[Sony] Senealogy of "Consumer -based business video camera" that expanded the video camera market -Sony Nobuaki interview

If you are familiar with the history of video devices, you know, but Sony once had a consumer (for consumer) video (Shinagawa) and a video for broadcasting (Atsugi). It is often said that "Shinagawa" and "Atsugi" are abbreviated as the place where the office was. Eventually, products that could be used in business were created by the development department of the consumer video, which became a big market, and the mainstream of products used by video salon readers has been created. For example, DVCAM in the 1990s, HDV and NXCAM in the 2000s, etc. Currently, the streams for broadcasting and contamer -based businesses are being integrated and clear categories are gone, but business aircraft derived from civilian systems have made video -producing equipment diverse, expanding the market. There is no doubt. I decided to talk to Nobuaki Baba, who has been in charge of "Shinagawa's business use" for a long time. Mr. Baba started his career from the design of the VTR mechanism and camera housing, and HDV has become a whole business. He has seen the history of a commercial video camera for about 30 years from the manufacturer. And in July he will retire. (Editorial department, Ichiyanagi)

-I today I brought PD1.Although it is a commercial version of the first DVCAM, PC7, it may be a lineup development that has the same base and has a consumer and business use.This was in 1997.Was Baba at the beginning of a contamer product?

He joined the company in 1979, and at first he was designed to design a Beta mechanical deck and a housing.

-There is a lot of time before you arrive at DVCAM (laughs), so please give me a quick change.

Beta Max's design department was branched, and one began to do business use.I started to design for business use, and later I was assigned to a 8 -millivide design unit.That was around 1989.From there, I have been in charge of business fields all the time.In other words, I came in a department that designed commercial products in a consumer organization.According to the change in the format, it is the flow of DV/DVCAM, HDV, AVCHD (NXCAM), and XDCAM from 8 mm.

ー ー “Shinagawa's business use” started with 8 mm.

You can think so.

ー ー What is a specific product?

At that time, I was doing a deck, not a camcodor.For example, a dubbing deck called EVO-9700.Atsugi was doing the shoulder cam coder in HI8.

The mission is to design at low cost based on the device of the consmering.Atsugi made its own device for top users, so the only common thing was to format.I think Atsugi started because HI8 is also used for business use.

-At that time a 8 mm mechanical deck design?

I agree.However, once the mechanical deck is designed, there is not much to do after, so the work moved in the form of a project leader from the housing design.

-I think that the product called EVO-9720, a double deck of HI8, has sold considerably.I also had a last minute memory, and this was released in 1993.But at this time, you can see the 1995 DV.

I agree.At that time, I went to DV development at a stretch.DV/DVCAM was jointly developed with Atsugi.DVCAM has 1 track pitch for DV.It was a format that increased 5 times and improved reliability, and the compression format was the same and the track speed was changed.

-At the time, as a product, DV came out first, and then DVCAM came out, but it was progressing at the same time as a format and product development.

that's right.Atsugi Development Division and Shinagawa's Consumer Development Department started developing together based on DV/DVCAM.

ー ー Now, looking back at the history of the video, it may have been epoch -making.When I say what was the biggest change to people in the veteran industry, I think many people answer DV, not HD or 4K.In other words, the image quality has improved even with a small camera due to digitalization, and since it is digital data, it became possible to edit it on a PC.In other words, the way of work changed, but that was the trigger of DV and DVCAM from 1995 to 1996.

In order to respond to that big change, it was a decision to do it together instead of doing it individually with Shinagawa and Atsugi.Looking back, it was a historically correct decision.

-There is a DVCAM breakthrough from there.Products came out of Atsugi and Shinagawa one after another.

Atsugi had momentum.Anyway, it sells.Shinagawa was in the center of DV.

-Its right.At first, DVCAM was not in Shinagawa.There was no DVCAM version of derivative models in the VX1000, but only the DV model of the consmering.

DCR-VX1000 (released in 1995) is one of the history of video cameras.In fact, the video salon magazine had been sluggish just before that, but suddenly began to sell with the appearance of the VX1000.With that momentum, the soft pages in the latter half of the magazine at the time were eliminated, and it would be greatly turned into a video production magazine.

However, when I did a market research, I found that VX1000 was used for business use.At that time, there was no data, so it was a listening survey.Then, it was a story about making a small DVCAM, that is the PD1.

-Oh, yeah.This is the first DVCAM in Shinagawa.I brought something amazing again this time!

I have DSR-PD1 at my hand.A group of commercial video cameras that Baba was in charge of is collected by Sony from each department.Of course, it is a beautiful state.

PD1 is the first DVCAM of Shinagawa.This is based on the contamer PC7, and PC7 and PD1 were developed at the same time.Even so, at this time, I just made a DVCAM record with the track width.After that, the color of the body is different.There were restrictions and I could only do that.I brought PD1 to a sales company in charge of broadcasting equipment and commercial products, but I was surprised to see if I could put this out for business use.I remember lending it to a domestic and overseas sales company like "Try it because it is good."

-The next is the full -fledged handy type, so it will be VX2000 (consumer) and PD150 (for business use).

Before that, there was TRV900 (Consmer) and PD100 (for business use) (1998).

DCR-TRV900.This model fits in the palm of the hand and has a high texture of the body, making it a huge hit.

DSR-PD100 of DVCAM model.The Gun Mike was able to use the XLR adapter for the detachable type.

From now on, we will fully develop a contamer machine and a commercial machine at the same time.VX2000 and PD150 were really sold (2000).It was a starting point for interviewing with such a camera.

DCR-VX2000

DSR-PD150

-PD150 has sold.In the industry, "PD" became a synonym for a handy camera.

If you make it in "serious" for business use, it will sell.

-Which side was made in "serious"?

This PD150 is a sensor anyway.The device inside is the same for the VX2000, which means that it is very bright by using three large pixels at 1/3 inches.The rest is feeling.It is light and well -balanced.The PD had a hard time how to attach the cannon terminal to this small housing.

-Surely, the cannon terminal has begun to attach to the camera body from here, so it is excellent for the first generation.

Anyway, I wanted to make it easier to use.I wanted to make it a good balance when shooting by hand for business use.

-It's a beautiful design even now.And it was decisive that it was a bright camera anyway.

The comparison of the brightness with this was said for a long time.Thankfully, it has become a handy camera reference.Well, it was a model that was made with that much.

-Do you have any memories during development?

As an internal discussion, there is an opinion that I want to make it smaller because it is a contamer -based, so it seems that there was an exchange, as to whether to aim for small and high -performance ones, or to compromise to some extent to aim for higher quality.I feel like that.Specifically, the route was compact with three boards of 1/4 inches, and the route of the route was 1/3 inches and bright and high quality for business use, but ultimately the upper layer of the time.I think it was a decision, but it was 1/3 inches.

-I was good.

Then it's the position of the cannon terminal.I think this is the first time I have put on a canon terminal with a handy.The positioning of the LCD panel is decided, and the rest is not a triple ring, but I want to do focus, zoom and iris in an independent ring.Then, I considered where to attach the cannon terminal, and eventually turned forward the handle.The idea was to take as much commercial essence on this small body.

-The 3 plates of 1/3 inches are small now.Did you want to make it smaller?

It seems that there was no hardship so far ...I was just particular about the arrangement.How to bring a mechanical deck on the grip side or how to store the LCD panel.The panels are ragged, but they are processed as designs.I think there was an intention to make it look slim.Anyway, I wonder if I wanted to make something cool.

-The coolness is also the reason why it was sold.

Cool things sell.Because it is a gadget system.

HDV that struggled with the development of Shinagawa only

-What will happen to the product development after that?

It will continue to develop DVCAM for a while, and it will be an HDV that will be used as an HD based on the tape. HDV system development began around 2000 or 2001. While producing DVCAM products, I was developing HDV behind the scenes. The first HDV is a contamer FDR-FX1 in 2004. In fact, HDV struggled the most. This was because Atsugi was a situation where the resources were concentrated on non -tape optical disks without doing HDV in response to the request of the broadcasting station, so it was difficult to collaborate like DVCAM. Therefore, we have to negotiate with other companies such as non -linear software manufacturers, for example, even the editing environment, to create infrastructure. We had only a consumer product unit, so it was difficult to establish not only products but also workflows as well as experienced and various people in Atsugi.

HDR-FX1

-What are the hardware hardships?

HDV is Long GOP, so if you drop out, the picture will freeze.You had the hardest to ensure that reliability.This was hard until just before the release.

-I think you probably interviewed at that time, how did you solve it?

The magnetic flour generated from the tape surface makes it difficult to accumulate on the head, the DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) coating of the tape has been created, and the error correction has been strengthened.It is a matching technique.I finally got to the level that could be released.The HDV No. 1 was so painful that a hole was opened in the stomach, but the engineer was motivated and the engineer proposed various functions.For example, a voice profile, a shot transition, and a 24 frame (2-3 pull-down) came up, and the engineer helped me.The development team had a sense of unity, so I worked hard.I thought it was no good at one time.

-It is something you can talk about as a memory story now.That there was such a difficulties.HDV is exactly the same for contamer and business use as a format.

it's the same.However, for business use, it is possible to regenerate not only DV but also DVCAM as a playback compatibility.That was a different product from the contemer and business use.

-The HDV has a commercial Z1J shortly after FX1.

HVR-Z1J

You announced about 3 months late.Thanks to you, Z1J also sold well.The designer's commitment was amazing.I was angry because I used too much research expenses (laughs).

ー ー This is where the liquid crystal is in front of the handle with FX1 and Z1J.

The mechanical deck came in reverse, so that it was easy to grasp the grip, so what to do with the liquid crystal, and brought it in front of the steering wheel.From there, it is this position all the time.

-In a way, the shape of the current handicap camcodor has been completed here.If you look at it now, the installation surface of FX1 and Z1J is slightly diagonal.

Oh, that's true.I think it was easy to see when the LCD was closed and the LCD turned up.The impression is different with a little thing.The subsequent models are all flat.I'm not sure, but there may have been a lot of circumstances.

-What will happen to HDV variations after this?

After that, I make a small system like DVCAM, but it is a contamer HC1 and a commercial A1J.

HDR-HC1

HVR-A1J

-It made these two huts ridiculously.Everyone had either one.It's more compact than I thought I would take it now.It is the impression that the body is thin even though it is a tape camera.

I put the tape from below, but I was angry from the customer because I couldn't change the tape if I put it on a tripod.But if you put it from below, the camera housing will be smaller.However, it is not good for business use.

A1J was so thin that I couldn't imagine a tape camera when I got it right now.

-It is smart if you have it now that there is a merit if it gets so thin.It would have been nice to position it as a handy main camera.

This was a long seller.I kept selling because there was nothing to replace this.

-The next is FX7 (Consumer) and V1J (for business use).Twenty zooms were sold, but compared to PD150 and Z1J, the sensitivity was so unreasonable, and many professionals were disappointed.When I get something now, this model feels bigger than my memory.

HDR-FX7

HVR-V1J

This is three boards of 1/4 inches.I wanted to reproduce the size of the PD150 and made it, but it wasn't as good as the overall power.From now on, the circuit was simple for PD.

Thinking of Z7J made with a specialty for business use

―What kind of development will it be after that?

Lens replacement type handheld Z7J, shoulder S270J.HDV was only done in Shinagawa, but there was a strong demand from the sales company, so there was a demand for lens exchange cameras and shoulders, so there was a strong demand to arrange the lineup.If it is a 1/2 inch sensor, there is XDCAM EX (EX1, EX3) for broadcasting users developed by Atsugi, so the lineup becomes complicated, so let's try it with a 1/3 inch sensor.If you use a conversion adapter, you can also use a 2/3 inch B4 lens.So, the 1/3 -inch bayonet mount lens replacement shoulder camera S270J and handy type Z7J are released in 2008.

HVR-S270J

-The S270J is still used by stage photographers.I just saw it on site.Z7J was my favorite camera, but it seemed like a maniac camera, but did it sell?

It sold quite a bit.I've been back order for about a year.At this time, the flow of the memory record came, so we bundled the memory unit of the CF card that can be recorded simultaneously with the tape, and sold it as "Z7J and S270J are hybrid records".

HVR-Z7J.1/3 inch bayonet mount lens replacement type.At the rear of the body, the CF card recording unit could be docked with cableless, and simultaneous records were possible with tape and card.

Although it was not actively replaced with lenses, the operability of the attached lens itself was good.The zoom is a mechanical, and the slide of the ring switching between AF and MF has started here.This mechanism is the same as the XDCAM EX EX1 that was done in Atsugi.

ー ー EX1 was in 2007, so it was almost the same timing as Z7J.The EX1 was so excited that the image quality was good, but the camera itself was quite heavy and to be honest.On the other hand, Z7J was really easy to hold.Even though it was the same manufacturer, the characteristics of Atsugi and Shinagawa often came out.

I agree.Shinagawa is inexperienced in terms of easy handy.

-There is a handy tradition.Above all, Z7J was especially easy to hold.

I also like Z7J.The lens is also quite good, and I am particular about it.Until now, it was simultaneously developed as a contamer model, but the Z7J had no consumer model, so it was a business -only model.What I can do is a lens that I did.

ー ー Because it is a camera that you can see now, it is better for video enthusiasts to buy it if you are in a used market.

It's cool.It is also good for ornamental use (laughs).The mechanical deck comes out diagonally with the hip -up design.The body is almost a battery space, and the battery can be stored without popping out.It fits in a width of about 3cm by the sensor and a circuit.We had you do your best for the mechanical design.

-It's impressive that the grip is coming long before.

The grip is attached to the lens because I want to keep the balance.At first there was a grip on the body, but that's why I couldn't balance it.So I brought the grip on the lens.In that sense, this is a special camera.

Actually, the S270J lens is the same in terms of optical specifications, but the grip position is changed.The shoulder cam was created because the positional relationship between the shoulder pad/viewfinder/grip was important, but I was angry at the company that it was luxurious.But the camera was a good balance, so I couldn't give up here.

The back is S270J and the front is the Z7J lens.You can see that the position of the grip is different.

--- After that, is it Z5J (2008)?After the Z7J, it was Z5J.

This is actually the same as Z7J is a fixed lens type, and the contents are the same.

-The design of the circuit ended with Z7J.

Since the Z1J became old, an integrated type was required.The Z7J was expensive and could not be cheaper.Z5J was created by trying to make something orthodox on the route that continues from PD150.

-In fact, this camera has changed the format and connected to the current model.The lens hasn't changed basically.

I agree.Here, it becomes a completed form, then memory, and continues to the current NX5R.

It was a time when the commercial base was expanding

ー ー Looking back so far, at first there was a consumer machine and it was an image of business use as a derivative, but as the times go, I feel that business use is becoming the main, but I made it.How was the side you were?

The format is always a consumer recording format, so the main is a contamer.The basic stance is to make new things that professional customers are satisfied with using that technology, and if you do it in the main business, it will be different.I was careful about the binding there.In other words, there is no way to do the same thing as Atsugi.The concept was to protect the route and avoid deviating from the direction of the contamer product.

However, it is true that the business of commercial aircraft was performing well, so he made various investments.If you sell, you can do it in Sony, and you did it freely and openly.

-In the VX1000, it was a high -amateur machine, but now I have the impression that the specific gravity of business aircraft is increasing.

I agree.Although it was flat, isn't it the correct answer to say that the base for business use has expanded?In addition, there were many cases where multiple units were introduced at business sites.

-I see.

HDV, the last tape, was completed with Z5J, but it was about 10 years that new HDV products came out.After that, it will switch to NXCAM.Did you assume that HDV's 10 years would be from the development side?

No, I didn't expect it to last for 10 years.As it was a tape.I thought it was dangerous at the Z7J and made it a hybrid, so I think it continued afterwards.

-Do you have only been 10 years, but the impression that it lasted for 10 years?

I was quite worried that it would be a memory at once.

-Its so.Panasonic proceeded with memory without HDV.Does that mean that the Japanese broadcasting industry continued to use the tape than expected?

I agree.The Japanese industry is still using it.It may be a factor that HDV extended to be a hybrid with memory as a product.At that time, I thought that if I did not make a hybrid as a strategy, I would die, so I made it to make it a hybrid camera that integrates both design and function.

Memory from Z5J to NX5J was not a simple story

-After that, it will be memory and become AVCHD.

The first memory camera in Shinagawa is AVCHD, the first aircraft is AX2000 in 2010, and NX5J (2010) for business use.Here you can create a series called NXCAM.These two units were also developed at the same time.NXCAM (AVCHD) did not do Atsugi, so it was only Shinagawa.

HXR-NX5J.Memory cam coder based on HDV Z5J.This housing continues to the current NX5R.

NX5J was surprisingly difficult because HDV lasted so long.The HDV was quite good at Z5J, and it was good for business, so when I put out a memory camera, it was a discussion in the company.Why now HDV is selling from the sales company?It was said that AVCHD was a derivative of Blu-ray disks, and at that time it was not so compatible with non-linear editing software, and there were various criticisms.But I had a strong feeling that I had to make a memory now.I thought I wouldn't do it even if I ate the HDV market.So it was a mentally challenging challenge.

ー ー When I saw the NX5J, I didn't have a fresh taste just to replace the Z5J with a tape, but in fact, the creator has such a difficulties.But at that time, Panasonic was doing business cameras ahead with AVCHD, so I have to do it.

I have to do it.

-After that, the variations will increase.

I agree.As a memory camera, not only the NXCAM series, but also XDCAM will come together, and a lens replacement camera with a large format sensor will be done.

-The memory camera has an increased system and the lineup is a little difficult to understand.Especially from here, we will integrate it with Atsugi.The user thinks Sony is the same, but Atsugi, Shinagawa, and different cameras are mixed.

The first model we did together with Shinagawa and Atsugi's organization was X160 (2014), but since then only the consumer format, such as AVCHD, is NXCAM, and all that contains higher formats is XDCAM.It is a classification.

PXW-X160

-I see.バッテリーがLなのか、BP-Uなのかは関係なく。

It may be XDCAM that the mxf wrapper is separated by the format.Even if it is 4K, XAVC (MXF) adopts XDCAM and XAVC-S (MP4) NXCAM.

-Isn't the direction that NXCAM ends?

That is not the case.For example, the NX80 is NXCAM.Some people want a compatible file format with a consumer device.I think we will continue to do it in parallel.

HXR-NX80

How do you make a large -format sensor video camera?

-I see.ビデオカメラはそれまではほぼ線でつながっていた進化の流れが、大判センサーの波が来たことで、ビデオカメラとは違う路線が生まれて系統が見えにくくなりました。作る側としては、どんな感じだったんでしょうか？　あらゆる方面をやっていこうということですか？

In terms of Japanese manufacturers, each company had its characteristics.Canon has a strong palm type, and Panasonic has a strong handheld.We must do everything from palm to handheld and shoulder.After that, when video shooting with a single -lens reflex camera starts with 5D Markii, you have to do that seriously.In particular, it was quite difficult because there was no large -format sensor route.Since all the development teams are doing their best, there are so many products, but I think the variations have increased and it is not simple.Recently, various things such as smartphones, gimbals, and drones have appeared as shooting tools.If you include it so far, I think that video shooting machines are extremely confusing.

-You have come to use various cameras according to the application.In the past, there was only a video camera.In that sense, it's hard for the manufacturer, but it's good for users.

Sony was also confused because the direction was not determined when the large former system was added, but has the route and direction recently?

The large format sensor of the E -mount lens type has been established as a route because FS5 II and FS7 II are sold recently.And it is three directions that the three -plated three -board camcodes and palm types are expanding their business.

-The large format sensor video cameras have come to be visible in FS5 and FS7.Here, along with VG10 (2010), FS100 (2011), and FS5, it seems to see the process of exploring the developer to see what the lens replacement video of the large format sensor should be.

(smile).I agree.As for the form, the style of FS5 and FS7 has been seen.It means that a large -format video camera is absolutely necessary for a handy type to be a large -format video camera, as the shape has been decided.

What should a lens replacement video camera with a large format sensor (Super 35) should be?Initially, the style changed for each model.

-The other route is a small handheld starting from the consumer AX100 (2014).

X70 (XDCAM, 2014), Z90 (XDCAM, 2017), NX80 (NXCAM, 2017).It is in the area of completion as a sub camera.This is Sony's specialty.It's really good for engineers.

ー ー (laughs) What is that impression?

I think you can make it so compact.

ー ー It is really sophisticated.Are you already used to it?Being so familiar and well -balanced is an unrivaled thing of other companies.

It is well done without waste in design.The most important thing in the company is the shape of the grip.Someone who says "It doesn't suit me" always comes out.Various people give various opinions.In fact, that is important.The grip all affect ease of holding and ease of use.

ー ー Oh, I feel that the tradition and strength of the Sony Video Camera are visible in the current story.The grip -oriented and hand -balanced ideas have also led to the FS5 and FS7 of the large format camera camera.Especially the goodness of the FS5 grip is excellent.A video camera may be an ease of grasp and balance in handheld shooting.

By the way, what would Baba choose this one after looking so far?

It is Z7J.It is a model that challenged lens replacement and hybrid records, and the design is well designed.It is the best model and is full of technology.There are some different places that protrude from the conventional system, but that may be because they have an engineer and my commitment.

Baba with HVR-Z7J at hand.

-This is a strangely lens exchange type, but you may be able to use this model as a hint and use a video machine for those who are shooting videos with a single eye.If you make a highly complete video machine based on a single -lens camera, it may be explosively hit.Of course, in the price range below FS5.

There are still unfinished places in FS5.I think that is not all, it can still evolve.

The left is Z7J and the right is FS5 II.

ー ー What do you want to do in your junior junior to your juniors?

I think the times are changing a lot now.There are some unreasonable manufacturers such as black magic design.Even in the form of the camera in the video, I couldn't imagine a little while ago, such as smartphones, gimbals, and drones.The main users of these tools are the younger generation and are used to single -lens videos.I think it has been moving rapidly in the last few years.I would like you to take the situation around that seriously and combine Sony's technology (I think there are quite a few effective technology in the company) and the next technology to create something that will be surprised from the user's perspective anyway.is not it.That's what the industry changes in the future.And I want you to change the video industry, not just for business videos.

-It is difficult to throw away if you accumulate so much.Because the degree of perfection is increasing in the accumulation.

But I think the times have changed.It's okay now, but if you look at another two or three years, there is a fear that something will happen.If you enter the protection, it will not grow as a business, so I want you to play it.

-It's how to create a new video market in Sony, while keeping the tradition.I think my junior will inherit me.Thank you very much.