Sony DVW 790WSP Digital Betacam 2 3 inch Broadcast Camcorde (OV.02)

Digital Betacam has become the format of choice for the production of highest quality standard definition programmes. There is an installed base of over 99,000 products worldwide and the format is readily accepted by the worlds most prestigious broadcasters. Digital Betacam camcorders, VTRs and players are in daily use around the world for productions where the ultimate standard definition quality is a critical requirement.

The DVW-970P camcorder is the most recent addition to the Digital Betacam family. It is the latest in a long line of broadcast camcorders and emphasises the continued commitment by Sony to the Digital Betacam format and its users.

This third generation Digital Betacam camcorder is widescreen switchable and uses a new generation of Power HAD EXTM CCDs to guarantee exceptional picture quality. Familiar ergonomics, robust construction and reliable operation are key features of the DVW-970P.

The ability to select between 50i (interlaced) and 25P (progressive) recording provides additional creativity to the production team, allowing the optimum picture look to be selected for each production.

16:9 / 4:3 Switchable FIT CCD

FIT CCD has a smear level of -140 dB, which means virtually immeasurable in a practical camera

12 bit Advanced Digital Signal Processing (ADSP)

Allows enhanced dynamic range, better tonal reproduction and the addition of many other software features

TruEye processing

The TruEye processing feature manages video signal data according to three factors- brightness, hue and saturation- so that with a wide dynamic range signal, colour can be reproduced as faithfully as by the human eye , by eliminating the hue factor distortion.

Optional SDI output board.

Allows the rear video out socket to be either analogue composite or SDI, selectable by a menu.

Optional Picture Cache memory board.

Now you need never miss a picture again, this board stores up to 8 seconds of audio and video in solid state memory. Thus an event up to 8 seconds previous to the time when you pressed the rec start button is available. It is selectable to be 1, 2, 4 or 8 seconds, for example a store of 4 seconds gives effectively an instant start from standby off position.

Internal 50 watt stabilised light system.

This stabilised internal light system can be powered from the camcorder's lithium-ion battery. The light can be switched on/off either manually or automatically, where the light goes on when you start recording and off when you stop recording.

Turbo gain up to 48 dB.

Allows working down to 0.2 lux, better than the colour capability of the human eye.

Auto trace white system.

The ATW function makes it possible to automatically adjust the white balance as lighting conditions change. This function is useful when shooting in rapidly changing lighting conditions (for example, when moving from an indoor to an outdoor location). Conventional Auto white balance is also available both instead of and in addition to ATW operation. White B preset position is assigned for ATW operation by selecting either ATW or AWB B in the VF menu.

Dial in colour temperature.

You can now programme the camera to a certain colour temperature, and then light to that, rather than using preset positions or auto white balance with gels to offset the balance. Also added is an offset function to slightly warm or cool a picture irrespective of the auto white setting, since the offset is removed before auto white and then added back in again when auto white is completed.

Built in film gamma curve

The F gamma represents the average transfer characteristic of various film stocks, and has a shallow slope in the dark areas leading to slight lifting of the very dark areas, and flattens off the highlights, to give a higher dynamic range. Programmable S gamma is also available.

Multi matrix feature.

This allows any colour to be grabbed, and its hue and saturation to be altered within a range of around 20 degrees, and the saturation almost to nil. In this way many "in camera" effects can be made.

Cameraman programmable menu system.

This allows every camera operator to make his own menu structure, by copying any single menu item from any other page and pasting it into your own page, which can then be stored on a setup card.

Digital Cinematography style of shooting

This Digital Betacam camcorder will produce some of the finest and most accurate pictures even when used in the factory preset condition. To achieve a more cinematic or film-like look, special attention must be paid to both the camera settings and the appropriate accessories and lenses. The flexibilty of these camcorders together with cinematic style shooting and lighting will provide very satisfying results. High production security is achieved through immediacy & instant review of the material on location. Digital Cinematography has been widely accepted as an economical but high quality alternative for programme production.

Digital Cinematography Accessories

Accessories include special digital cinematography zoom and prime lenses, base plates, matte boxes and follow focus units. A range of special lenses optimised for Digital Cinematography style production are available from most manufacturers. There is also a range of prime lenses for 2/3-inch mount cameras.

General Camcorder

This camcorder is ideal for general TV shooting with the highest picture quality.

Advanced Digital Signal Processing

Auto trace white, Dial in colour temperature, Multi-matrix, Film gamma, Knee saturation, Soft focus, Adaptive detail and Skin tone detail

Wide range of options for Digital Cinematography applications

Picture cache, SDI output, Picture inversion, Extended viewfinder, Colour viewfinder, Cine lens adapter, Setup memory cards, Lithium ion (no memory effect) batteries and Arri accessories