KLAS-TV, the CBS affiliate in Las Vegas, recently launched its local news programming in HDTV on DTV channel 8.1.
While KLAS-TV has been carrying the CBS primetime tier in HDTV for years, upgrading its entire local news operation represented a major investment in station infrastructure.
For HD newsgathering and commercial production, KLAS-TV purchased 18 new Fujinon HS16x4.6ERM HD lenses, which are used with 18 Sony PDW-530 XDCAM HD camcorders.
The Sony XDCAM camcorders and Fujinon lenses are used extensively in daily news acquisition both in the field and in-studio. According to Matthew Adams, chief photographer at KLAS-TV, the lenses have performed well in all types of weather and lighting conditions, as well as on a wide range of news stories.
The equipment upgrades are being handled in phases: including the XDCAM HD acquisition gear, five Grass Valley Aurora nonlinear editing systems and a new HD news helicopter, expected in early 2007.
The lenses’ one-shot preset and auto cruising zoom have been particularly useful to the station’s news photographers, Adams said. The 2X extender on the lens allows the shooters to pull back from a tight zoom to a wide shot. Using the one-shot preset feature, the operators can set a limit or automatic stopping points to keep from going as wide as the lens can go. That prevents them from accidentally shooting the barn doors and matte boxes and other unwanted objects. Auto cruising zoom enables operators to achieve precise zoom control with minimal camera movement.
For more information, visit www.fujinonbroadcast.com.
