nac's Hi-Motion II Captures the World of Sports

Simi Valley, California, October 3, 2012 – nac Image Technology's Hi-Motion II ultra-slow motion camera system is quickly gaining popularity and becoming a highly requested tool in the world of live sports broadcasting. This second generation Hi-Motion camera addresses the needs and incorporates the features requested by the operators who use the camera systems. Several reasons why this camera is so often requested in the field include: 1) The nac Hi-Motion II fits seamlessly into the workflow of sports broadcasting environments; 2) the nac Hi-Motion II camera provides unparalleled image clarity and detail enhancement; and 3) nac's engineering team has successfully implemented a number of features important to the live sports broadcasters, e.g. flicker suppression, wireless RF links, etc. As a result 2012 has been a banner year for nac Image Technology in the Sports and Entertainment World and live sports broadcasting has become an exciting growth area for nac Image Technology Inc.

One of the most compelling reasons why nac's Hi-Motion II camera is growing in popularity is its seamless integration with the live sports broadcast working environment. The nac Hi-Motion II camera was designed from the ground up to satisfy the demands of this industry. nac's Engineering Team spent several years surveying the market and listening closely to the requests of the users in the field. The fully integrated Hi-Motion II system represents a complete response to the needs of users in the live sports broadcast environment.

The Hi-Motion II camera head employs 3 CMOS image sensors, optimized for image quality and enhanced light sensitivity. The Hi-Motion II captures more than 10X high speed images in Full HD, a dramatically higher rate than is available from cameras utilizing CCD sensors, which max out at 3X normal speed. In coming up with the Hi-Motion II, nac was able to rely on its long history in the field of ultra slow motion digital camera systems to produce a camera capable of capturing crystal clear images in even the most challenging sports venues. The Hi-Motion II camera head works with the same B4 lenses used throughout the broadcast industry. The 3-chip CMOS technology provides the same level of image quality to match with standard frame rate cameras, so the Hi-Motion II can be used both as a standard frame rate camera and as an ultra slow motion camera. Simply stated the Hi-Motion ll camera is two cameras in one!

Live sports broadcast applications provide challenges not faced in traditional instrumentation applications. For one thing, the amount of time available to the broadcaster between when an event occurs until slow motion playback on air is very short. For another thing, you don't want to miss any of the action and the game doesn't stop because you're downloading images. In response to these requirements, nac incorporated both "Continuous Live Output" and "Recording When in Playback" into the Hi-Motion II. Continuous Live Output allows the camera operator to use the Hi-Motion II as a normal camera with its rich image quality generated by the 3-chip CMOS technology. Recording when in Playback enables the operator to record the ultra slow motion image while playing back footage that is stored inside the memory. Therefore you will not miss any crucial moment happening in front of you.

In the live sports broadcast environment, a team of three normally operates a camera system. Of course there is the cameraman we see on the field. In addition, there are the operators in the support truck outside the stadium, the OCP operator (responsible for matching a camera's color output to other cameras on the broadcast), and the Slow Control operator (responsible for replaying the slow motion images and cueing them up for playback on the air). nac took great pains to learn about the interaction between these team members. The Hi-Motion II was designed with an understanding as to how these key individuals work and interact and incorporates features and functions important to these professionals. nac's developed interface technology between the Hi-Motion II and industry standard tools used by these professionals giving the Hi-Motion II the same look and feel as other broadcast camera systems. The result is that technicians working in the live sports broadcast environment require minimal training with respect to the Hi-Motion II. Since the Hi-Motion II interfaces with industry standard equipment, and it operates like any other standard camera system, it is easily integrated into existing broadcast environments and readily used by industry professionals.

In addition to developing a camera system that respects the user's work flow, nac Image Technology has successfully implemented a number of features that make the Hi-Motion a versatile tool for sports broadcasting professionals. As with all nac camera designs, features are added which allow the camera to operate reliably in support of the customer's application.

The Hi-Motion II is an ultra high speed camera system that can also be used as a standard broadcast camera. This is because nac has implemented an Operation Control Panel (OCP) which allows the OCP operator to exactly match the image and color quality from the Hi-Motion II to that of other cameras used in the broadcast environment.

Many of the uses for the Hi-Motion II are either at night under the lights or inside an indoor stadium with artificial daylight. To accommodate these uses, of course, the Hi-Motion II has been optimized with respect to light sensitivity, like all nac ultra slow motion (aka high speed) cameras before it. In addition, nac has incorporated into the Hi-Motion II the world's first real time flicker suppression system for ultra slow motion broadcast HDTV camera system. The flicker suppression system allows the operator to adjust the camera "on the fly" during a live broadcast, mitigating and greatly reducing the flicker effect caused by stadium lighting.

In the world of ultra slow motion camera systems, images are captured at rates of speed dramatically faster than standard cameras. Stadium lighting cycles at rates much slower than the rate at which ultra slow motion images are captured. Because the lights are not synchronized with each other or the cameras, a pulsing effect may be apparent in ultra slow motion imagery broadcast during live sporting events taking place under stadium lighting.

There are times when the camera operator must be free to roam the sidelines, or walk freely throughout the sports venue. In such instances, the camera cannot be tethered to anything. In response to this requirement, nac worked with industry partner BSI to develop Wireless RF Links which enable the camera crews on location to shoot with the camera hand-held or mounted on a Steadicam and walk freely around the event. . This engineering achievement from BSI means that the ultra slow motion nac equipment can be used without cables, and directors can place it anywhere where there is RF coverage at an event. This wireless set up is particularly useful on the touchline or even on the field of play, for Football, Rugby and Golf. Once again nac worked closely with a technical partner and was able to master the technology and make this feature a possibility with the nac Hi-Motion II.

nac Hi-Motion camera systems have been embraced by broadcasters for live coverage of major global sporting events for years. The action at a variety of professional sporting events, including football, international motor racing, cycling, tennis, baseball, rugby, cricket, golf, boxing and horse racing have been captured by the first generation Hi-Motion l. The Hi-Motion II™ cameras have been an integral part of a number of high profile sporting events in 2012, including the Australian Open, the Super Bowl, the British Open, Wimbledon, the London Games, as well as a number of professional football matches in the US and the UK, and professional baseball in the US. The Hi-Motion II continues the Hi-Motion legacy and illustrates the commitment to superior quality which is synonymous with nac Image Technology's name.

About nac Image Technology

Since 1958, nac Image Technology's continuous record of technical and digital innovation and a comprehensive, integrated line-up of products have set industry standards for performance and reliability, satisfying specific high speed imaging requirements.

Learn more about nac products at www.nacinc.com. For more information on the Hi-Motion II™ camera, visit www.hi-motion.net.

For further information:
ahayford@nacinc.com
Andy Hayford: +44 (0)1628 509 001
sales@nacinc.com
nac Image Technology: +1 805-584-8862