SI-1920HDVR KEY FEATURES

Revolutionary Camera Design

The Silicon Imaging SI-1920HDVR combines a digital cinema class 1920x1080P camera with a revolutionary new version of CineForm's Visually Perfect® wavelet codec, called CineForm RAW™, in a dual-core embedded PC architecture under Microsoft Windows® XP. It delivers a direct-to-disk raw recording platform with unprecedented image quality, 10 f-stop dynamic range, a 7” LCD touchscreen interface, IT-friendly connectivity, battery-powered operation, and up to 4-hours of continuous shooting on its hot-swap 160GB notebook hard drive.

2/3” Digital Cinema-class Sensor and Modular Extensability

The Silicon Imaging SI-1920HDVR uses a single large 16:9 format 2/3” CMOS sensor, enabling the use wide aperture optics to achieve a Depth-of-Field similar to S35mm, without the need for ground-glass converters. The single imager design enables the use of lower-cost 16mm film-style lenses and eliminates the optical aberrations caused by a 3-chip prism assembly. Furthermore, the SI-1920HDVR maximizes flexibility with its interchangeable optical assembly, supporting the use of high-quality modern cinema PL-mount lenses as well as affordable F-mount and compact C-mount lenses. Its threaded nosepiece and locking ring mechanism supports over 100 pounds lateral torque. The integral support for 15mm lightweight rods and 19mm ARRI style bridge-plate adapters make the SI-1920HDVR an ideal platform for the latest in follow-focus attachments, matte boxes, and other cinema-style gear and accessories. An industry standard, Anton-Bauer Gold-Mount is used for battery power and portable operation. For situations too extreme or space-limited for the camera operator to maintain direct physical operation, it is possible to detach the camera-head and connect remotely using Gigabit Ethernet. Its built-in power regulator allows battery operation from 5-17VDC with a miniscule 6W of power consumption. For very long distances, off-the-shelf IP routers or fiber optic converters can be added. Two camera heads can be mounted side-by-side for shooting stunning 3-D sequences.

10 F-stops of Dynamic Range

The SI-1920HDVR captures full resolution, 1920 x 1080 progressive-scan 12-bit raw images. It uses Silicon Imaging proprietary 48-bit digital processing algorithms to perform adaptive pixel-by-pixel black calibration and color image enhancement. Two software LUT options allow the user to choose between maximizing highlight detail for on-location “natural-light” shots with extremes in contrast, and optimizing signal-to-noise for the best image compositing and special effects results.

High-Bit-Depth CineForm RAW™ Digital Intermediate Codec

The SI-1920HDVR abandons fixed bit-rate DCT codec recording formats, such as DVCPRO HD and HDCAM-SR, which rely on preprocessed YUV or RGB video data. Instead, CineForm and Silicon Imaging worked closely to extend the acclaimed CineForm Intermediate format for optimal in-camera operation. RAW digital information from the camera’s sensor is recorded directly into the CineForm RAW™ format, which leverages CineForm’s respected Visually Lossless Wavelet codec. Recording in the CineForm RAW™ Digital Intermediate format is similar to Adobe’s DNG format used for still photography, which preserves the original pixel data. This technique gives the producer/director the added flexibility to develop the digital negatives in post, rather than being forced to make non-reversible decisions and apply camera adjustments on set. It also eliminates the YUV conversion steps on most 3-chip cameras, which unnecessarily expand the data by 300% before encoding. Recording raw sensor data results in higher detail and dynamic range for the same or smaller file size.

Flexible Frame-Rates and Resolutions

Special Effects and off-speed shooting modes include a variety of overcranking and undercranking modes. Slow-Motion shots can be captured at speeds up to 72fps in 720P mode, 3-times 24P film rate. Long-duration events are captured using the Time-Lapse recording feature or using the long exposure mode, which accumulates light over several frame times to exaggerate motion.

IT-based, Open PC Architecture

The SI-1920HDVR uses a dual-core processor embedded system with 2-GB SDRAM, VGA/DVI Graphics, 4 USB 2.0 ports and 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet. Unlike traditional closed architecture cameras, Silicon Imaging’s open-architecture enables software and firmware upgrades and a wide range of peripheral connectivity. The recording bit-rates of the 10-bit CineForm RAW™ codec enables direct-to-disk recording on a variety of media and storage devices. The built-in USB 2.0 HDD magazine holds up to 4-hours of recording on a 160GB drive and can be hot-swapped for unlimited footage.

Next Generation Network-Attached-Storage Workflow

Using the built-in IP connectivity and file-sharing tools of Windows XP, there are new possibilities for on-set collaboration. As each shot is taken, it is now possible to immediately begin editing and compositing with an Adobe Production Studio and CineForm Prospect-HD workstation, connected to the camera over LAN. Or, simply remove the hard drive magazine and edit the content directly from the disc.  Play 10-bit CineForm RAW™ AVI footage in Microsoft Windows Media™ Player, add metadata with Adobe Bridge™, edit in Adobe Premiere Pro™ or composite in Adobe After Effects™; all without a time consuming ingest process.

Real-time Editing and Effects Capabilities with Direct-Import While Maintaining RAW Data Integrity

Editing and effects can be done in real-time at the user's demand without the hefty cost penalty of high-bandwidth RAID arrays and post gear traditionally associated with 10-bit uncompressed HD workflows. Combine Digital Intermediate AVI files with other YUV or HDV sources on the same timeline and perform real-time editing of up to 4 1080/24p HD streams, without dropped frames or the need to render. On output, select from a variety of advanced demosaic algorithms that adaptively process the RAW bayer data for the highest quality output to film, HD-SDI, HD-DVD, or Microsoft Windows Media High Definition Video (WMV HD) Format.