The range of use cases and workflows within image capture in broadcast production remains huge and vendors are busy rising to the challenge. There are a number of key themes and which of them fit with your requirements may well drive your selection of brands to visit.

There has been very little in terms of pre-show new product announcements from the leading camera vendors so we will report more after the show. We expect to see some of the recent trends towards more use of software licensing for key features in system cameras continue. Ground to cloud and technologies that facilitate distributed team workflows are likely to feature heavily in drama production.

With sports we expect to see more introductions to support the integration of more cinematic production values. Although the relentless expansion of resolution may have slowed somewhat, with the emphasis perhaps slightly more on trickle down into lower cost solutions, ways to use UHD capture and high speed capture in sports production are likely to see more innovations.

Vendor Focus

Blackmagic Design (Booth SL 216) have announced a number of new releases for NAB. First up is the Blackmagic PYXIS 12K, a new digital film camera that features a 12K RGBW sensor in the versatile PYXIS camera design. This new model features the same sensor as URSA Cine 12K LF with a massive 16 stops of dynamic range along with dual CFexpress media recorders, 10G Ethernet and Blackmagic Cloud global sync, all in a customizable body. Blackmagic PYXIS 12K is available in three models, with customers able to choose between L-Mount, PL or Locking EF lens mounts.

Alongside the new PYXIS camera model they have announced the Blackmagic PYXIS Pro Handle and Blackmagic PYXIS Pro Grip, two new accessories that transform Blackmagic PYXIS into a flexible run and gun camera for broadcast and documentary work. Blackmagic PYXIS Pro Handle includes an integrated HD OLED viewfinder, stereo microphone, record start/stop and custom function buttons. The Blackmagic PYXIS Pro Grip is a side grip for video production and includes a zoom rocker and hand strap for secure and comfortable shooting.

Videstra (via Heartland Video Systems Meeting Room W 2077MR). The Videstra brand has just been acquired by Systems Integrator, Heartland Video Systems and at NAB they will be demonstrating the VestraView system. This is one of those products which solves a simple but challenging issue – how to elegantly incorporate streams from fixed Micro-Local cameras into live broadcasts and multi-platform delivery feeds. Stations often place live cameras on towers and rooftops throughout the viewing area. The DOT has scores of cameras, everywhere viewers travel. Getting them on the air and posted to digital properties is a challenge, especially when the news is breaking quickly. VestraView brings together multiple IP-based cameras from many different manufacturers with H.264/H.265 streams, to their V-Streamer technology to output a live-to-HD-SDI source from each camera for your broadcast plant, as well as generating still and time-lapse imagery.  The system provides everything you need to go from camera to screen. The four-channel V-Streamer decoder offers genlock, overlays, cropping, and most importantly reliability.

Proton (Booth N 314) tucked away in corner of the north hall will be Proton. They make very small broadcast quality cameras and at the show they launch the Proton HFR. As the name suggests this adds a high frame rate variant to their range of lovely little cameras. 240 fps from a tiny little thing with a C mount – what’s not to like.

Atomos (Booth SL 4828). For the image capture community Atomos remains a go to destination for portable and camera mount image monitor/recorders and streamlined ‘to cloud’ contribution. Their range is extensive, serving a full spectrum of applications and budgets. Alongside the rest of the portfolio NAB will be the first outing for their latest release, the Shinobi GO, a slim, lightweight, high brightness, 5-inch 1500nit HDR monitor that’s perfect for content creators and photographers.

Shinobi GO follows the launch of Shinobi II last year, offering some of the same high quality monitoring tools as its more advanced sister product, but without camera control, touch to focus, and other pro monitoring features like EL ZONE. The new model does include false color, zebra, histogram, waveform, and vector scope. “Shinobi GO is for people who do not need camera control, or own a camera that supports it, who are looking for a high-quality, daylight viewable monitor at a more affordable price,” commented Atomos CEO Jeromy Young. 

Grass Valley (Booth N 510) will show a new LDX 180 camera with a cinematic feel alongside the LDX 110 and LDXC110 entry level variants of their LDX camera portfolio that were launched at IBC. 

Virtual Production

The arenas of news and live sports are the key drivers of development in virtual production technology in broadcast. Both disciplines use data driven graphic elements to enhance story telling and both benefit greatly from the ability to place presenters against dynamic backdrops, and from interaction between presenters and graphic elements. The capacity to create new virtual studio environments dramatically increases the creative potential for designers and enables more frequent changes in set design.

It is a steadily evolving discipline that is benefiting greatly from advances in available compute power and creative and technical advances from the much faster moving gaming and film industries. Expect step changes in realism, dynamic effects and ease of operation to be evident on the show floor.

Expect to see technology innovations in key areas: To investigate new technologies in motion tracking visit Vinten, MRMC (who are introducing a new free roaming robotic mount), MoSys, OptiTrack (on the Planar booth) and Stype. Other vendors presenting technology in this space include: Arri, Grass Valley, Maxon, Sony (who are releasing a new camera tracking system called Ocellus) and Vizrt. They will all be on the NAB show floor with their latest technology. We will be visiting Aputure, Kino Flow and Quasar Science to catch up on all things image based lighting. 

Ross Video (Booth SL 206) have a habit of keeping their key announcements under wraps until the last minute so time will tell whether we see any last-minute surprises. The world of virtual production and graphics, especially for sports and news has been a strong area of expansion for Ross in recent years. There has been a steady stream of key product releases in graphics visualization with Xpression, sports analysis with PIERO, virtual environment creation with Voyager, multi-screen rendering with Xpression Tessera and live production control with Lucid. They have also been busy on the camera motion side with advances in robotics and motion tracking. All of which integrates elegantly with the rest of the vast Ross ecosystem.

In the area of LED displays, Roe Visual (Booth N 2839), will once again bring innovation and excellence to the show floor. Expect a booth that is a genuine visual feast. Their emphasis at NAB is on their new fixed install products – Coral, Sierra and Denali. 

Denali is ROE Visuals latest groundbreaking LED solution, with an ultra-thin frame, a pixel pitch of 0.78mm, and native 16:9 resolution. It uses innovative Micro LED In Package (MIP) technology. The microscopic chip size results in an impressive 99.67% black area ratio for the Denali LED panels, contributing to an almost black LED surface delivering great contrast. The MIP Technology utilizes mass transfer technology for high production efficiency and exceptional precision. Using an innovative no-substrate micro-LED design eliminates substrate refraction, resulting in a wide light output angle. It is energy-efficient and offers enhanced black levels, higher contrast, and ultra-wide viewing angles.

Brainstorm Multimedia (Booth SL 2716) are one of the innovators of virtual production for live news, sports and entertainment. Their first broadcasts in 1994 were ground breaking and they have continued to develop and innovate ever since. A key highlight of Brainstorm’s presence at NAB 2025 will be the public demonstration of Suite 6.2, the latest version of InfinitySet, Aston, and eStudio. They say this showcase will feature a data-driven, real-time augmented reality (AR) and virtual production weather show, powered by InfinitySet using Unreal Engine 5. With innovative features like multiple scene management, talent tele-transportation, and hyper-realistic, in-context AR graphics, this demonstration will illustrate how InfinitySet seamlessly integrates cutting-edge virtual production techniques. The entire show will be controlled by the presenter with a simple clicker, proving that even complex productions can be interactive and talent friendly. NAB will also be used to highlight their long standing industry collaborations. The exhibit will demonstrate unique integrations with XD Motion’s robotic systems and Accuweather.  

“We’re excited exhibit at NAB and showcase the incredible capabilities our product range offers content creators,” said Ricardo Montesa, CEO and Founder of Brainstorm. “As Virtual Production continues to expand in both broadcast and film, Brainstorm’s decades-long expertise in real-time 3D graphics and immersive presentations ensures our users can create top-tier virtual content with ease.”

Other articles in this NAB 2025 'Show Focus' series:

The Broadcast Bridge will be at the NAB Show – in the West Hall on booth W 3932. Please come and see us and share your thoughts on what we do and what you would like to see from us in the coming year.