By David Fox