Broadcast camera fiber comes wrapped in standards numbers — SMPTE 311, SMPTE 304, opticalCON — that get used interchangeably and incorrectly all the time. Here's what each one actually is, how they fit together at the patch panel, and when a plain fiber connector does the job instead.
The 30-second version
- SMPTE 311M is the cable: the hybrid camera cable carrying two singlemode fibers plus copper conductors for power and control — everything a system camera needs down one jacket.
- SMPTE 304M is the connector: the hybrid electrical/fiber-optic connector (the familiar LEMO-style "SMPTE connector") on the ends of that cable, at the camera, the CCU, and every wall plate and panel in between.
- opticalCON is Neutrik's ruggedized fiber-only connector system (DUO carries two fibers on an LC core) — not a SMPTE hybrid replacement, but the right choice where the camera or device gets power locally and only light needs to travel.
Why hybrid? Power is the whole point
A studio or OB system camera needs bidirectional video, control, and operating power. SMPTE 311M cable with 304M connectors delivers all of it through one connection — which is why it's the standard for camera chains in studios, stadiums, and trucks. The trade-off is that hybrid infrastructure needs hybrid-aware hardware everywhere the cable lands: connector panels, wall boxes, and breakout points that respect both the optical and electrical halves.
Where the panel comes in
Between a camera position and the CCU, hybrid runs land on patch panels and wall plates. You have three ways to build that interface:
- Hybrid feedthrough — SMPTE 304M connectors on both faces; the hybrid signal passes straight through. Simple, and keeps power and fiber together.
- Break-out — split the hybrid into its parts: fiber continues to optical patching while the electrical half breaks out separately. AVP's SMPTE 304M hybrid break-out modules do exactly this, with LEMO connectors on the hybrid side and an electrical mating cable on the copper side.
- A hybrid panel system — AVP's HybridXE line puts LEMO (SMPTE 304M-2003) and opticalCON connectors on precision-machined modules in 6- and 8-position 2RU panels, so camera-chain and fiber-only circuits share one engineered panel standard.
SMPTE hybrid vs opticalCON: how to choose
| Situation | Use |
|---|---|
| System camera needing power through the cable (studio, OB, stadium) | SMPTE 311M cable + 304M connectors |
| Camera/device powered locally; only signal travels (PTZ, converters, stage boxes) | opticalCON DUO or LC — see opticalCON panels |
| Fixed building wiring between racks/rooms | Singlemode LC trunks — fiber adapters & panels, including LC keystone panels |
| Mixed plant with both camera chains and fiber-only circuits | HybridXE panels carrying LEMO + opticalCON side by side |
Two practical notes. First, hybrid and fiber-only worlds meet more than you'd think — a break-out module lets a hybrid camera run join your ordinary LC patching once the power half is dealt with. Second, everything here is singlemode: keep your building trunks singlemode and the camera world plugs in cleanly.
Common questions
What does the SMPTE connector look like? A circular push-pull hybrid connector (LEMO-style) with two fiber channels and electrical contacts in one shell — chassis versions mount in panels and wall boxes.
Can I patch SMPTE hybrid like regular video? Not through ordinary fiber adapters — the power half needs hybrid-rated hardware. That's what feedthrough and break-out panels are for.
Is opticalCON compatible with LC? Yes — opticalCON is built around an LC core; the chassis connectors accept standard LC behind the panel, which is why it pairs naturally with LC building wiring.
AVP MFG & Supply builds SMPTE 304M break-out modules, HybridXE panels, opticalCON and LC fiber panels in-house and sells factory-direct. Planning a camera-fiber build? Send us the drawing — we'll spec the panels. Related guides: What is a WECO connector? · 3G vs 12G-SDI patch panels