Production Crew, a division of Riyadh-based AFLAM Productions, has invested in 12 Ikegami UHK-X700 UNICAM-XE 4K-UHD camera systems for integration with a new 12G-SDI OB truck. Each system includes the camera head plus a 7 inch LCD viewfinder, a BSX-100 base station, an OCP-300 operation control panel and a T-430 tripod mounting plate, as Ikegami Electronics has claimed in a statement.

Designed and built by Dubai-based systems integrator El Baba Smart Technology, the vehicle focus on large-scale outdoor events in broadcast quality 4K-UHD HDR.

“We have been using HDK-73 cameras in our studios for many years and are very pleased with their performance and reliability well as the technical support provided by Ikegami,” comments Shady Mokdad, executive director of AFLAM Productions and managing director of Production Crew. “Our aim in choosing UHK-X700 cameras is to bridge the quality gap between broadcast and digital film”.

Pre-purchase tests used the three 2/3-inch CMOS 4K sensors of the camera to confirm its optical and electronic performance.

From the electronics perspective, each UHK-X700 includes high dynamic range, wide color gamut, 16-axis color correction and power-efficient ASIC.

The cameras allow operating outdoors and in studio environments. The UHK-X700 also includes optical vignetting correction, remote backfocus adjustment, plus viewfinder-based focus-assist, safe-area markers and filter settings.

“We are very pleased to be chosen as a technology partner in this high-profile project,” adds Asim Saeed, Ikegami business development manager. “4K-UHD continues to increase in popularity as the logical mastering format for productions with a potentially long commercial lifetime. The UHK-X700/BSX-100 combination chosen by AFLAM’s Production Crew team allows cameras to be securely linked up to 3 kilometres from their operating location, including power to the camera head. Simultaneous output in HD SDR and UHD HDR video formats is supported, including mixed sources. 4K-UHD video is available as a 12G-SDI feed directly from the camera head, enabling the UHK-X700 to be integrated into a wireless system.”

UHK-X700 cameras are 3840 x 2160 RGB UHD-native and designed for use in pedestal or tripod mounted studio , OB applications, mobile electronic field production and newsgathering. Optional high frame-rate capture at up to 2x speed in 4K or up to 8x speed in HD can be performed via the BSX-100 base station to allow slow-motion display of stadium or stage events.

Ikegami’s OCP-300 controller supports Ikegami’s ICCP and Ethernet based control. It includes a touchscreen LCD with rotary encoders plus a memory card slot for full camera setup and filing capability. It also supports PoE, powering over Ethernet, so separate power supplies are not necessary.