(SECAUCUS, NJ -- August 28, 2006) Stealth Aerial Cameras, LLC (Winter Park, FL), a leader in state-of-the-art aerial HD broadcast coverage, has recently equipped its unique flying camera system with Panasonic's AK-HC1500G 1080i/720p switchable HD point-of-view camera. Having recently debuted the industry's only eight-line, completely redundant aerial camera system, Stealth Aerial Cameras exclusively flies with the HC1500G, and has already used the camera for coverage of pre-season NFL Games.
"As the HC1500G is the only product available that's switchable between 1080i and 720p, we can purchase one camera rather than two to satisfy the signal needs of all our broadcast clients," said Stealth's Vice President David Shafer. "The product is not only versatile, but it's also priced effectively, which gives us a tremendous competitive edge."
Shafter cited the company's assignment to cover a pre-season NFL game between the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles, played in Philadelphia earlier this month. The game aired on ABC affiliate WPVI in Philadelphia, and NBC affiliate WKYC in Cleveland.
Stealth's aerial system, when rigged in a football stadium, enables the camera to follow the action on the field from relatively any angle, including right behind the quarterback. By positioning eight pulleys in the four highest corners of a stadium and rigging the lines high up in the air around the stadium, the Stealth Operators can position the camera to capture football's most dramatic perspectives.
Stealth also utilized the HC1500G to cover the Major League Lacrosse season earlier this summer.
"Beyond the fact that it's multi-format, I am likewise impressed with the HC1500G's small size and, especially, its low power consumption" said Stealth's Director of Engineering, Steve Switaj. "The camera is downright stingy with power, and our experience is that it consumes far less than its published spec of 17 watts. That translates into improved safety for us, as we're now able to use a low voltage DC source to power down our 1200 feet of custom fiber, rather than a high-voltage AC source."
"What's more, the camera makes a really nice picture," Switaj continued. "Our technical counterparts at the networks seem equally impressed with both its 720p and 1080i output. We intend to standardize all our work on the HC1500G, including standard definition assignments. It's easy to downconvert to SD, and that approach will be more cost-effective than involving another camera."
Compatible with all international HD standards, the AK-HC1500G is the first multi-purpose camera to feature a variable frame rate functionality and cine gamma curve, features that have distinguished Panasonic's popular VariCam HD Cinema™ Camcorder. The camera's 1-megapixel, 2/3-inch 3-CCDs produce outstanding color accuracy, with improved on-chip lenses to achieve a standard sensitivity of F10.0 at 2000 lux and a smear level of less than -130 dB. The AK-HC1500 uses CCD accumulation and horizontal/vertical addition to create a gain increase of up to +68 dB (with a minimum illumination of 0.015 dB). The camera offers both 1080 (60i/59.94i, 50i, 30p, 25p/24p) and 720 (60p, 59.94p/50p) high definition output.
The remotely-controllable AK-HC1500G is compatible with Panasonic's comprehensive line of indoor and outdoor pan-tilt heads, pan-tilt controllers, and camera control units. The optional, compact AK-HRP150 camera control unit offers full image control. The camera has a rear option slot for expansion (e.g., downconverter, analog or fiber output unit), making the AK-HC1500 suitable for a broad spectrum of applications.
For further information on Stealth Aerial Cameras, visit http://www.stealthaerialcameras.com/
About Panasonic Broadcast
Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems Co. is a leading supplier of broadcast and professional video products and systems. Panasonic Broadcast is a unit company of Panasonic Corporation of North America. The company is the North American headquarters of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC) of Japan, and the hub of its U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. For more information on Panasonic Broadcast products, visit http://www.panasonic.com/broadcast
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