Datavideo recently started shipping the US$2199 BC-200 (up to 4K UHD) and US$1599 BC-80 (up to 1080p) remote-controlled PTZ cameras it announced back in April at NAB 2017. These are not camcorders, but studio cameras designed to connect to your digital video mixer (aka “switcher”) for live multicam shoots. The company had already clarified most of the specs, but after studying the manual of each, I was concerned about the lack of certain shutter speeds to achieve 180 degrees, one particular framerate, and whether they offer genlock (external sync) or not. I am happy that Datavideo answered all three answers, as you’ll see ahead, together with demonstration videos from the company.

Demonstration videos about each camera, by Datavideo

https://youtu.be/zqPbLsXM8fs

US$2199 BC-200 above (up to 4K UHD) (B&H link)

Note: This video is only published at 720p.

US$1599 BC-80 below (up to 1080p) (B&H link)

https://youtu.be/cFBqe6brTAk

My three comments/questions

1. I am glad to see that both cameras support the most popular broadcast framerates for 1080, including 25p, 29.97p, 50p, 59.94p as well as the interlaced 50i and 59.94i. However, I am surprised not to see the closest 180 degree speeds for each. As you must know, to achieve a 180 degree shutter with 25p, the corresponding shutter speed is 1/50. To achieve a 180 degree shutter with 29.97p, the corresponding shutter speed is 1/60. To achieve a 180 degree shutter with 50p, the corresponding shutter speed is 1/100. To achieve a 180 degree shutter with 59.94p, the corresponding shutter speed is 1/120. Three of those shutter speeds (1/50, 1/60 and 1/120) are not listed in the manual I downloaded for each. Only the 1/100 (perfect 180 degree shutter for 50p) is listed. Are those three those shutter speeds omitted in the actual cameras, or only in the documentation? If the are missing from the cameras, will the be added via a future firmware update?
2. Does Datavideo ever plan to add the 23.976p framerate via a future firmware update (or is it already available, but simply missing from the documentation)? If you ever add it, the 180 degree shutter speed for 23.976p is 1/48.
3. I just want to clarify whether either or these cameras has a genlock feature. I realize that many modern video mixers (“switchers”) don’t require it, although some indicate that if cameras are genlocked, there will be much less delay in the video mixer, since their internal synchronizers can be disabled when the cameras are genlocked.

Three responses

1. (With the current firmware), we didn’t separate shutter speed setting by video format framerate. The next firmware release will separate them.  The shutter speed setup will be:</li

   a).for 29.97/59.94 system: 1/30,1/60,1/90,1/100,1/125,1/180,1/250,1/350,1/500,1/725,1/1000,1/1500. The normal 180 degree shutter are 1/60 & 1/125(close to 1/120).

   b). for 25/50 system:1/25,1/50,1/75,1/100,1/120,1/150,1/215,1/300,1/425,1/600,1/1000,1/1250. The normal 180 degree shutter are 1/50  & 1/100.

2. Because the Sony camera module we are using now doesn’t support 23.976p frame rate, we will not support 23.976 or 24 fps.
3. Same reason Sony camera module doesn’t support external SYNC. Function, we will not support external SYNC.

Datavideo doesn’t yet have an exact date for the firmware update mentioned in answer 1, but they’ll let me know, and I’ll let you know. Sign up for my mailing list to be sure.

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