WXEL-TV Adds Ikegami HDK-97C Digital 3G Portable CMOS Cameras

TV station studios must appeal to more than just their broadcast viewers. Attracting a wide variety of video production clients can also be essential to stations like WXEL-TV, which has just added three new Ikegami HDK-97C Digital 3G Portable CMOS Camera Systems to its inventory.

The versatility and superior imagery of the multiformat Ikegami HDK-97C made it the camera of choice for the West Palm Beach, FL-based PBS station. “When it comes to selecting cameras, that one decision is crucial to your growth,” says Bill Wasko, Production Manager for WXEL. “Ikegami’s HDK-97C gave us a camera that could do 720p for our broadcast station, but also provide superior performance for our production clients working in other formats.”

Whether they are creating their own original shows, or helping to produce original programming, infomercials, or films for outside clients, WXEL can stand out with the visual performance of Ikegami’s CMOS cameras. “When we switched to the Ikegami HDK-97C it was like seeing HD again for the first time,” says Michael Frasier, Master Control Supervisor for WXEL. “The picture is extremely crisp, with very well-defined and pronounced edges. It’s also extremely easy to change your color temperature if you want to warm up the whole picture. In addition, we really like that we can adjust a specific color – making a red rose more saturated, for example – and it won’t impact skin tones.”

The Ikegami HDK-97C is part of Ikegami’s Unicam HD camera line, featuring multi-format HD cameras that also provide 3G-SDI performance. Employing three 2.5 mega-pixel 2/3-inch CMOS image sensors, the HDK-97C achieves superior quality HDTV video, and supports a number of native HDTV and 3G formats, including 1080p/59.94.

WXEL immediately experienced Ikegami’s unparalleled commitment to service and support. Once the station chose the HDK-97C they needed the cameras right away – an urgent order that Ikegami turned around in under a week. “Their reaction time was amazing,” says Kevin Howie, director of engineering for WXEL. “Ikegami got us cameras, expanders, cables, and spare parts that we needed within days. We had a major shoot coming up, and they were right there for us.”

A docking-style camera, the HDK-97C features a 3G fiber-transmission system from the camera head to its CCU. There is also 3G transmission from the CCU to the camera, providing three channels of prompter/vanity monitor video, as well as, Return VF video selected from 4 return inputs. Either an FA (Fiber Adaptor) or TA (Triax Adaptor) can be mounted on the camera, and the CCU-970M can be fitted with built-in fiber and triax transmission, and a simple front panel toggle switch to select the transmission system depending on the cable type to be used for each application.

At stations like WXEL, convincing production companies to use its studios is more important than ever before, and their new Ikegami HDK-97C cameras have been key in cultivating a steadily growing client base. “It makes a big difference when you say that you have Ikegami cameras,” Bill Wasko says. “WXEL is on the rise now in a highly competitive market. Ikegami is a big part of that.”