Sony Camera Block Hooks Up to Power, RS-232, and Video Output via HDBaseT Interface

AJA expanded its reach in the camera market with RovoCam, a new block camera aimed at broadcast, industrial, corporate and security customers.

The AJA RovoCam is really a Sony FCB-ER8300 camera block coupled with an AJA-designed HDBaseT interface supporting uncompressed video, audio, power, and RS-232 control over a single Cat 5e/6 cable up to 100 meters in length.

AJA RovoCam rear view

The camera hooks up to the new RovoRx-HDMI, a receiver unit with HDMI 1.4b output in UHD and HD as well as stereo RCA audio out, RS-232 and USB. AJA said RovoCam will also work with certain third-party receivers. The camera also has dedicated power and RS-232 connections for users who want to run those cables separately and supports the VISCA control protocol.

AJA RovoRx-HDMI

"Marrying our HDBaseT interface technology with Sony's compact 4K camera delivers incredibly powerful camera acquisition with very simple single-cable setup and operation," said AJA President Nick Rashby in a prepared statement. "We've partnered closely with Sony for many years, and RovoCam comes as the latest in a long line of collaborations with them."

The camera block features a 1/2.3-type 8.9 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor with an integrated 12x zoom lens in a machined aluminum case.