TV SKYLINE’s investment in 32 LDX 135 camera systems enhances its fleet with native UHD/HDR support, flexible networked workflows and more options to upgrade functionality over time.
TV SKYLINE GmbH has been delivering high quality live content for over 30 years and is now recognised as one of Europe’s top mobile production providers. The company also carries out streaming services for platforms such as YouTube Live and Vimeo Live, and are experts in designing and deploying speciality camera and production systems.
Known for its production standards and technical innovation, TV SKYLINE has most recently expanded its camera inventory with 30 new LDX 135 UHD/HDR camera systems and two LDX C135 compact models. The new systems will be deployed across TV SKYLINE’s fleet of OB trucks and flight packs to support live productions including sports, concerts and large scale entertainment events. This investment is part of TV SKYLINE’s work toward high-quality UHD/HDR workflows, as the company aims to stay ahead of modern live production developments.
Flexible Networking
The new LDX 135 camera systems expand the company’s production capabilities by enhancing flexibility and efficiency, and adding native UHD support. NativeIP as well as SDI connectivity, in a choice of HD, UHD or HDR, is available directly from the camera body, with no external conversion required to manage communications.
Instead, the camera itself becomes an active IP endpoint in the network and may be added to the production system from wherever a network connection is available. With IP network connections for audio, video and control directly at the camera head, sources can be distributed wherever they are needed on the network, without first having to send signals to a separate control hub. Set-up and configuration are simple, fast and more flexible in terms of potential camera locations.
Image Quality and Engineering
The cameras reach F11 sensitivity at an S/N ratio of 62 dB and have more than 15 stops of dynamic range. Their three Xenios imagers, matched to a Wide Colour Gamut beam splitter, allows users to capture extreme colours, such as those used for sports and onstage events. Camera shaders can then manipulate this wider gamut with Grass Valley’s Creative Grading control to create a very specific branded look and apply it across all cameras on the network.
The cameras will be used across TV SKYLINE’s global production portfolio. Their team can deploy it initially as an HD camera for 1080p productions and then use software licensing to gradually add features as production needs change. When new lower bandwidth workflows are needed, LDX 135 cameras can be licensed to support on-board JPEG XS compression, at the source, without external gear.
CTO Laurent Schiltz commented, “From an engineering perspective, the LDX 135 cameras stand out for their efficient signal processing architecture, fast setup capabilities, and native UHD support. They integrate directly into our current infrastructure and are well suited to support a future transition to IP-based workflows, giving us the flexibility to scale across different production scenarios, whether in our OB trucks or modular flypacks.”
TV SKYLINE owns a range of Grass Valley camera models, including the LDX 98, LDX 150 and compact variants, and is also looking at the new LDX 180 Super 35mm model to support emerging creative needs. tv-skyline.de
