Sharp were showing their new 8K Super 35mm CMOS camera at Interbee 2017 in Japan. The camera doesn’t have a catchy name and is called the 8C-B60A.
Sharp told me that the camera was capable of shooting, recording, playing back and outputting 8K (60p) video. The camera was developed with the technical cooperation of Astro Design, who are very familiar with 8K technology.
The whole concept behind the camera is ease of use. Recording 8K (60p) images is extremely data intensive and not easy to turn around quickly. The Sharp 8C-B60A has been specifically designed so that material can be turned around quickly after shooting. With NHK planning to broadcast in 8K for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, more high resolution ENG style cameras are going to be needed.
The camera uses a Super 35 mm CMOS image sensor (24.576mmx18.824mm) and Grass Valley’s HQX codec (7780×4320 4:2:2 10-bit). The whole reason for using a 4:2:2 10-bit codec is to maximise record times and ease of use when it comes to turning around material quickly. The 2TB SSD drive can record around 40 minutes of 8K (60p) video. In addition, it can output 8K (60p) uncompressed video in real time while it is also recording, which is critical for live broadcasting. The camera is capable of outputting 8K 60p through the use of four 12G SDI connectors.
The 8C-B60A looks and feels very similar to a broadcast ENG camera. It weighs in at 5kg and draws 80w of power. I tried the camera out on my shoulder and it didn’t feel any heavier than most other ENG cameras. It was very ergonomic for hand held shoulder mounted shooting and felt nicely balanced with a Fujinon 19-90mm PL lens. While some of our readers may joke about the camera looking like it came out of the 1980’s, the design actually makes a lot of sense for its intended purpose.
Gamma curves available are HLG (dynamic range 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 2000%), Log gamma, Color gamut, and ITU-R BT.2020. There is a SD card slot for proxy recordings and firmware updates.
The controls and menu system were easy to operate. Despite having a PL mount it was pretty clear that this is a camera aimed squarely at broadcasters such as NHK. With a list price of 8,800,000JPY ($78,000 USD) it certainly isn’t going to be an owner/operator camera and is only going to be purchased by broadcasters.
The camera is scheduled to start shipping next month.
Specifications
Imaging device (number of effective pixels)
Super 35mm equivalent single plate CMOS image sensor (about 33 million pixels)
Built-in ND filter
Clear, 1/4ND, 1/16ND, 1/64ND
Lens mount
PL mount
Electronic shutter
1/24, 1/48, 1/50, 1/60, 1/100, 1/120, 1/240, 1/480, 1/960, 1/1920
Variable shutter (1/24 second to 1/10000 seconds)
Frame frequency
23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94, 60 Hz
Gamma curve
HLG (dynamic range 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 2000%)
Log gamma
Color gamut
ITU-R BT.2020
Input / output terminal
SDI output
BNC × 4
4K output and 8K output switchable
4K output: Quadlink 3G-SDI, 4: 2: 2 2SI
8K output: quad link 12G-SDI, 4: 2: 2 2SI
BNC × 1
For HD WFM (with focus assist function)
1.5G-SDI 4: 2: 2 (Gamma HLG / Log gamma compatible)
Analog audio input
AUDIO IN XLR type 3 pin (concave) × 2 (phantom power supply compatible)
Microphone input
MIC IN XLR type 5 pin (stereo) (concave) × 1 (phantom power supply compatible)
Other
MADI audio input, TC IN / OUT, genlock, lens remote, headphone output, speaker output, 10 GbE (for file transfer)
Recording section
SD card
SDHC × 1 (Proxy recording, for firmware update)
SSD pack (MM – 210)
Recording Duration
Approximately 40 minutes (when 2 TB SSD pack is used)
Video codec
Grass Valley HQX Codec (7680 × 4320 4: 2: 2 10 bit)
Video compression ratio
6 Gbps (8 K at 60 p: about 1/7 compression)
Audio format
Linear PCM 24bit 48kHz 32ch
Power-supply voltage
DC 12V to 17V
Weight (camera body only)
Approximately 5 kg
External dimensions
155 (W) x 188 (H) x 312 (D) mm (not including protrusions)
Power consumption
About 80 W (non-recording time)
Accessories
AC / DC adapter
130W 13V DC output AC / DC adapter XLR 4 pin concave
MM-210 SSD pack
2 TB × 1
File transfer software
CD-ROM × 1:
Data transfer software via 10 GbE (Pear to Pear connection)
Data transfer software via transfer BOX
Both Win / Mac compatible
