NAB 2016: FSU purchases Panasonic AK-HC5000 high-speed cameras
Seminole Productions, the video production unit of Florida State University’s College of Communication and FSU Athletics partner, has purchased eight of Panasonic’s new AK-HC5000 4X high-speed 1080p camera systems. The HC5000s will play an integral role in the major upgrade of FSU’s Doak Campbell football stadium, which includes the creation of two new control rooms that will be connected to eight campus venues over fiber.
The fast, high-resolution HC5000, capable of high-speed output up to 1080/239.76p, incorporates new 2/3” 2.2M 3-CMOS sensors with high sensitivity (F11/2000lx), low noise (S/N 60dB+), and resolution measured at 1100 TV lines. The HC5000’s system components include the AK-UCU500 CCU, which provides power up to 6600 feet over standard SMPTE fiber along with IP streaming video feature; the AK-HRP1000 Remote Operation Panel, featuring PoE+ power and PTZ camera control capabilities; and AK-HVF100 9-inch, Full-HD LCD viewfinder. Each of Seminole Productions’ HC5000s will be fully configured with these components.
Seminole Productions’ investment includes three AG-DVX200 4K handheld camcorders for roving production, primarily in the football stadium, and an AW-HE130 PTZ camera for robotic coverage of players exiting the locker room into the football tunnel. Seminole Productions likewise purchased 20 Panasonic 55” and 42” professional HD displays for monitor walls in the new control rooms.
Mark Rodin, Executive Director of Seminole Productions, explained that he had narrowed his camera search to 1080/60p models, which would be compatible with the state-of-the-art Panasonic large-format LED video boards that are being installed throughout Doak Campbell Stadium in time for the 2016 football season.
“We evaluated multiple cameras, and the HC5000 stood out on the basis of its stunningly beautiful pictures,” Rodin says. “The fact that 240fps super slo-mo is built into the cost of the cameras was a huge selling point. And the CCUs are impressive, facilitating remote control for camera shading and engineering.”
Rodin explained that he plans to move the HC5000s around from venue to venue as needed, and will often deploy them to cover simultaneous events. The chief application for the HC5000s will be to feed live game video to venues’ video boards for enhanced fan engagement, but they will also be used for various ESPN and seminoles.com productions.
He says the DVX200s will be used for mobile color coverage during football games. “We’ll shoot 4K so we can carve out material for full-board opens and features,” he noted.
Rodin, a longtime Panasonic customer, said he will supplement his new camera fleet with existing P2 HD shoulder-mounts. The installation at Doak Campbell is slated to be complete by the beginning of August, in advance of the Seminoles’ first at-home football game on September 10th.