Sony 930 User Manual

9

Chapter 9 Glossary – Terms and Definitions

176

HDC-900/950/930 Series Product Information Manual

A scene file is a place to temporally store the data that 
differs from the normal settings. For instance, a 

camera setting data made during rehearsal can be 
stored in a scene file and then be recalled during an 
actual take. 

Most of the camera characteristics cannot just be 
determined by numbers. Good values do not always 
equal good picture quality. Judging by human eyes is 
one of the most important processes to evaluate a 
camera. The following are a few technical terms to be 
familiar with:

Modulation depth is used to measure a camera’s 
fundamental performance. It shows a video level 
percentage of a 0.5 MHz pulse wave in a subject so 
that the 0.5 MHz pulse wave video level is 100% as 
black to white, by shooting a Multi Burst chart while 
Detail, Gamma, Matrix and Knee are off. The camera’s 
performance is calculated by measuring the 0.5 MHz 
response in the actual video bandwidth. Usually, the 
frequency characteristics of the amplifier should be 
kept flat, because if the level is raised too high, aliasing 
noise will increase and the S/N becomes worse. In 
actual shooting, picture quality is adjusted by adding 
Detail signals to enhance the response.

Power consumption is a factor that develops heat, 
which is critical for shoulder-operating production 
cameras although it is a little bit relaxed for studio 
cameras. Using a cooling fan to reduce heating is not 
a good solution, because the camera operator can 
hear this noise. So, low power consumption is an 
essential factor.

Reliability is one of the most important factors when we 
evaluate a camera. Unlike other broadcasting 
equipment, cameras are often used outside under 
severe circumstances such as live broadcasting of 
skiing events below the freezing point or live 
broadcasting of baseball in mid-summer, where 
reliability always has first priority and a camera 
malfunction is not acceptable.    

When we are talking about camera resolution, it usually 
means horizontal resolution. It is calculated on how 
many black and white lines that you can see 
horizontally in a subject to that of the black and white 
lines counted independently. For instance, a black line 
and a white line are counted as two lines. When it is 
converted to vertical resolution, because the definition 
is how many lines can be seen vertically, it should be 
revised with the aspect ratio. Therefore, even though 
the horizontal pixel number is the same; resolution of 
4:3 is better than that of 16:9.

Since the video signals of most of the cameras are 

processed digitally, the resolution limit is fixed; this is 
why the modulation depth has become to be regarded 
as more important.

When we are talking about camera S/N, it usually 
means the S/N of black. The black level is amplified by 
gamma and its gain greatly affects the S/N, which vary 
between different manufacturers and even - different 
models from the same manufacturer. Of course, users 
also have different tastes. S/N is also changed by 

different DTL settings. Usually, it is measured when 
IRIS is closed, gamma is off, DTL is off, Chroma is off, 
and the pedestal level is set at 5%.

There is a close relationship between S/N, 

sensitivity, and dynamic range. When we raise the 
sensitivity, the S/N and dynamic range will decrease. 
So, it is difficult to decide to emphasize which item 
while the other two items will be affected. Although the 
measured value of the S/N is important, it seems that 
the S/N judged by human eyes after gamma and DTL 
are set is more important. 

Very naturally, less weight is better for shoulder-
operated equipment. However, balance is also a very 
important factor. If the camera weight is too low, then 
the overall balance of the camera will be off when a 
large lens is attached.