Sony is introducing an accessible camera system for 4K and HDR-ready studio and live production with the combination of the latest HXC-FB80 portable camera and HXCU-FB80 camera control unit (CCU). Based on a 3G-SDI platform with 1080/50p capabilities, the new system is well-suited for live production applications (studios, education, events), where production professionals need a high-quality HD solution with a migration path to 4K and HDR.

Since its debut in 2015, the current HXC series has been adopted worldwide by regional broadcast stations, production companies and educational institutes.  With inputs from these customer experiences, Sony today enhances its range of system cameras to support 4K upscale and HD HDR production in order to widen its applications. The HXC-FB80 has the same choice of configurations as its predecessors – the HXC-FB80H (camera body only) and HXC-FB80K (with 2/3” HD Lens, Portable viewfinder and Microphone).

The HXC-FB80 expands Sony’s HXC product line-up and shares many common features with thecurrent HXC-FB75. The new camera continues to provide signal-to-noise ratio at -60dB with high sensitivity of F13 at 50Hz – ideal for low-light shooting – and a variety of camera painting and processing capabilities.

The CCU upscales HD content to 4K (3840×2160) and provides a 12G-SDI output in addition to a quad-Link 3G-SDI. An HD HDR output supporting Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) will be available in 2018 summerthrough a firmware upgrade.

The camera has three 2/3-inch type CMOS Exmor image sensors and provides 50Hz progressive operation at 1920×1080 between the camera head and CCU using a 3G Platform. The camera also supports 23.98PsF shooting for productions requiring a film-look, including interviews and newsmagazine-type programs along with 25PsF shooting.

Furthermore, the ND filter wheel can be remotely controlled by the newly adopted filter servo motor in the camera head in addition to the electrical CC filter.

Notably, the potential distance between the camera head and CCU is extended up to 600m, while keeping the 10km extension by single mode fibre cable with local power supply. Together with the HXC-P70, the cable length can be extended up to 1,000m with the supplied power from the new HXCU-FB80 CCU. In addition to a Neutrik connector interface, an SMPTE-311M LEMO connector interface is also available for the camera head and CCU.

The HXC-FB80 system can be controlled not only by the CCU front panel operation, but also RCP remote operation as well as PC-RCP (HZC-RCP5) and Master Setup Unit (MSU) system for multi-camera application, which ensures scalability of its system.

The HXC-FB80 camera and HXCU-FB80 camera control unit are planned to be available in January 2018.  Sony will be exhibiting its prototype at the NAB Show New York, booth N401 Hall 3B Level 3, from 18 to 19 October.