With the introduction of the Sharp 8C-B60A 8K Professional Camcorder and AQUOS 8K Series of 8K-compatible TVs and displays, we’re defining a new era of image quality – find out how.
Sharp has a vision to change the world with 8K, a resolution that transforms our ability to capture and display reality. The revolutionary technology has been designed for ultra-high-definition images that are capable of producing true-colour images with 16 times the resolution of full-HD, something which cannot be expressed with the current generation of 4K images. Perhaps the best way to describe 8K video is that it reproduces images as ‘ultimate reality’, capturing ultra-fine details that even the naked eye cannot perceive.
You may think 8K is just another higher-resolution consumer product. That is not the case. While TV broadcast is one obvious application for 8K – Japan’s national broadcaster NHK is preparing to launch 8K transmissions in time for the Tokyo Olympics – 8K will dramatically impact other aspects of our lives, from business and digital signage, to more specialised fields in our evolving smart cities. Sharp is developing an 8K ecosystem which will support new businesses built around the technology.
We are keen to talk to our partners about the business applications of 8K, for example, surveillance and crowd control or remote medicine, and combining 8K image capture with drone technology to transform tasks such as building maintenance.
This ecosystem starts with two crucial products, an 8K professional camcorder and an 8K display. We were proud to demonstrate these devices together at our Inspire EXPO event for Sharp partners in January, and on our stand at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) this month. Find out more about them below.
Sharp 8C-B60A 8K (60p) Professional Camcorder
The Sharp 8C-B60A 8K (60p) Professional Camcorder is a world’s first, as it integrates capabilities for video shooting and recording, as well as playback, and line output allowing for video streaming in 8K regardless of location.
Along with the ability to shoot images in high-resolution 8K (60p), the professional camcorder has been designed to offer ease of use while shooting and recording in order to lessen the burden on the camera operator in the post-recording editing process. The high quality codec for high speed processing with superior generation tolerance allows for quicker editing, so saving time and money in the post-production.
In order to achieve this, the 8C-B60A’s image pickup device is a large, Super 35-mm-equivalent CMOS image sensor with 33 million pixels.
The Sharp 8C-B60A can record up to 40 minutes of continuous recording when using the bundled 2-TB SSD pack, while compression makes the most of a coding method that exerts minimal burden on the CPU, thus enabling efficient 8K (60p)-image editing.
For those video outlets looking to not only record video but also stream it simultaneously, the Sharp 8C-B60A allows real-time output of 8K uncompressed images at the same time that recording is taking place, making it ideal for capturing and sharing live footage.
AQUOS 8K Series of 8K-compatible TV and displays
For those looking to experience the best imagery possible, then Sharp’s new generation of smart TVs and displays are a must. The AQUOS 8K Series of 8K-compatible displays lie at the heart of the 8K Ecosystem, and are planned to launch in Europe in 2018.
The Sharp AQUOS 8K (LC-70X500) is based around a 70-inch display that will provide true 8K resolution. The new edge-lit backlighting technology renders dimming and brightness on different sections of the picture, achieving a darker or brighter effect depending on the images displayed.
The display has a striking look, made from aviation-grade aluminium alloy for the frames, lower bar, and base as well as surface brushing and mirror polishing. Three sets of speakers are built into the SoundBar, with two groups of woofer speakers and four high-power speakers with optimal back bass sound.
Without any additional sound system, the display can perform as a family cinema thanks to its surround sound, Yamaha Audio Engine, and DTS 2.0 technology.
Compatibility with both Dolby Vision HDR and BDA-HDR comes as standard, enabling the display to have brighter and more vivid colours, while automatic controls set brightness and contrast for each frame, ensuring the display offers the best images possible. Furthermore, it has an excellent contrast ratio and a wide colour gamut due to a fluorescent molecular imaging technique, marking a great choice for an exciting life.
