Ikegami to Demonstrate Latest Innovations in Broadcast Television Production at IBC 2025

Ikegami will demonstrate the newest additions to its range of broadcast quality television production equipment on stand 12.A31 at the 12-15 September International Broadcasting Convention in Amsterdam.

“Our IBC presentations will address the broadcast industry’s need for maximum operational efficiency and creative flexibility combined with high signal quality, robust build, future-proof design, affordability, power efficiency and mobility,” comments Gisbert Hochguertel, Ikegami Europe Product Specialist. “Making their first IBC appearance will be the UHK-X700RF wireless television camera, UHL-X40 ultra-compact camera and IPX-100 IP extension unit. Individually and in combination, these products offer major advantages in program production style and operational cost-effectiveness.”

IBC 2025 INTRODUCTION: UHL-X40 ultra-compact 4K-UHD HDR camera

Based on Ikegami’s highly successful UHL-F4000 which was developed for aerial applications such as helicopter platforms, the UHL-X40 camera head measures only 120 x 112 x 128 mm WHD, weighs just 1.1 kg and has very low power consumption. The control unit is also compact (145 x 145 x 173 mm WHD) and light in weight (2.6 kg). The UHL-X40 features three high quality 2/3-inch CMOS UHD sensors with a global shutter pixel architecture capturing natural images even when shooting LED screens, clear of geometric distortion during still-frame replay. The global shutter imagers also minimize artifacts when televising flash/strobe-illuminated stage environments. The UHL-X40 shares most of the key features of the UNICAM-XE camera family, such as dual optical filter wheels with five positions each for separate control of neutral density and color correction filters, optical vignetting correction plus remote back focus. In addition to its 4K-UHD output, the CCU can deliver a simultaneous down-conversion of the full 3840 x 2160 resolution UHD frame plus a 1920 x 1080 native cutout of the central area. Vertical image inversion function which can be selected for applications such as theatre-stage outside broadcasting where upside-down overhead suspension is easier than traditional mounting. This feature saves having to assign a vision switcher channel to perform the image inversion. Commands such as pan/tilt/zoom control or teleprompter feeds can be sent from the CCU via an integrated 100BASE-T Ethernet trunk line. 

IBC 2025 INTRODUCTION: UHK-X700RF wireless camera

A new addition to the UNICAM-XE product range, the UHK-X700RF is a wireless portable version of the UHK-X700. It offers producers the freedom to introduce unusual-angle shots at short notice, opening many creative perspectives for applications such as news, OB sports and coverage of stage events. The UHK-X700RF is equipped with a native UHD-sensor (3840 x 2160 pixels) with a global shutter architecture designed to capture natural images even under challenging situations. 1080@50/59.94p (HD) and/or 3840@50/59.94P (UHD) broadcast frame rates for HD and UHD are supported in ITU-R BT.709 SDR and ITU-R BT.2100 HDR as well as BT.2020 wide color gamut. The transmitter operates in the 2 to 2.7 GHz band, accessible in 250 kHz tuning steps, with an output power of 100 mW. Encoding is fast, typically just 40 ms input to output at UHD or HD resolution. Transmission range in a standard configuration is approximately 500 meters. If the receiving antennas are positioned far away from the base unit, it is possible to cascade several IP-Mesh data transceivers.  As such, up to 22 transceivers can be used in a single system. The receiver/decoder for the main video signal occupies a 19-inch half-rack width chassis. The receiver/decoder comes equipped with four SDI outputs and supports 1.5G, 3G and 12G SDI formats including embedded audio. It also features two XLR three-pin analogue audio outputs, a BNC genlock input and a four-pin XLR 12 volt DC power input. In its basic configuration, the receiver/decoder can connect directly to up to eight downconverters (four pairs of antennas) via conventional BNC cables. Up to 100 meter cable extension is supported.

IBC 2025 INTRODUCTION: IPX-100 IP extension unit

Shown in prototype at IBC 2024 and now fully deliverable, the IPX-100 IP extension unit combines the core features of Ikegami’s established BSX-100 base station plus media-over-IP support, forming an efficient bridge between SDI and IP production infrastructure. Just 2U high by half 19-inch rack width, the IPX-100 is one third smaller in size than the BSX-100 and ideal for use in mobile production vehicles, REMI control rooms, city center studios or wherever space is at a premium. A UNICAM camera can feed into an IPX-100 via up to 3.5 km (2.2 miles) of conventional SMPTE-hybrid fiber cable. The camera head is powered by the IPX-100. An integral test signal generator allows system configuration before a camera or other SDI source is connected. Support is also included for auxiliary data to and from the camera. An HD-SDI video monitoring output allows direct connection of a field monitor to the IPX-100, facilitating initial setup. Connecting an Ikegami OCP-300 or OCP-500 panel via Ethernet to the IPX-100 enables easy zoom and focus control of a remote camera even if an IP connection to the wider ST 2110 infrastructure is not yet established. Three versions of the IPX-100 are available: IPX-100H for the HDK-X500 and the latest UNICAM HD cameras, IPX-100U for UNICAM-XE 4K/UHD cameras, and IPX-100M for UNICAM-HD as well as UNICAM-XE models. 

ALSO ON SHOW: UNICAM-series cameras and HLM-series monitors

• UHK-X700 UHD/HD HDR 2/3-inch 3-CMOS studio/portable UHD camera with IP and HFR options. Weighing only 5 kg, the UHK-X700 comes with a B4 lens mount and has an optical sensitivity of F10 when operating at UHD/59.94p.

• UHK-X600 UHD-upgradeable multi-role HD HDR studio/portable camera for pedestal-mounted, tripod-mounted or shoulder operation. The camera incorporates three ⅔-inch oversampling UHD CMOS sensors and will be shown with SE-U430 system expander plus studio lens. License-key based options include support for 2x, 3x and 4x high frame rate capture.

• HDK-X500 3-CMOS HD HDR portable camera system for pedestal, tripod and shoulder operation. Features include global shutter sensors plus automatic optical vignetting correction throughout the range of OVC-compatible B4 bayonet mount zoom lenses. 

• HLM-2460WA 24-inch LCD monitor, building on the features and performance of its HLM-2460W predecessor, is designed for use in broadcast environments such as edit suites where a computer-friendly WUXGA display resolution is preferred, and for integration into monitor walls.

• HLM-1860WR is an AC or DC 1920 x 1080 multi-format monitor with a larger (18.5-inch) IPS LCD panel than its HLM-1760WR predecessor, within the same 7U housing. The monitor’s 1,000:1 contrast ratio and 500 nits peak brightness display reproduces clear images even outdoors.

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