The 8KSDI is a compact 8K/UHDTV2 video camera with professional 10-bit SDI output. It can be used as a point-of-view (POV) camera for sports broadcasting and other live events, or when combined with an SDI video recorder, the 8KSDI can be used for specialty video production and cinematography. It can comfortably fit in tight locations where larger cameras are impractical. With an interchangeable lens mount, a variety of lenses can be used depending on how wide or narrow of a view is needed. Multiple cameras can be precisely synchronized together for immersive virtual reality capture systems. Low-latency video output via 4x12G-SDI enables plug-and-play connection to a variety of monitors, signal extenders, recorders, and other infrastructure.

The CMOS image sensor used in the 8KSDI camera features advanced global shutter capability. Global shutter means all pixels across the sensor capture light during the same period of time. In contrast, sensors which use a rolling shutter technique will stagger the start of exposure throughout the rows of the image. This leads to motion artifacts in fast-moving scenes, as well as uneven frame illumination if bright flashes occur partway through the exposure period. Traditionally, sensors designed with global shutter capability showed a tradeoff of higher noise and lower dynamic range, but the Super 35 sensor in the 8KSDI has a modern global shutter pixel design with optimizations to provide low noise and high dynamic range. This allows the 8KSDI to be used across a wide variety of lighting conditions.

The 8KSDI features an interchangeable lens mount, with options of either F-mount or Active EF-mount. This allows easy connection to hundreds of standard lenses available today. The flexibility to easily swap between fisheye, portrait, zoom, telephoto and many other kinds of lenses adds to the versatility of the 8KSDI camera, in comparison to other cameras with integrated non-removable lenses. The F-mount is a passive, mechanical-only mount requiring manually-adjustable F-mount lenses. The Active EF-mount electronically controls any attached EF-mount lenses, providing remote control over iris and focus.

With four SDI outputs on HD-BNC connectors, the 8KSDI provides a range of options to connect to either 8K/UHDTV2-compatible or 4K/UHD-compatible equipment. The highest-resolution output formats are UHDTV2 (7680x4320) and DCI 8K (8192x4320), at rates from 23.98 to 60.0 fps. For applications not yet needing 8K resolution, an in-camera scaling mode enables 4K/UHD output at up to 60fps via single-link 12G/6G-SDI. This highly-detailed 4K/UHD output mode exceeds the measured resolution of 4K cameras with native 4K image sensors.

The 8KSDI can be set up quickly using intelligent features like auto white balance and automatic exposure, but unlike other POV cameras, these features can be easily disabled to allow manual fine-tuning of the exposure and color processing performed by the camera. The 8KSDI has coarse and fine exposure (shutter) controls, white balance and black balance controls with saturation adjustment, color temperature presets and a 3x3 color correction matrix. Look up tables (LUTs) with standard and high dynamic range gamma options, knee function and master pedestal are also standard. Lastly, image enhancement and denoise controls enable fine details to be displayed at their best.

The 8KSDI is controlled through a two-wire RS485 serial connection. Operators can use a handheld remote control for quick camera adjustments through the on-screen menu. For live broadcast environments, 3rd-party remote control panels (RCPs) are available as well, allowing quick adjustments of paint and shading functions. PC-based control is possible through a USB-RS485 adapter and an easy-to-use software utility provided with the camera. Or, for complete systems integration, the full camera control protocol is straight-forward and fully documented for developers to incorporate into other control systems.

Shutter synchronization is critical for multi-camera applications such as stereoscopic 3D, VR-360, or even volumetric video capture. As well, in live broadcast facilities, cameras need to be able to follow a master sync reference in order to allow cuts/fades between cameras. Otherwise, cameras must be paired with frame synchronizers which can add to the total video delay. The 8KSDI accepts an HD tri-level sync signal through a dedicated HD-BNC input. If this signal is distributed to multiple cameras, microsecond-level shutter synchronization between the cameras can be achieved.