grass valley LDX 150 Highest Performing Live Broadcast Camera User Guide

grass valley LDX 150 Highest Performing
Live Broadcast Camera
User Guide

Intercom Prod
This button is used to activate the intercom Production channel (‘talk’).
Headset volume
Adjusts the overall audio volume of the intercom headset.
Intercom Eng
This button is used to activate the intercom Engineering channel (‘talk’).
Return A
This button can be assigned to an External/Return Video channel.
Return B
This button can be assigned to an External/Return Video channel.

Camera left panel

1. Gain up/down switch
   Press plus or minus to select a Gain preset or hold the plus to set a variable gain value.

2. Color temperature up/down switch
   Press plus or minus to select a color temperature preset or hold the plus to vary.

3. Exposure time up/down switch
   Press plus or minus to select an exposure time or hold the plus to set a variable exposure time. Note: exposure can only be changed in single-speed video modes.

4. Filter button
   Press to enter the filters selection menu and select neutral density (ND) and/or effects (FX) optical filters.

5. Bars buttons
   Switches the test bars on and off and selects bar type.

6. Standard Recall (or ‘Green button’)
   Press and hold two seconds to recall standard values for the camera.

7. User button SW1
   Assignable user button SW1.

8. User button SW2
   Assignable user button SW2.

9. PickMe button
   This button can be configured to send an attention signal to the studio.

Camera back panel

1. Intercom Prod button
   This button is used to activate the intercom Production channel (‘talk’).

2. Intercom Prod volume
   Headset volume for the intercom Production channel.

3. Intercom Prog volume
   Headset volume for the intercom Program channel.

4. Intercom Eng button
   This button is used to activate the intercom Engineering channel (‘talk’).

5. Intercom Eng volume
   Headset volume for the intercom Engineering channel.

6. Call button
   Press to send a Call signal to the studio. The Call indicator on the control panel(s) lights.

7. Audio 1 indicator
   This LED lights green when the audio input is set to mic sensitivity level, it lights blue when phantom power is switched on.

8. Audio 2 indicator
   This LED lights green when the audio input is set to mic sensitivity level, it lights blue when phantom power is switched on.

9. Power switch
   Main camera power switch.

10. Power out indicator
    This LED lights green when Power Out is available, it lights red when too much power is drawn from the Power output connector (overload indicator).

11. Local power indicator
    This LED lights green when Local power is present and OK, it lights red when the supplied voltage is lower than 12 VDC or higher than 17 VDC.

12. IP diagnose indicators
    Press and hold the info button at the back panel (17) or front panel to activate the IP diagnose indicators:

the receiver in unicast mode, or: the unicast destination port number does not match the receiver’s port number
Off| Camera is not transmitting data (TX = 0 Mbps)
Lock| Green| Camera is locked
Yellow| Reference signal present but the camera is not locked
Red| Camera is not locked
CNTRL| Green| Camera control link OK
Red| Camera control link is not valid
Off| No camera control link
13. Outside illumination (2x)
Two bright white LEDs illuminate the back panel to help locating connectors.

14. PickMe button
    This button can be configured to send an attention signal to the studio.

15. Return B
    This button can be assigned to an External/Return Video channel.

16. Return A
    This button can be assigned to an External/Return Video channel.

17. Info button and indicator
    Press and hold to view information on the viewfinder screen.
    The indicator LED in the button indicates if there is a system error or warning. When the Info button is pushed once, the first info page with the most important camera settings is shown in combination with the IP diagnosis indicators.
    Press again to show the IP info page with more detailed info about the IP link. The IP diagnosis indicators stay active.

The diagnose page and the IP diagnose indicators extinguish after a few seconds or after the info button is held for more than 1 second. The number of seconds can be programmed in the camera menu.

Controlling the camera

There are several ways to control the camera:

• by using the operational switches on the camera;
• by using the (internal) camera menu to select functions;
• by using the Creative Grading Panel (CGP) and/or the Creative Grading Application (CGA) in the studio;
• by using the Camera Connect software package (for advanced configuration).

Note
If you cannot access some camera functions or you wish to restrict access, refer to “Access and security”.

Navigating the camera menu
The camera menu can be viewed in the viewfinder, a connected monitor, or remotely on the CGA. The camera menu can be navigated by means of the menu (rotary/push) button and a back button which is located at the front of the camera:

The functions of the camera are grouped into a structure of menus and sub- menus. Each of the menus gives you access to a particular group of functions. Spend some time using the controls and menus to discover the various functions. You will quickly learn to operate the camera intuitively.

Note
Some of the menu items may not appear if the user level is not set to 3 or S (Service).

Entering the camera menu

Push the menu button after the camera is switched on, the message Menu off appears in the viewfinder. Press the menu button again while this text is showing,  the Main menu appears in the viewfinder.

The Main menu screen shows five items. The name of the menu is shown below these.
More items are hidden but become visible when you scroll down using the menu button.
The cursor shows your position in the menu. Turn the menu button to move the cursor up and down.

Finding your way

Turn the menu button to move the cursor through the menu items. If a double arrow (>>) is visible, then pressing the select button brings you one level lower in the menu system. Only five items are visible in each menu. Scroll up or down to see any additional items. When you first enter a menu (other than the Main menu) the cursor is positioned next to the first item.
Press the back button to go back to the menu that you were in before the current one. The cursor is positioned next to the last menu.
You can also use the Top and Previous items to navigate. These items are not immediately visible but are located above the first item. Use the rotary control to scroll up to them.

• Select Top to bring you back to the main menu.
• Select Previous to go back to the menu that you were in before the current one.
  The Production Setup menu, for example, shows the items displayed when you first enter the menu. The other items are available by scrolling up or down with the rotary control.

Leaving the camera menu
If you are deep within the menu structure, the recommended way of leaving the menu is to press the back button a number of times until the menu is abandoned. You can also navigate to leave the menu:

• If necessary move the cursor to the left column with the menu or back button.
• Scroll upwards with the rotary control until the cursor points to Top (the Main menu).
• Press the select button. The cursor now points to the Menu off item of the Main menu.
• Press the select button again to leave the camera menu.

If you do not use the menu it disappears after a few seconds. This delay can be programmed in the Operator Toolbox menu. You can also press and hold the or back button for 2 seconds to make the menu disappear.
When you press the select button again you enter the camera menu at the last position of the cursor and not at the top of Main menu.
To prevent confusion the next time you enter the camera menu, it is advisable to leave the menu by using the back button or by returning to the Main menu and selecting Menu Off.

Making value changes
To find out where you have to go to change a function, consult the camera menu reference to discover under which menu group or sub-group the function you want to change is located. If the cursor points to an item (and there are no double arrows to indicate a submenu) then the item pointed to has a value. This value can be:

• a toggle value (only two values, like on and off)
• a list value (more than two values)
• an analog value (in most cases variable from 0 to 99)
• unavailable.

If the value is unavailable it cannot be changed. This is indicated by three dashes (- – -). This can occur, for example, when a function is switched off. The analog values associated with that function are then unavailable.

If there are only two values associated with the function, then pressing the select button toggles between these two values. If a value is displayed next to a  function that is one of several possible values, then pressing the select button places the cursor in a list menu indicating the value currently selected. Use the rotary control to point to a new value. Press the select button to return the cursor to the function list.
If an analog value is displayed next to a function name, then pressing the select button places the cursor in front of the value, and the rotary control is used to change the analog value. Press the select button to return the cursor to the function list.

Undoing changes
If you make changes to the video settings in the camera menu and you decide not to keep them, use the green standard button at the side of the camera to recall a standard set of values for the video parameters.

Assigning user buttons

The camera has three assignable buttons: two on the left side panel (SW1 and SW2) and one under the handgrip. The operation of the RET and the VTR  button on the lens can also be assigned. The assignment and switching mode (momentary or alternating) of these buttons can be set in the Operator Toolbox >  User buttons menu. 

Left side and lens buttons

(Zoom)
• Switch to Return Video B (Ret B)| • Focus Assist (FocAst)
• Production intercom (Prod)| • Switch to Return Video A (Ret A)
• Engineering intercom (Eng)| • Switch to Return Video B (Ret B) – default
• Select (for menu navigation)| • Production intercom (Prod)
• ND+ (ND filter selection up)| • Engineering intercom (Eng)
• Start Auto White Balance (AW)| • ND- (ND filter selection down)
• Extended Auto Iris (EIris))| • Intercom Call (Call)
• Focus Assist (FocAst)| • Back (for menu navigation)
• Back (for menu navigation)| • Select (for menu navigation)

The VTR Lens button can be assigned to:
• Production intercom (Prod) – default
• Engineering intercom (Eng)
• Viewing zoom function (Zoom)
• Switch to Return Video A (Ret A)
• Switch to Return Video B (Ret B)
• VTR
• Info button (Info)| The RET Lens button can be assigned to:
• Switch to Return Video A (Ret A) –
default
• Switch to Return Video B (Ret B)
• Viewing zoom function (Zoom)
• Focus Assist (FocAst)
---|---

Handgrip button

The right handgrip button is assigned to:
• Switch to Return Video A (Ret A) -default
• Switch to Return Video B (Ret B)
• Viewing zoom function (Zoom)
• Focus Assist (FocAst)| The left handgrip button can be assigned to:
• Production intercom (Prod) – default
• Engineering intercom (Eng)
---|---

Viewfinder controls

Front

1. User button (A)
   This user button can be assigned in the viewfinder menu.

2. User button (B)
   This user button can be assigned in the viewfinder menu.

3. Front tally indicator
   This indicator (and the one at the rear of the handgrip of the camera) lights to indicate that the camera is On Air.

4. Diopter adjustment ring
   The diopter of the viewfinder can be adjusted to suit your eyesight by turning the diopter adjustment ring. Turn to the right for negative diopter values, turn to the left for positive values.

Back

1. User button (A)
   This user button can be assigned in the viewfinder menu.

2. User button (B)
   This user button can be assigned in the viewfinder menu.

3. Front tally indicator
   This indicator (and the one at the rear of the handgrip of the camera) lights to indicate that the camera is On Air.

4. Diopter adjustment ring
   The diopter of the viewfinder can be adjusted to suit your eyesight by turning the diopter adjustment ring. Turn to the right for negative diopter values, turn to the left for positive values.

Back

Set up the viewfinder according to your own preferences; adjust viewing parameters, select markers, message boxes, and on-screen display times in the Operator Toolbox menu.

1. Mode switch
   This switch determines the function of the Menu/Peak rotary control below. Set the mode switch to the right (Peak) to use the rotary for peaking control. Set the mode switch to the left (Menu) to use the rotary for menu navigation.

2. Tally switch
   This switch is used to control the tally indicators at the front of the viewfinder and the rear of the camera handgrip. The toggle switch has three settings:  Off, Low, and Hi.
   When the tally switch is set to the Off position, the tally indicators do not light even when the camera is On Air.

3. User switch C (underscan)
   Set this toggle switch to On to see a scaled-down (to about 85% of the area) picture in the viewfinder. This allows for a greater viewing distance from the eyepiece. A blue border around the picture and the message “underscan” appear. Set the switch to Off to return to the original picture.

4. Peaking/Menu control
   With the mode switch set to Peak, turn this rotary control to adjust the peaking (sharpness) of the viewfinder picture.
   With the mode switch set to Menu, push this rotary control to enter the viewfinder menu and rotate to navigate the menu.

5. Contrast control
   Turn this rotary control clockwise to adjust the contrast of the viewfinder picture according to your preferences. The range runs from 0 (low) to 99 (high contrast).

6. Brightness control
   Turn this rotary control clockwise to adjust the brightness of the viewfinder picture according to your preferences. The range runs from 0 (very dark) to 99 (very bright).

7. Rear tally indicator
   This indicator lights to indicate that the camera is On Air. This indicator has the same function as the front tally indicator.

Viewfinder information

Indicators

Navigate to the Operator Toolbox > Indicators menu and select the on-screen indicators you want to display on the viewfinder screen. The following indicators can be set up:

1. Zoom indicator
   Shows the percentage to which the lens has been zoomed out or in, ranging from 0 (wide angle) to 99 (telezoom). It shows 50 if the lens does not support this feature.

2. (2a) Iris indicator
   Shows the iris opening (or F-value) of the lens. The typical range is from F1.4 to F25. The indicator shows ‘Closed’ when the lens is closed or capped.
   (2b) Focus indicator
   Shows the percentage of the lens focus distance. Typical range is from 0 (close-up) to 99 (infinity).

3. Precision Focus indicator
   Shows the Precision Focus indicator (if supported by the lens).

4. (4a) Filter indicator
   Shows the selected optical filter(s).
   (4b) Depth of Field indicator
   Shows Depth of Field (DOF) of the current lens position. F = Far limit in meters, N = near limit in meters. Note: this feature must be supported by the lens.

Note
When the Iris indicator (2a) is switched on, the Focus indicator (2b) is automatically switched off and vice versa. When the Filter indicator (4a) is switched on,  the Depth of Field indicator (4b) is automatically switched off and vice versa.

On-screen marker indicators

Navigate to the Operator Toolbox > Indicators menu and select the marker indicators you want to display in the viewfinder screen. The following marker indicators can be set up:

1. Safe Area
   Shows the minimum area that can be seen on a television screen. Different aspect ratios for the safe area can be set in the menu.

2. Center Cross
   Marks are the center of the picture.

3. Marker
   A dotted white line or a shaded area that shows the limits of a 4:3, 15:9 or 14:9 picture.

Viewfinder LED indicators

1. Return video indicator
   Lights if one of the return video channels is switched on.

2. Battery indicator
   Lights if the camera supply voltage is less than 11.5 V (when using an external supply).

3. (3,11)Call indicators (green)
   Lights if Call signal or green tally is active.

4. (4,12) ISO indicators (yellow)
   Lights if ISO signal or Yellow On Air is active.

5. (5,13) On Air indicators (red)
   Lights if On Air is active.

6. (6,14) PickMe indicators (green)
   Lights if PickMe is active.

7. Zoom indicator
   Lights when viewfinder zoom is active.

8. Focus Assistant indicator
   Lights when the focus assistant is active.

9. ND Filter indicator
   Lights when a Neutral Density (ND) filter is used.

10. Range Extender indicator
    Lights when a Range Extender is enabled.

11. (15) Gain indicator
    Lights when the gain is lower than 0 dB or if the gain is higher than +3 dB.

12. (16) Non-standard indicator
    The non-standard video settings indicator (!) lights when one or more of the following conditions occur:
    • Exposure Time is not set to the nominal value;
    • Black Stretch is switched on;
    • Extended Iris is switched on;
    • AWC (Auto White Continuous or automatic white balance) or FL color temperature is switched on.

Information pages

Press and hold the info button at the front or at the back panel of the camera to view information on the viewfinder screen. The first info page appears in the viewfinder or monitoring channel. Press the info button again to scroll through 4 pages. Release the button and after a few seconds, the info page disappears.

Page 1: IP connection page

Page 2: Video and camera modes page

Page 3: Basic video settings and buttons page
This info page shows mostly identification and operational information.

1. System Alias
   Displays the camera System Alias.

2. Camera number
   Displays the camera number.

3. User button assignments
   Displays the assignments for the user buttons on the camera.

4. Video settings
   Displays video mode, master gain, ND filter, FX filter, color temperature, selected Gamma curve, and Master Black level

5. Basic operator settings
   Displays the current user level (“Lvl”), the last recalled operator file (“Opel”) and the standard recall file (“STDOper”).

Page 4: BNC outputs on the camera

Focus assist

The focus assist function can be switched on or off in the Operator Toolbox menu. This function adds a motion effect in the viewfinder to objects in sharp focus. The FOC+ indicator in the viewfinder lights when this function is on.

Viewfinder zoom

The viewfinder zoom function is another feature that helps you focus. This function enlarges the center of the viewfinder image. Choose one of the following  buttons and the way it operates (momentary or toggle) to control this function in the Operator Toolbox menu:

• The VTR button on the lens,
• The RET switches on a zoom control when a SuperXpander is used.

When the viewfinder zoom function is in use, the viewfinder markers are switched off to improve the clarity of the display. The Zoom indicator in the viewfinder flashes when the viewfinder zoom function is active.

Lens operation

Back focus adjustment

When you fit a lens into the camera you may need to adjust the back focus. Refer to the lens manufacturer’s instructions to find out how to do this. The Lens menu allows you to choose and, if necessary, adjust other parameters to suit your lens type and your personal preferences.

CLASS

The Chromatic Lens Aberration and Sharpness Solution (CLASS) compensates for chromatic aberration by using lens data. Most major lens manufacturers support this feature.
Make sure that the lens interface is set to Digital in the Configuration > Lens > Lens Settings > Lens IF Type menu.
When a lens is attached to the camera for the first time, the camera reads the lens data at startup. This is done only once and may take some time to finish. Reading the lens data is a background process and does not influence normal camera operation.
Some lenses also require a manual calibration of the lens ring positions. If this is the case, a message (“CLASS: Turn lens rings”) is briefly shown in the viewfinder. Turn both zoom and focus ring all the way from one end to the other.
After startup when CLASS is active, a message (“CLASS: Active”) is shown in the viewfinder.
In the (very rare) occasion that lens aberration data becomes corrupted, a reset of the lens data can be forced:
Go to the Configuration > Lens > Lens Settings > CLASS > Reset CLASS Data menu and select Start.

Auto Iris

When the amount of light in the scene varies (for example when shooting outdoors) the Auto Iris function can be switched on to automatically and continuously measure light levels and adjust Iris for optimal exposure.
When your lens has an Auto Iris switch, make sure it is set to the on position.
To switch Auto Iris on, go to the Production Setup > Exposure > Iris > Auto Iris menu and set the Auto IRIS function to On.
The default settings for Auto Iris are suitable for most situations but some situations may require different settings.
Setting the Auto Iris measurement area The user level must be set to Service to access this function.
Select the Auto Iris measurement area using the Area function in the Auto IRIS menu. The following areas can be selected:

Setting the Auto Iris measurement area

The user-level must be set to Service to access this function.
Select the Auto Iris measurement area using the Area function in the Auto IRIS menu. The following areas can be selected:

• Top—covers the top half of the screen or 50% of the total surface. This is the default setting.
• Spot S—small center spot, covers 5%.
• Spot M—medium center spot covers 10%.
• Spot L—large center spot, covers 25%.
• Full—full-screen measurement, covers 100%.
• Bottom—covers the lower half of the screen or 50% of the total surface.
• Custom—a customer-defined measurement area.

When Area is set to Custom, a customer-defined area can be defined under the Custom Area sub-menu by entering top, bottom, left, and right parameters for two separate measurement areas: one for Peak and one for Average values. Auto Iris combines the readings from these two areas and uses the outcome to control the Iris opening.

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