Pro video blog…Produced by Philip Johnston DoP/Editor

Ike-HC-HD300
On show at CABSAT 2015 will be Ikegami’s HC-HD300 3-CMOS studio camera system which makes its MEA market debut. The HC-HD300 is a compact docking-style camera for studio or field operation. An aggressively-priced addition to Ikegami’s broadcast-ready Unicam HD product line, it meets the same high standard of imagery and has the same rugged construction.

The Ikegami HC-HD300 is equipped with a 1/3 inch bayonet lens mount and employs three 1/3-inch CMOS progressive-scan 1920 x 1080 native sensors in RGB prism formation. The camera delivers high quality pictures in all commonly used video formats: 1920 x 1080/50i, 1920 x 1080/59.94i, 1280 x 720/50p, 1280 x 720/59.94p, 720 x 576/50i (PAL) and 720 x 480/59.94i (NTSC).

Typical performance characteristics of the HC-HD300 in 1080/59.94i output mode are 1,000 television lines horizontal resolution, 58 dB signal-to-noise ratio and 2,000 lux sensitivity (89.9 per cent white reflection) at F10 aperture. Equivalent aperture in 1080/50i mode for this light level is F11.

Camera gain can be attenuated from mid level to -3 or -6 dB, or increased by +3, +6, +9, +12 or + 18 dB. Integral neutral density filters (100 per cent, 25 per cent, 6.2 per cent and 1.6 per cent) can be switched in as required, plus operator-selectable 3,200, 4,300, 6,300 and 8,000 kelvin electronic colour conversion. An electric shutter can be set to 1/100, 1/120, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1,000 or 1/2,000 second speed.

Supporting features include the focus assist and lens aberration correction functions employed in Ikegami’s established UnicamHD range of cameras.

The HC-HD300 can be operated under local control or in conjunction with a newly developed control system. This consists of an FA-300 fibre adapter and BSF-300 base station. Light in weight and compact in size (1.5RU), the BSF-300 base station is easily integrated into any studio, mobile truck, or portable flypack. When using a hybrid fibre camera cable, the base station provides power to the fibre adapter and the camera itself.

OpticalCON Duo connectors allow use of SMPTE hybrid camera cables at up to 350 metres with a 2 inch viewfinder or 250 metres with a 7 inch viewfinder. For longer links of up to 10 kilometres between camera and based station, duplex single-mode fibre with common optical LC connectors for can be deployed.


The HC-HD300 weighs 4.5 kg including FA-300 fibre adapter and measures 139 x 270 x 337 mm (width x depth x height). Operating voltage range is 11 to 16 volts and power consumption (excluding FA-300) is 19 watts. The camera is designed for use within an ambient temperature range of -20 to +45 Celsius and 30 per cent to 90 per cent non-condensing operating humidity.
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Having been working in the video business since 1988 I have amassed a great amount of knowledge of both the kit and production values over the last 30 years.

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