Thomson announced three new models to the LDK series of cameras. They include the Thomson Grass Valley LDK 4000 Elite, LDK 8000 Elite (in Standard and WorldCam versions), and the LDK 8000 SportElite.

Among the new enhancements, the LDK Elite and SportElite HD series significantly improve on the existing cameras’ internal DSPs with new DSP circuits. It’s a completely updated software platform that performs all camera image management functions — such as knee, gamma, contours, and variable matrix — with three channel 22-bit digital precision. The SportElite adds 2x Super Slow-Motion sampling functionality in both 720p and 1080i HD formats.

A newly designed chipset used across the entire Elite series contains additional features, such as digital cosmetics — sometimes known as negative skin contours — with independent, Emmy-award-winning dual skin tone selection. Extensive colorimetry and color-matching tools are also available. Users can choose whether to perform matrix processing before or after gamma.

Among the new enhancements, the LDK Elite and SportElite HD series significantly improve on the existing cameras’ internal digital signal processing (DSP) circuitry by incorporating all new DSP circuits. It’s a completely updated software platform that performs all camera image management functions — such as knee, gamma, contours, and variable matrix — with three channel 22-bit digital precision. The SportElite adds 2x Super Slow-Motion sampling functionality in both 720p and 1080i HD formats.

The Elite cameras have improved sensitivity, to f10@2000 lux. There are also new multi-vector secondary color correction features for manipulating images inside the camera, as well as user-selectable digital noise reduction adjustments.

The multiformat LDK 8000 Elite camera, capable of acquiring images in the 720p, 1080i, and 1080p formats, provides great value for production companies and studios working with a variety of clients that have different HD needs.

The SportElite features high performance (F10 at 2000 lux) in single- and F8 in double-speed mode, a signal-to-noise ratio of 60dB in single- and 58 dB in double-speed mode, a high-quality secondary color corrector, and a user-selectable digital noise reducer.

It’s a two-piece dockable camera system, fully compatible with all current LDK HD sub-systems. By adding the capability for double speed acquisition, it means that mobile production companies can outfit an entire truck with them, using some for slo-mo and others for standard HD acquisition alongside regular LDK 8000 cameras.

The LDK 4000 Elite is a single format HD camera, available as either a 720p or 1080i camera head. In each case, its operating frequency is switchable between 50 Hz and 59.94 Hz, enabling it to support a variety of production environments. In addition, an optional service pack is available to transform the camera from 720p to 1080i or the other way around.

An Elite Upgrade Kit, LDK 5825/10, is available for the current installed base of LDK 8000 and LDK 4000 mk II cameras. All three cameras include three 9.2-million pixel HD-DPM+ CCD imagers, 14-bit A/D sampling, and 3 channel 22-bit digital signal processing resolution, for the best image quality available anywhere.