Inter BEE 2014: ASTRODESIGN - Increased functionality with the compact and lightweight 2 kg cube-shaped AH-4800 8K camera head - Exhibition of large-scale video system using 50 Micro Tiles

ASTRODESIGN exhibited a variety of the latest devices suited to the needs of digital broadcasting, large-scale video, and digital cinema-related products, including the 8K/4K ultra-high-definition video system.
(Photo above: 8K camera system)

■ Exhibition of the AH-4800 cube-shaped 8K camera head
　The AH-4800 single-plate super high-vision 8K camera head is an 8K super high-vision (SHV) camera head developed for the first time for use in NHK's 2018 super high vision test broadcast. It achieves superior miniaturization measuring 12.5 cm (W) x 12.5 cm (H) x 15.0 cm (D) and weighing 2 kg. Easily held in the palm of your hand, the cube-shaped housing is packed with the latest technology. Hiroyuki Hasegawa from the ASTRODESIGN Business Support Group said, "This is smaller and lighter compared to past 8K cameras. I believe it will enable highly mobile 8K filming."
　ASTRODESIGN also exhibited a variety of solutions, including the 8K super high-vision ultra-high-definition camera, 8K/4K enabled uncompressed SSD recorder, 8K/4K LCD monitor, HDTV/4K inserter, high-performance loudness meter, MMT analyzer / MMT recorder & player, and High Resolution Video Wall processor. Mr. Hasegawa added, "I think that through this exhibition, we were able to demonstrate ASTRODESIGN's comprehensive strength with regards to 8K/4K and other high-quality video. Going forward, I hope to continue to develop industry-leading products."

■ Colorful display using tile LEDs made by Christie
　The right side of the large ASTRODESIGN booth exhibited a large video system made of 50 Micro Tiles, which are tile LED light sources with DLP system rear projection units manufactured by Christie Digital Systems (Christie). Michimasa Sekine, of ASTRODESIGN's Sales Division Group 3, said, "Last year, we exhibited an 8K display with full image quality using Micro Tiles. It attracted attention, but this year we changed our approach and wanted a solution that takes advantage of the benefits of Micro Tiles for various productions. This year's large video display has a 2160 x 5760 resolution, equivalent to 5K image quality. Of course, it can project 4K sources at full image quality, and it puts out video using our company's multimedia scan converter."
　Hisayo Yoshida, a marketing specialist for Christie, said, "Our company's Micro Tiles are used broadly for recapturing by broadcast stations. Last year, our 8K exhibition was well received, but this year we were able to find a practical way to promote the effectiveness of large-scale video for image recapture to people in the broadcasting industry. In the future, I hope it will be used by many in the broadcast industry."

(*This is a report on the Inter BEE 2014 exhibitions, held at Makuhari Messe from November 19th to 21st, 2014.)