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Supply Chains

Enhancing Broadcast Capabilities

Production Crew, a division of Riyadh-based AFLAM Productions, has significantly upgraded its broadcast capabilities by acquiring 12 Ikegami UHK-X700 UNICAM-XE 4K-UHD camera systems. These state-of-the-art cameras will be seamlessly integrated into the company’s newly designed 12G-SDI outside broadcast (OB) truck, ensuring exceptional 4K-UHD HDR production for live events. Each system is equipped with a camera head, a 7-inch LCD viewfinder, a BSX-100 base station, an OCP-300 operation control panel, and a T-430 tripod mounting plate.

State-of-the-Art OB Truck

The OB truck, meticulously designed and built by Dubai-based El Baba Smart Technology, is fully equipped to manage large-scale outdoor events while maintaining full broadcast quality.

Commitment to Quality

Shady Mokdad, Executive Director of AFLAM Productions and Managing Director of Production Crew, expressed, “We have relied on HDK-73 cameras in our studios for years, and their performance and reliability, along with Ikegami’s technical support, have been outstanding. Our decision to adopt UHK-X700 cameras is driven by our goal to bridge the quality gap between traditional broadcast and digital film.”

Unmatched Performance

“Pre-purchase evaluations confirmed the UHK-X700 cameras’ excellence in optical and electronic performance, thanks to their three 2/3-inch CMOS 4K sensors featuring a global shutter that eliminates rolling-shutter distortion and flash-banding artifacts,” Mokdad added.

Advanced Video Processing

“From an electronics standpoint, each UHK-X700 supports a comprehensive range of high-grade video processing functions, including high dynamic range, wide color gamut, and 16-axis color correction, all within a compact and energy-efficient ASIC.”

Robust Build Quality

“These cameras embody the robust build quality synonymous with Ikegami products, ensuring reliable operation in both outdoor and studio settings. The UHK-X700 also includes essential features that uphold our reputation for creative excellence, such as optical vignetting correction, remote back focus adjustment, and viewfinder-based focus assist, along with safe-area markers and filter settings.”

Streamlined Operations

Mokdad further noted, “Ease of operation is crucial, especially in today’s diverse transmission formats and delivery methods. Our new vehicle is designed to accommodate up to 16 camera systems, allowing us to expand our workflow as needed.”

Strategic Partnership

Asim Saeed, Business Development Manager at Ikegami, remarked, “We are thrilled to be selected as a technology partner for this prestigious project. The popularity of 4K-UHD continues to rise as the preferred mastering format for productions with a potentially long commercial lifespan. The UHK-X700/BSX-100 combination chosen by AFLAM’s Production Crew enables secure connections up to 3 kilometers from the operating location, including power supply to the camera head. It also supports simultaneous output in HD SDR and UHD HDR video formats, accommodating mixed sources. The 4K-UHD video is available as a 12G-SDI feed directly from the camera head, facilitating integration into a wireless system.”

Designed for Versatility

The UHK-X700 cameras are engineered for studio, OB, and electronic field production, featuring a low center of gravity for effortless operation on pedestals, tripods, or shoulder mounts. They also support high frame-rate capture, enabling 2x speed in 4K and up to 8x speed in HD for stunning slow-motion coverage of live events.

Efficiency in Control

The Ikegami OCP-300 controller enhances workflow efficiency with its touchscreen LCD controls, rotary encoders, and Power over Ethernet (PoE) support. Its memory card slot allows for quick and seamless camera setup, ensuring a streamlined production process.