Computer Hardware

Dalsa’s Origin is a single sensor camera design by means of Bayer pattern filtration to capture color images. Dalsa’s sensor is an 8.4 million pixel frame transfer CCD. It has a lively picture area of 4046 by 2048, which is larger than 35mm film. The origin camera have an optical throughout the lens, viewfinder and uses 35mm PL Mount lenses and is capable of outputting a 4K data signal. At the moment, there are no recording devices capable of handling neither its 402 data rate nor any with the terabytes of storage necessary for the Origin’s 4 K output.

These sensors have a picture area of 1936 by 1036 and catch either 1920 by 1080 interlaced or 1280 by 720 progressive images. The raw data from the CMOS sensor will be stored on a removable hard drive array that mounts on the camera in a manner similar to a film magazine. Each electronic storage magazine holds 110 minutes of footage. The power specifications suggest a single 80 watt battery will run the camera of several hours. Kinetta’s proposed breakout box, tethered to the camera via a single fiber optic cable, will provide dual link HD-SDI ports to output a 1920 by 1080 4:4:4 RGB signal or a single link HD-SDI port to output a 4:2:2 Y Cr Cb signal. The box also has an SDI port so operators can output a down converted SD video signal.

The 4K data workflow Dalsa is envisaging deliver the camera output over four fiber optic channels by the Infiniband protocol developed by silicon graphics. The frame size is 4046 by 2048 and the data are in a proprietary interpolated 4:4:4 RGB linear file format that stores 16 bits per pixel and 16 bits per channel. The abridged 4K bandwidth outputs available: a 12 bit log format, which lowers the data rate to 302 Mbps; and a 10 bit log option, which inferiors the data rate to252 Mbps. The camera’s native file can be converted afterwards using lossless processing to additional file formats such as Cineon, DPX or TIFF

Remote camera control options include Panavision’s RDC or Sony’s MSU or RMB series controllers. The camera’s weight and form factor are similar to existing Panavision 35mm cameras; the Genesis camera body weights 13.25 Ibs and 25 Ibs. The SRW-1 dockable recorder manufactured by Sony is attached. Other notable features include support for variable frame rates from 1 to 50 frames per second and compatibility with Panavision’s film equipment.

Panavision’s Genesis camera uses a 12.4 million pixel CCD sensor with an active picture area matching the 35mm film format, which allows any of Panavision’s existing lenses to be used. The sensor uses a proprietary striped RGB filter pattern instead of a Bayer pattern arrangement. It has twice the pixel density necessary to capture images. The extra density allows the image to over sample to reduce aliasing. The camera outputs a 1920 by 1080 4:4:4 RGB 10 bit log signal through dual link HD-SDI. It also has an HD-SDI monitor output, two electronic viewfinder outputs, a fiber optic camera adaptor and integrated lens control.

The high resolution HD signal as defined by the Advanced Television Standards Committee (ATSC) is the 1080 line format, which is 1920 by 1080 with an aspect ratio of 16:9. Images can be interlaced or progressively scanned. Most equipment designated as recording in the 1080 format actually only captures 1440 × 1080 due to sub sampling of the signal. Cameras or VTRs recording 1080 interlaced signals use the letter “i” after the frame rate to designate interlaced recording. Differences between PAL and NTSC frame rates are maintained when recording a 1080 interlaced signal. PAL countries use 1080/50i (25 fps) and NTSC countries, 1080/60i (30 fps).

Establishing the correct cadence of the footage relative to the final mastering frame rate which can be 24, 25, 30 or 60 frames per second is done in postproduction. In the field all the frames rate at or below 24 fps and at 25, 30 or 60 fps will play back correctly from the camera’s recorder. Frame rates above 24 fps with the exception of those rates noted above will not play back correctly in the field without using panasonic’s Frame rate converter or a desktop editing system capable of extracting and outputting the unique frames in the proper cadence for the operator’s selected mastering frame rate.

Panasonic’s Varicam camcorder has a prism based imager with three 2 by 3 inch one million pixel IT CCD sensors that capture 1280 by 720 progressive images at 60 frames per second. These images are sub sampled to 960 by 720 for recording on the DVCPRO-HD tape format. The Varicam camera can alter the rate it captures the images so the frame rates at a constant 60 frames per second. What is recorded in each of those 60 frames varies based on the camera’s capture rate which is set by the operator.

HDCAM is an 8 bit format with 3:1:1 color sampling a 7:1 compression ratio and a data rate of approximately 14o Mbps. Sony makes other HD cameras for field and studio used by broadcasters. Sony’s HDC900 studio camera and HDC950 portable camera rely on the same imager as the CineAlta camcorder. The major difference are that the HDC900 by 950 can output an HD signal in either the 1080i, 1080psf or 720p format and can down sample to output an NTSC or PAL signal. Sony’s HDC930 is a less expensive interlace only version which will output a 1080 by 60i, 1080 by 59.94i or 1080 by 50i signal.