❝ When we look out of a window into the bright sunlight , our eyes see all the details in both the light and dark areas , and this is exactly what HDR is trying to achieve .❞
April 2017 CREATION 23
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better image quality content .
Declaring HDR as the “ next big shift in the industry ”, an ARRI spokesperson stresses that the adoption and success of HDR relies on filmmakers and their decision in determining if the technology is a useful storytelling tool to help them put their stories on screens in an emotionally affecting way .
Footages from any camera would need to be specially graded for HDR , according to ARRI , as no cameras capture images that can immediately , without processing , be displayed in HDR . “ The most suitable images for HDR display and distribution will be those with highest dynamic range and natural colourimetry .”
With a specific focus on digitally replicating the dynamic range and colourimetry of film , ARRI developed the Alexa camera , which enables HDR delivery by undertaking an HDR colour grade of the original ARRIRAW or Log C material . Alexa has also been
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deployed by Amazon Studios to shoot its original programmes , including Patriot , Good Girls , Revolt , and Z : The Beginning of Everything .
The ARRI spokesperson concludes : “[ Amazon Studios ’] creatives and producers asked for Alexa due to the overall image quality , flexible workflows and system reliability . Their decision to promote and deliver HDR content , alongside Alexa ’ s superior dynamic range , was an additional factor ; and finally the introduction of ProRes 3.2K recording with Alexa allowed them to capture at native resolution , conform in 4K / UHD and grade on an HDR display , all with a very streamlined workflow .”
Following the adoption of 4K / UHD HDR content taking flight on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix , broadcasters are being challenged by the growing popularity and diversity of these content and platforms , suggests Damon Hawkins , product manager , editing , colour and finishing
With a specific focus on digitally replicating the dynamic range and colourimetry of film , ARRI developed the Alexa camera , which enables HDR delivery by undertaking an HDR colour grade of the original ARRIRAW or Log C material .
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UK-based post-production house The Look recently installed SAM ’ s Quantel Rio 4K / UHD colour , edit and finishing systems in its new facility , alongside a Neo control surface and Rio Assist software to support ingest , conform and export from its main Quantel Rios . This allows The Look to handle 4K / UHD HDR content for the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video .
at Snell Advanced Media ( SAM ).
He says : “ Very often , content will be aired locally first before being sold to these content providers . These providers require HDR content too , and so any in-house production editing needs to be equipped to handle not only 4K / UHD resolutions , but also HDR colour support in perceptual quantiser ( PQ ) and hybrid log gamma ( HLG ), as well as wider colour gamut , such as Rec 2020 .”
A bright HDR monitor , according to Hawkins , delivers a clear picture that is very close to how things appear in reality . “ The peaks of brightness within a picture which , along with the deep blacks , provides a much more realistic picture of the world . When we look out of a window into the bright sunlight , our eyes see all the details in both the light and dark
areas , and this is exactly what HDR is trying to achieve ,” he adds .
UK-based post-production house The Look , for instance , recently installed SAM ’ s Quantel Rio 4K / UHD colour , edit and finishing systems in its new facility , alongside a Neo control surface and Rio Assist software to support ingest , conform and export from its main Quantel Rios .
Thomas Urbye , senior colourist and managing director at The Look , explains that the decision was made to triple the storage capabilities in order to handle shows for Netflix , including Lovesick , and Fleabag for Amazon Prime Video in 4K / UHD HDR and 16- bit resolution .
Urbye concludes : “ It ’ s a very exciting time to be in this business , especially as 4K / UHD is becoming a reality for Netflix and Amazon
❝ When we look out of a window into the bright sunlight , our eyes see all the details in both the light and dark areas , and this is exactly what HDR is trying to achieve .❞
— Damon Hawkins ,
Product Manager , Editing , Colour and Finishing , Snell Advanced Media
( SAM )
Prime Video . If we want to stay competitive , it ’ s important that we have tools like Quantel Rio in place — not only because it handles any format , even 8K , but more so because it allows us to focus on the creative aspect of our job , and enables us to deliver a product on time and budget .”
Hitachi Kokusai launches Z-HD5500 camera
Featuring Hitachi Kokusai ’ s latest advances in CMOS imaging technology , the Z-HD5500 HDTV studio and field production camera has been launched to address the challenges of shooting in studios and venues with low-cost or varying-frequency LED lighting .
With its CMOS imagers enabling the Z-HD5500 to adapt easily to a wide range of LED lighting conditions , the camera is designed for a range of applications , including TV studios , houses of worship , theatres , arenas and other facilities .
John Humphrey , VP of business development , Hitachi Kokusai Electric America , elaborated : “ An increasing number of studios , churches and venues are integrating LED lighting , display and projection systems that operate across a wide array of frequencies .
“ The Z‐HD5500 is optimised to deliver impeccable results in these environments while retaining the exceptional priceperformance value our customers expect from Hitachi cameras .”
Like many Hitachi HD and 4K / Ultra HD ( UHD ) camera systems , the Z-HD5500 offers high dynamic range ( HDR ) capabilities , enabling video productions with increased contrast , richer colours and enhanced lighting reproduction .
Supporting both the hybrid log-gamma ( HLG ) and HPQ HDR specifications , the Z-HD5500 is also the first camera in the Hitachi Z-HD family to offer native 1080p image acquisition .
Its connectivity options include support for both SMPTE fibre and triax infrastructures , and can be paired with dedicated fibre or triax camera control units , or with the dual-cable Hitachi CU-HD1300FT triax camera adapter .
The CU-HD1300FT offers both optical
Hitachi Kokusai ’ s new Z-HD5500 HDTV studio and field production camera is designed to address the challenges of shooting in studios and venues with low-cost or varying-frequency
LED lighting .
fibre connectivity and Hitachi Kokusai ’ s fourth-generation digital triax system . The latter features an ultra-low-latency H . 264 codec technology and multi-level digital modulation for long-distance triax transport of 3Gbps 1080p video , plus intercom , tele prompter returns and other signals .