International broadcast rental, project solutions, systems integration and equipment sales company, Gearhouse Broadcast, has awarded a multi-million pound contract for system cameras to Hitachi Kokusai Electric Europe. The contract includes 22 SK-HD 1200 high-end multi-format 1080p/3G production cameras as well as three SK-HD 1500 HD Supermotion system cameras.
Launched last year, Hitachi’s SK-HD1200 represents a high-performance portable 16 bit A/D HDTV studio and EFP camera with three 2.3 million pixel 1080p IT-CCDs (which are 1080i switchable). The new Hitachi cameras provide a higher performance and more affordable alternative to Gearhouse Broadcast’s existing Sony camera fleet. The company will take delivery of the new cameras in August and will immediately introduce them into its general inventory, making them available to rent by existing and new customers.
“This contract represents a major capital investment and a significant strategic development for Gearhouse Broadcast: the contract was awarded to Hitachi after extensive evaluation of the various system cameras that are available today,” reported John Newton, Chief Executive Officer at Gearhouse Broadcast. “We want to offer our rental clients wider choice and to be more competitive whilst maintaining the quality of our cameras in terms of specification and performance.
“We have put the Hitachi cameras through all their paces and what we have discovered is a rugged and reliable product that offers real choice to our studio, OB and rental customers. Furthermore, these cameras are supported by one of the market’s most experienced camera manufacturers that has all the necessary technical and operational support measures in place and has developed a long-term product roadmap,” Newton continued.
Hitachi Kokusai Electric Europe has stated its intention to expand its camera product range, thereby increasing share in this demanding market. It believes that strategic deals with key customers such as Gearhouse Broadcast will enable it to generate the all-important user feedback and momentum that will enable it to drive this business forwards.
“We have worked hard with Gearhouse Broadcast in negotiating this purchase and we are delighted to announce this strategic contract with them today,” commented Paddy Roache, director and general manager at Hitachi Kokusai Electric Europe. “This order communicates a clear message to broadcast camera users in the UK and Europe. It will be one of many that confirm Hitachi as a leading supplier to the international broadcast technology market.”
The SK-HD1200 camera provides superior performance delivering sharper and cleaner HD images thanks to its 14bit A/D converters and Hitachi’s implementation of the latest digital processing technology. Like the other cameras in the SK HD range, the SK-HD1200 provides high sensitivity and a horizontal resolution performance of 1100 TV lines – delivering exceptional picture quality with low noise and ultra low vertical smear.
