Description

Highlights:

Features

Power HAD EX CCDs<

The BVP-E30 Series is equipped with state-ofthe-art three-chip 2/3-inch type Sony Power HAD EX CCDs for a high horizontal resolution of 900* TV lines. This CCD imager also achieves a high sensitivity of F11, an excellent S/N ratio of 67 dB, and a remarkably low smear level of -145 dB (typical) - allowing the BVP-E30 Series to make spectacular pictures even in the most difficult shooting environments.

Interlace or Progressive Operation

The Power HAD EX CCD is capable of producing interlace (480/60i) or progressive scan images (480/30p) allowing greater flexibility for DTV operation as well as creative freedom.

14-bit A/D Conversion

The BVP-E30 Series incorporates a high resolution 14-bit A/D conversion circuit so that images captured by the Power HAD EX CCDs are processed with greater precision than conventional 10-bit or 12-bit A/D converters. In particular, this high-resolution A/D conversion allows the contrast to be reproduced more faithfully in both mid-to-dark-tone and bright areas of the picture.

Advanced Digital Signal Processing (ADSP)

The ADSP of the BVP-E30 Series uses more than 30 bits in its nonlinear process, minimizing round-off errors to maintain the high quality of the Power HAD EX CCDs. The ADSP also enables highly sophisticated image controls, such as knee saturation, adaptive highlight control and multi-matrix functions.

Stable Image Correction

Thanks to the inclusion of the 14-bit A/D converter, white balance, 3D white shading, and linear saturation can be digitally corrected, allowing for more stable image correction. For example, the BVP-E30 Series replaces the traditional use of vertical and horizontal sawtooth and parabola waveforms for whiteshading correction with digital 3D whiteshading correction. A digital 3D multi-zone system, using numerous data points over the raster, creates a smooth correction topography that can far better handle the variations over many lens types.

Knee Saturation Control

Traditionally, shooting very bright portions of an object (such as key light reflections from a person's forehead) can often reduce color saturation and change the hue. The BVP-E30 Series adopts a knee saturation control function in which this 'wash-out' effect on saturation and hue change is reduced to a minimum, providing a far more natural color reproduction in areas of high light.

Adaptive Highlight Control (Auto Knee Mode)

In conventional cameras, only a single kneepoint/slope is available for control over highlights. The BVP-E30 Series, however, provides multiple knee-points/slopes for superb overexposure control. The camera detects the highly lit areas of a scene and automatically sets and optimizes multiple knee points/slopes accordingly. This allows the reproduction of extremely difficult images (such as an interior scene with a brightly sunlit window) with much more overexposure latitude. This function applies only to input video levels in excess of the knee point; the middle and low luminance parts of the video signal are unaffected.

Low Key Saturation

With conventional cameras, low-light areas can be subject to a reduction in saturation. This can result in the color in these areas being "washed out". The low key saturation function on the BVP-E30 Series eliminates this problem by optimizing the amplification of color saturation at low light levels, providing more natural color reproduction.

Multi-Matrix Function

The multi-matrix function of the BVP-E30 Series allows color adjustments to be applied over the color range specified by the operator. The color spectrum is divided into 16 areas of adjustment, where the hue and/or saturation of each area can be modified. This function is especially useful when only the hue of certain colors needs to be adjusted for special-effects work.

Enhanced Vertical Detail (Non-Additive Mix)

In conventional cameras, vertical detail signals are created using the Y-channel, G-channel or, more commonly, the R/G channels combined. Each method has its limitations, such as when the color channel selected to create the detail signal is at a low level. The BVP-E30 Series uses an adaptive image-enhancement method. This creates detail signals from each of the R/G/B components of the video signal, compares them, and then automatically selects the channel with the highest contrast level for use as the detail signal (Non-Additive Mix). This avoids the conventional restrictions of image enhancement observed above. The BVP-E30 Series can automatically correct the enhanced vertical detail but, if required, operators may manually select from the Y, G, or R/G imageenhancement modes.

Low Light Shooting

The BVP-E30 Series offers two convenient functions for capturing clear images in low-light environments - a slow shutter mode and a gain function - which can be used separately or together. The slow shutter mode allows the charge accumulation period of the CCD to be extended to seven frames. The gain function allows the camera gain to be boosted to +42 dB. When used together, the camera offers a minimum illumination of 0.035 lux.

Adaptive Detail Control

The adaptive detail control automatically optimizes the amplitude of the detail signal for high-contrast picture edges. It also eliminates digital aliasing effects, offering very "natural" image enhancement during scenes in which there are severe changes in contrast.

Triple Skin Tone Detail Control

The BVP-E30 Series Skin Tone Detail function enables control of image enhancement within user-specified color tones. The BVP-E30 Series allows enhancement to be set independently for up to three distinct color and/or hue ranges. Skin Tone Detail correction is conventionally used to reduce the amount of detail control in areas of skin tone. With the BVP-E30 Series, correction is not restricted to skin tone and can be applied to any area of color. Image enhancement within the three areas can be increased or decreased relative to the overall image enhancement of a given scene.

Electronic Soft Focus

The BVP-E30 Series' electronic soft focus applies a similar effect to that of an optical soft-focus filter, but in a much more convenient way. Rather than increasing the level of the detail signal, this function reduces it - providing a picture that is "softer" than that achieved when detail is switched off completely. Electronic soft focus is also effective when used in conjunction with skin-tone detail to only change the sharpness within a specific color or hue range.

Electronic and Optical Color Correction Filter

The BVP-E30 Series cameras come equipped with electronic Color Correction, which replaces the need for optical Color Correction (CC) filters. The BVP-E30 camera has dual filter wheels with both ND and CC filters, but they are also equipped with electronic Color Correction, which gives operators the choice of correcting color temperature optically or electronically, according to their needs. In addition, the filter of the BVP-E30 can be servo-controlled.

Assignable Switch

The BVP-E30 Series has a dedicated 'assignable switch' available for functions frequently used in the field. Located near the filter wheel dial, this switch allows functions such as 5600K On/Off and ATW On/Off to be assigned as required. Adding further operational convenience, the return viewfinder and intercom buttons located on the camera handle can be assigned to the servo zoom in/out function for lenses with a digital interface. Assignment of all of the above functions is implemented via the menu system.

Sophisticated Handle

A newly designed carrying handle offers good operator comfort and ensures optimum balance of the camera. The handle is made of light but highly durable die-cast material and includes a non-slip leather finish. In addition, the sophisticated design allows easy operation when the camera is docked with a camera adaptor, dockable VTR, and even with a studio-type lens and large viewfinder.

Auto Tracing White Balance (ATW)

The BVP-E30 Series features a convenient Auto Tracing White Balance (ATW) function, which automatically adjusts white balance as lighting conditions change. ATW is useful when shooting in rapidly changing lighting conditions, such as when moving from indoor to outdoor locations.

File Operation Using Memory Stick™ Media Card

The BVP-E30 Series incorporates the Sony Memory Stick system for the storage and recall of setup parameters. This is an effective, easy-to-use system for storing and recalling camera parameters for individual scenes or the individual preferences of a camera operator, including the settings of assignable switches.

Adjustable Shoulder Pad

The position of the shoulder pad on the BVP-E30 Series cameras can be easily adjusted without using a screwdriver - both forwards and backwards - to always provide the operator with a comfortable and well-balanced camera position, even when docked with a range of lenses or camera adaptors.

System Compatibility

The BVP-E30 Series is compatible with a variety of peripherals including camera adaptors, dockable VTRs, camera control units, remote controllers and a wireless camera transmitter. This allows operators to flexibly configure the system according to their needs both in the studio and out in the field. The BVP-E30 Series can be configured in four typical operation styles: Triax CCU, wireless transmission, fiber optic transmission and dockable VTR operation.

Wide Band Triax Transmission System

With the CA-570 Triax Camera Adaptor attached, the BVP-E30 Series can be remotely controlled from the CCU-550D or CCU-700A Camera Control Unit using a Triax cable. The wide-band transmission system can maintain the high picture performance of the BVP-E30 Series, and offers cable runs of up to 2000 m via 14.5 mm diameter cable (1000 m via 8.5 mm diameter cable) with return video and remote power.

Fiber Optic Transmission System

In the event that long cable runs are required, the BVP-E30 Series is capable of fiber optic transmission when equipped with a Sony CA-950 Fiber Optic Camera Adapter and a CCU-900 Fiber Optics Camera Control Unit. The optical cables transmit the video signal in the digital domain, while extending the transmission distance up to 3,000 m with return and remote power and up to 10,000 meters utilizing local power.

Wireless Transmission System

By combining the BVP-E30 Series with Sony wireless camera systems WLL-CA55 and WLLRX55, high-quality and stable wireless transmission for video/audio becomes available, providing the extra mobility for gathering news in the field or covering sports, concerts and other live events. This system also offers the transmission of camera control, intercom, and tally signals* - allowing highly mobile yet creative shooting opportunities. The use of a 2.4-GHz band transmission frequency allows operation of the wireless camera system without the need for a license in most countries. *An optional WRR Series wireless microphone tuner and a WRT Series wireless microphone transmitter are required for the wireless transmission of camera control, intercom, and tally signals.

Specifications