Johannesburg-based Red Pepper Pictures, a television production company with
extensive studio and broadcast facilities in Linden, has purchased six Ikegami HDK-
97A camera chains from Harambe Technologies.
The purchase signals Red Pepper’s official migration to high definition (HD) and marks
the first time that the company is using cameras with fibre transmission systems.
Says Red Pepper CEO Cecil Barry: “We were looking for a full HD chip camera that we
could use in our Orad HD virtual studio, as well as for high-end commercial jobs. It
was also important that the camera be capable of downconverting to PAL without
aliasing. Harambe Technologies’ Adriaan Shipalana came to see us and gave us a
variety of Ikegami cameras to test. He even went to the trouble of flying in experts
from Ikegami in Japan to demo the equipment.
“We put the various Ikegami cameras through their paces and decided to go with the
HDK-97A because it supports 3G-SDI 1080p wide-band video output. This is
significant as these cameras will be doing lots of green screen work and a progressive
image is easier to key than an interlaced image. We wanted to be the first full 1080p
studio in South Africa, and I believe we are.’
He notes that after considering other makes of camera they found that the Ikegami
system out-performed other cameras technically as well as in terms of value for
money. The Ikegami cameras also carry a lifetime warranty.
Each of the six HDK-97A camera chains includes Fujinon lenses, fibre transmission
cables, CCU (camera control unit), RCP (remote control panel) and MCP (master
control panel).
Shipalana says that Harambe Technologies was at an advantage as it could offer Red
Pepper a range of future proof cameras to choose from.
“We felt that Ikegami’s top of the range HDK-97A was the most suited to the Red
Pepper’s high end application. The HDK-97A is a 16-bit, 1080p camera with a -62Db
signal-to-noise-ratio; we believe that not many cameras can match this spec.
“What’s really nice about the HDK-97A is that Ikegami has gone back to the concept
of the dockable camera, so should the back or head malfunction, Ikegami will replace
them.’
According to Barry the HDK-97A cameras will be used on various productions including
e.tv music show, Club 808, as well as on a variety of new shows commissioned by
pay-TV channel Mzansi Magic.
“At this point in time the camera chains are confined to our studios but they could
also be integrated into an OB (outside broadcast) environment in the future. We’ve
wired for 10 cameras as we are planning to purchase another four,’ explains Barry.
Red Pepper has also purchased from Harambe Technologies four HDK-55 camera
chains to service a contract with Aljazeera. These cameras have the same basic specs
as the HDK-97A but support 1080i instead of 1080p.
Screen Africa magazine – April 2013
