Higher quality HD – HDCAM SR new to Videocraft Rentals                         

Videocraft have recently taken delivery of a brand new Sony HDCAM SR production system, putting the highest quality HD format into the reach of Australian DOP's and producers. The HDCAM SR format records full 1920 x 1080 pixel images at a high bitrate of 440 Mbps and captures 4:4:4 RGB HD straight from the Sony HDC1500 Camera. This 2/3" HD camera produces full 1920 x 1080 resolution images at up to 60 frames per second progressive scan. The camera can be fitted with a broad range of production accessories including a range of HD cine style lenses, bit it is small and light enough to be used handheld if required, as there is no recorder in camera. The camera system records to the Sony SRW1/SRPC1 portable HDCAM SR recorder, which is compact, lightweight and runs on mains or battery power. The recorder takes small size BETACAM style tapes, which give up to 50 minutes recording in 24P at the highest quality setting. The recorder can take 4:4:4 RGB HD signals on dual HDSDI inputs, or 4:2:2 HD signals on a single HDSDI stream, enabling camera outputs from a variety of other cameras such as the HDWF900R CineAlta camera or the Panasonic Varicam to be captured in the highest quality HDCAM SR format. The SRW1 can also record in the 720P format. This is the first camera/ recorder system capable of native 1920 x 1080 line HD images at 60fps to be available in Australia, giving DOP's all standard HD frame rates, as well as more than 2 x slow motion in full 1080 line HD resolution

Videocraft have also added the Sony SRW5500 HDCAM SR and SRW5800 HDCAM SR studio editing VTR's to their rental fleet. These VTRs are capable of recording and playback of both HDCAM and HDCAM SR tapes, in all frame rates, as well as playback and upconversion of Digital BETACAM tapes.

The SRW5500 has switchable 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 RGB recording, 720P recording capability, internal up and down conversion and 2:3 pulldown, and 4:2:2 to 4:4:4 conversion, making the most flexible VTR available for HDTV and Digital Cinema mastering applications. It takes small and large format cassettes offering up to 155 minutes recording at 24P. The SRW-5800 is capable of recording at an amazingly high video bit rate of 880 Mb/s, and the 1080/60P and 50P recording system is equally ideal for origination of progressive-based programmes, 720P programmes, and high-quality slow-motion programmes. The HDCAM SR format supports 12 independent channels of 24bit digital audio, catering for the wide variety of audio requirements in the HD world.

For more information on HDCAM SR please contact Andy Liell or Nick Gleeson in Sydney ( 02 9436 3050) and James Taylor or George Pana in Melbourne (03 9885 9666).