Sony DXC-D55 User Manual
Digital Video Camera
DXC-D55 Series
DXC-D55
DXC-D55P
DXC-D55WS
DXC-D55WSP
14-bit Full-Digital Production Camera –
Offers Top-quality SDTV Video Production Opportunities
From the very first model, Sony DXC Series standard definition (SD) production cameras have
been widely accepted by a great number of video professionals around the world, due to their
excellent picture performance, system versatility, and cost efficiency. Sony is now proud to
introduce the new DXC-D55 Series which uses the latest 14-bit A/D conversion circuit as well as
the field-proven 2/3-inch type Power HAD™ EX CCDs to further enhance the DXC portfolio.
The DXC-D55 Series consists of two cameras: the DXC-D55 4:3 model, and the DXC-D55WS
16:9/4:3 switchable model. Both models incorporate three 2/3-inch type Power HAD EX CCDs
and the latest 14-bit A/D conversion circuit. These key devices deliver excellent sensitivity and
signal-to-noise ratio, together with reduced smear level compared to that of the previous model.
In addition to superb picture quality, these cameras offer extremely precise and flexible image
controls such as highlight control, contrast control, and detail control, thanks to the sophisticated
DSP LSI with more than 30-bit accuracy.
Another important characteristic of the DXC-D55/D55WS Series is its system flexibility.
Two types of camera control unit are available – the CCU-D50/D50P for multi-core operation,
and the CCU-TX50/TX50P for triax operation. Furthermore, the RCP-D50/D51 Remote Control
Unit is also available for the series.
With class-leading SD picture quality, operational conveniences, and system flexibility, the Sony
DXC-D55/D55WS Series brings new opportunities for high-quality, creative productions to a wide
range of video professionals at an affordable price.
* In this brochure, DXC-D55 refers to both the DXC-D55 for
NTSC and the DXC-D55P for PAL, while DXC-D55WS refers to
both the DXC-D55WS for NTSC and the DXC-D55WSP for PAL.
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FEATURES
Excellent Picture Quality
Three-chip 2/3-inch Type
Power HAD EX CCDs
The DXC-D55/D55WS Series is equipped with
the field-proven three-chip 2/3-inch type Power
HAD EX CCDs, offering high horizontal
resolutions of 920* TV lines. These highperformance CCDs also provide an excellent
sensitivity of F11 (at 2000 lx, 3200K), a
remarkable signal-to-noise ratio of 65 dB
(NTSC)/63 dB (PAL), and an extremely low
smear level of -145 dB (typical).
*On DXC-D55 and DXC-D55P models
Power HAD EX CCDs
Advanced Digital Signal Processing (ADSP)
A key indicator of quality in a DSP camera is
how many bits are used in its nonlinear
processes, such as gamma correction. The
DXC-D55/D55WS Series uses more than 30
bits, thus minimizing rounding errors and
maintaining the high-quality images captured
by the Power HAD EX CCDs. This advanced
digital signal processing (ADSP) also enables
highly sophisticated image controls, such as
knee saturation, adaptive highlight control, and
skin-tone detail controls.
14-bit A/D Conversion
The Sony DXC-D55/D55WS incorporates a
high-quality14-bit A/D conversion circuit that
allows images captured by the Power HAD EX
CCDs to be processed with four times the
precision than 12-bit A/D converters. In
particular, this higher resolution reproduces the
contrast more faithfully in mid-to-dark-tone
areas of the picture. In addition, the 14-bit
accuracy helps to eliminate pre-knee signal
compression at highlight areas, and allows the
camera to clearly reproduce a high-luminance
subject.
12-bit 14-bit
High-performance Digital Signal Processing
High-intergrity 14-bit A/D Conversion
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CREATIVE VERSATILITY
Knee Saturation Control
In general, shooting very bright portions of an
object such as key light reflections from a
person’s forehead can reduce color saturation
and change the hue in highlight areas. The
knee saturation control function incorporated in
the DXC-D55/D55WS Series effectively reduces
this ‘washed-out’ effect on saturation and hue
changes, and reproduces far more natural color
in highlight areas.
Knee Saturation Control Off Knee Saturation Control On
Images simulated
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Adaptive Highlight Control Off
Knee Curve Image
Adaptive Highlight Control On
Images simulated
Adaptive Highlight Control
The DXC-D55/D55WS Series offers an
outstanding overexposure control by applying
multiple knee-points/slopes to handle highlight
areas in a dynamic manner. By analyzing the
highlight areas of a scene, the camera
automatically sets and optimizes multiple knee
points/slopes accordingly. This enables the
reproduction of extremely difficult scenes (for
example, an interior scene with a bright
illuminant such as sunlight in the background)
with wide exposure latitude. The adaptive
highlight control applies only to input video
levels in excess of the knee point; the middleand low-luminance parts of the video signal are
unaffected by this control.
Low Key Saturation Off
Skin-tone Detail Control Off Skin-tone Detail Control On
Low Key Saturation On
Low Key Saturation
With conventional cameras, low-light areas can
be subject to reduced saturation, resulting in
the color in these areas being ‘washed-out’.
The low key saturation function incorporated in
the DXC-D55/D55WS Series helps eliminate this
problem by optimizing the amplification of
color saturation at low light levels, providing
more natural color reproduction.
Skin-tone Detail Control
The skin-tone detail control function in the
DXC-D55/D55WS Series allows softening of the
skin-tone detail in the facial area, while
maintaining the sharpness of other parts of the
picture. The skin-tone detail area can be
selected simply and quickly, using an areadetect cursor in the viewfinder screen. The
color range for skin-tone detail and the skin
detail level can also be selected manually, using
the viewfinder menu system.
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