HVX200 super mod for 2k 2-60fps 14bit rgb

[Tonaci Tran]

For all of you selling your hvx200, it might retain it's value now with this super mod. If anything, it might serve as a 2k B-cam for RED (though I know it will still be no comparison to RED)..either way, good news for hvx200 owners.

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=92075

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PRESS RELEASE
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REEL-STREAM TAKES AFFORDABLE UNCOMPRESSED HD ACQUISITION TO NEW LEVEL
New Product Extracts Pure Uncompressed 14-bit RGB HD Video from Panasonic’s AG-HVX200(TM)

West Lafayette, Indiana (March 26, 2007) - Reel-Stream LLC today announced the Hydra(TM) Uncompressed Digital Acquisition system for the Panasonic AG-HVX200(TM) camera. Expanding the capabilities of their current AndromedaTM product for the Panasonic AG-DVX100(TM) camera, Hydra(TM) offers full bandwidth RGB (4:4:4) uncompressed digital video recording at 14-bit (linear RGB) color and up to 60 progressive frames per second when installed on the HVX200. The system extracts pure uncompressed 2K RGB data available directly from the digital imaging block of the camera, bypassing all internal compression, decimation, color conversions and other processes. The result is a video capture with increased resolution, increased latitude and zero compression artifacts for an image purity that rivals much more expensive high-end cameras at a very affordable price.

Both Hydra(TM) and Andromeda(TM) reside entirely inside the host camera, only adding a few grams of weight. The only visible change is the addition of an external port for the uncompressed data. All original functions of the cameras remain unaffected.

Both systems are bundled with the SculptorHD(TM) software solution which provides a front-end for recording the uncompressed video stream, serves as a multi-function monitor and handles the process of batch exporting captured raw footage into multiple media formats. SculptorHD(TM) is currently available as a Universal Binary for Mac OS X. Also included is xLUT(TM), a full-featured camera-independent Look-Up Table editor capable of exporting in a variety of LUT file formats.

HydraTM for the Panasonic AG-HVX200(TM)is scheduled for release during the second half of 2007, with support for other cameras to follow. Andromeda(TM) for the Panasonic AG-DVX100(TM) is currently available and can be ordered directly from the Reel-Stream website.

For more information, come see us at the NAB2007 show, booth C11221, Las Vegas Convention Center (April 16-19), or visit our website at www.reel-stream.com

Portability
"Yes, there are several features which make the system more suitable for portable situations. For example, the system now allows for control from the camera, so you can have a remote recording station unattended, or a computer in a bag somewhere. The cable length is also up to 100 meters(325 feet), so crane and remote shots are a lot easier. "

More prelim info:
The following is a list of preliminary specifications for the Hydra Uncompressed Digital Acquisition System on the Panasonic AG-HVX200. A more elaborate supported mode matrix will be available by NAB.

The Hydra system was designed to be camera platform independent, so the characteristics of the output are defined by the hardware capabilities of the host camera. The preliminary specs listed here are for an HVX200 as a host system.

RECORD MODES:
Full RGB(4:4:4) only

COLOR BIT DEPTH MODES:
14-bit RGB Linear
12-bit RGB via Record LUT
10-bit RGB via Record LUT
8-bit RGB via Record LUT

DIGITAL DYNAMIC RANGE:
Up to 86dB
(Photographic latitude test results to be posted soon)

NATIVE FRAME SIZE:
2100 x 1090

SUPPORTED FRAME RATES:
2fps to 60fps (All native framerates in the HVX200)

INCLUDED SOFTWARE:
SculptorHD 2.0, xLUT (Universal Binary for Mac OS X)

VIDEO INGEST INTERFACE:
Gigabit Ethernet (over CAT 5e or 6 cable) to any Intel Mac computer running SculptorHD 2.0.

[MikeCurtis]

It is interesting but limited - I've posted some thoughts over at:

http://www.hdforindies.com/2007/03/reel-stream-mods-hvx200-mikes-analysis.html

[Petr Dvorak]

"NATIVE FRAME SIZE: 2100 x 1090"
vs
"960x540 pixelshifted"

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Given what Reel-Stream accomplished with the DVX100 Andromeda mod, this should be impressive. But as Mike said, limited. The 2100x1090 frame side is a bit on the bogus side, just as the max frame size from the Andromeda was. There just isn't enough spatial resolution to pull that off. The images are soft when captured and viewed at full resolution, lots of halos and chromatic aberration too. ...Or at least that was the case with Andromeda.

We don't know the full price and specs for the new Hydra mod. It will probably be about a $3000 premium over the cost of a stock HVX as an estimate. I'm sure they'll sell a handful of these and many people will find a use or good niche for them. But a hack of this sort on a mainstream camcorder that always must run tethered isn't going to revolutionize much of anything. OTOH, if Reel-Stream could pull off this sort of mod *AND* provide a means of reliable on-board recording, I'd probably send in my HVX for major surgery.

[Adrian T.]

DIGITAL DYNAMIC RANGE:
Up to 86dB

That's impossible. 14 bits can't be more than 84dB. :glare:

[Justin Kirchhoff]

I would never say impossible on this forum...haha. It'd be interesting to see the results of this, though. I was extremely close to getting Andromeda, then I plunked my money down on my #813 reservation for RED.

[Tonaci Tran]

It is interesting but limited - I've posted some thoughts over at:

http://www.hdforindies.com/2007/03/reel-stream-mods-hvx200-mikes-analysis.html

In response to the "scaled way up" comment, Juan posted in dvxuser a response that sort of addresses the scaling inquiry.

"The imaging block on the HVX is roughly ~2k, and the raw data is RGB uncompressed. I'm not sure what's innacurate about that.

"What it extracts directly from the block of the camera is 960x540 RGB data

I'm sorry, but that's incorrect. Each -CCD- is 960x540(actually considerably more than that). The imaging BLOCK composed of all 3 sensors is ~2K. That's the optical resolving power of the imaging block, not 960x540. If that is so, then explain the resolution charts that even the standard output from the HVX gets.

So would you suggest that all digital manufacturers should change their specs as well? For example, silicon imaging should advertise their camera 960x540 RB and 960x1080 green? It's the same concept. The native frame size of the Altasens sensor is roughly 2k x 1080. I don't hear anybody telling them, or Arri, or Panavision, to change their specs just because their sensors record at most one color per site. This is the way many sensors function(except Foveon), in a sense this is how film functions, and if you put any camera under perfect red, or blue light only you will obviously see different characterstics than if you had a real-world, balanced image. No camera is perfect.

Don't get me wrong, I understand what you're saying and I love these deep technical discussions, but if we're going to test one system under some unique, theoretical conditions, let's test ALL of them, shall we? We all know what one means when we talk resolution, and the test for resolution is well established using a high-contrast chart with grayscale trumpets. If you are arguing that the common definition of resolution should be changed, then that's fine with me, but let's make sure it applies to everybody, otherwise it's a useless measurement for comparison.

Cheers,
Juan"

[Martin Ludwig]

, but if we're going to test one system under some unique, theoretical conditions, let's test ALL of them, shall we?
Juan"
better not !

[Dave Cooper]

Sounds similar as to what Sigma does with their DSLRs.