The 4K and connection facilities for streaming, are some of the features of the new cameras for news that are on the market today.
Richard Santa
The immediacy and mobility required by television newscasts makes it essential that professionals and teams can respond to the demanding needs that may arise at any time. Shoulder cameras, better known as ENG, are the essential tool that increasingly includes more technology.
TVyVideo+Radio consulted with the four most important manufacturers in the Latin market of ENG cameras: Canon, JVC, Panasonic and Sony, to know what are the most outstanding novelties of the new cameras used in newscasts and for live broadcasts.
Preferences for this type of camera in Latin America are varied. Although there is a growing trend towards low-cost cameras, with connection facilities for streaming. 4K and dynamic Range have also gained ground in this line and having as a decisive factor the cost of the storage medium.
According to René Arauz of Panasonic, "usually the needs result from the specific purpose of each television station. The channels, after defining their investment budget, are decided based mainly on factors such as camera sensitivity, video quality and the presence of local support, something that becomes fundamental to that feeling of protection for any eventuality. "
Consider before choosing
With various options on the market, it is important to keep in mind some basic criteria to make a good choice. In this regard, José Rojano, manager of AVTech Ltda, representative of JVC in Colombia, explained that within the characteristics to be taken into account for the selection of an ENG camera, the market niche must be defined and at least these realities must be kept in mind:
- That its design is ergonomic and compact, in addition to its resistance and durability.
- That offers wide autonomy in connection capacity for your fieldwork.
- That offers reliability in recording, that is, that has backup recording option.
- A good lens that is not necessarily interchangeable.
- Good connectivity or option for sending signals by streaming is essential, since in ENG this is more than important.
For his part, José Alvarado, Sales Director for Latin America at Canon, mentioned other important features such as portability, image quality, professional audio, dynamic range, stabilization, operating autonomy, battery life, versatility and reiterated the point of Wifi for streaming.
Handheld or shoulder cameras?
Humberto Gonzalez, from Sony Professional Solutions Latin America in Mexico, commented that today the most widespread solution is usually the adoption of a mixture of hand and shoulder cameras that meet all the needs and applications in a station. For this reason it is very important that hand and shoulder cameras can be compatible with each other, in terms of recording mode, codec and digital processing, which will allow to maintain a homogeneous image in the operation, regardless of the type of camera that has been used in the recording.
"While it is true that some handheld cameras have characteristics comparable to their shoulder counterparts, the reality is that both types of camera have their merits depending on the type of operation that occurs most frequently in a channel. The main advantage of handheld or semi-shoulder cameras is their portability, low energy consumption, and lower price," he added.
On the other hand, shoulder cameras have the advantage of being able to have larger sensors (usually 1/2 or 2/3 of an inch in the case of ENG cameras) which translates into greater sensitivity and better signal to noise ratio, maintaining a high image resolution. This is an important factor for ENG applications, where often the available lighting is not a controllable variable.
Shoulder cameras also allow the replacement of the standard lens with others whose characteristics can be better adapted to the application, having options with a greater image angle, or greater zoom ratios, including lenses with optical extender.
"Given the above, shoulder cameras continue to be privileged by customers who prefer more robust ENG cameras, with a more professional appearance – ideal for interviews and official events – and with the versatility of turning them into studio systems and being able to freely select the type of lens to be used," said the Sony representative.
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PXW-X Line, Sony
This is an advanced shoulder camcorder with three 2/3-inch Full HD "Exmor" CMOS sensors that allows you to select recording from a wide variety of formats, resolutions and codecs, including XAVC Intra and Long GOP, MPEG HD422, MPEGHD 420, MPEG IMX and DVCAM, highlighting the option to record in 1080 59.94P/50P, and the possibility of being updated (through the CBK-Z450UK kit) for 4K recording.
This model offers exceptional weight balance with low energy consumption. It also includes the most advanced network connectivity functions, with a built-in wireless module, integrated 100B-T Ethernet RJ-45 connector and NFC (Near Field Communication) function to facilitate Wi-Fi configuration and operation through a mobile or tablet with the Sony Content Browser Mobile™ application.
The available models (PXW-X400KC / PXW-X400KF) allow you to choose between two options with viewfinder, ambient microphone and lens (20x or 16x) included, or only the camera head for those customers who already have these components. It should also be noted that there is an equivalent camera for 4K recording, the PXW-Z450.
AG Line, Panasonic
In the case of Panasonic, the most popular camcorders continue to be the AJ-PX270 and AJ-PX800 as ENG cameras. But the company has renewed its AVCCAM line-up with the AG-AC30, AG-UX90, AG-UX180 and the well-known AG-DVX200 models.
When talking about the ENG field, specifically in the world of news, the best features they usually point out are:
1. High sensitivity in low light shots
2. Video quality in AVC-Intras and AVC-Long formats
3. High-quality proxy
4. The possibility of transfer via FTP
5. Features like dynamic range stretch, which helps with exposure compensation
6. Possibility of connecting ROP controllers that allow them to be converted into studio cameras for ENG application,
7. Use of P2 and Micro P2 memory cards, of which the transfer speed stands out.
"As for the new trend that is beginning to present itself of low-cost camcorders, in our AVCCAM series its HD, UHD and 4K video quality is being taken with good acceptance and with great force. All the new models, in addition to having a more accessible price, allow recording in 4K, also achieving excellent image quality, "said René Arauz.
GY-HM, JVC Line
The JVC cameras for ENG that they recommend, depending on the application, are: The basic ones, GY-HM170, GY-HM200U, the 600 series (one of the most recommended), Y-HM650 and GY-HM620. There is also the top of the line which is the GY-HM850U.
JVC divides its news cameras into two segments: ProHD handheld cameras and shoulder cameras. The former offer many innovations, from incorporating a revolutionary connection to the computer network for ENG applications, to introducing 4K in the first portable, lightweight and affordable camera.
The second, the shoulder cams, have a careful and easy to use design, being an ideal option for ENG and outdoor work. Its shape and ergonomics have been created with the operator in mind, as well as the position of the controls and functions. The operation of the camera is agile and allows you to customize it, both the user's preferences and the filming settings themselves.
XC15 Line, Canon
The XC15 Professional Camcorder works in 4K at 4:2:2 at 305 Mbps and in HD. It is ideal for editorial projects, news capture, studio production or film productions, incorporates a 4K zoom lens with a focal range of 24.1 to 241mm for photography and from 27.3 to 273mm in video.
It has an autofocus system with face recognition technology to help in creative and artistic captures, with a 1" Canon CMOS sensor with 12 megapixels and with 12 stops of dynamic range in photography or video functions, 3" LCD viewfinder with 1.03 million points, XLR audio connectors and built-in stereo microphone and 5-axis image stabilization system.
The connections of this camera are XLR with independent volume and 48 V phantom power that supports professional audio inputs. In addition, the 24,00P/25P frame rates and a Cinema EOS "look" setting make integrating recordings into workflows simple.
