2007Center Post forum
Transmitting HD-SDI video signals through camera crane center posts and connectors
19 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- HD-SDI signals can be sent through a center post but require different cable and connector specifications than standard video
- Shielding quality is critical for HD-SDI transmission, and gaps in shielding at connector points can introduce signal loss and jitter
- Lemo connectors commonly used in crane posts have shielding gaps that work adequately for composite and component video but are not ideal for HD-SDI
- A single well-shielded coax cable designed for HD-SDI performs better than multiple Lemo connectors in series
- HD-SDI transmission through a post may work acceptably for monitoring on displays but may introduce too much signal degradation for pristine recording
- Testing a custom cable configuration with identical connectors, cable lengths, and actual sled components is recommended before making permanent modifications
Depends on
- The discussion involves crane equipment specifications from 2007 and may not reflect current connector technology
- No definitive answer was provided about whether Lemo produced an SDI-capable connector for 1.5 inch center posts
- The acceptability of signal quality depends on intended use (monitoring versus recording) and no objective measurements were provided
- Experience reports mentioned were anecdotal rather than systematically tested