| Remote controlled cameras [message #314036] |
Fri, 18 April 2008 20:23  |
 Jeff Plumblee
Messages: 65
Registered: November 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC |
Should Get Out More |
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I've been searching here and can't find anything, and the internet is a big place to try and find reliable information in. I'm trying to gather information on remote controlled camera systems (manufacturers and dealers). Like everybody else I want quality that won't break the bank, but I know that you can't get what you don't pay for. The only system that I've seen that I really like is by Vaddio, but I'm not sure if it's quality or not because I've never seen it in use. The thing that I like the most about it is that it powers and controls the cameras and sends video signal down cat5 cables. But help a poor dumb sound guy out and help me find some real quality cameras and control systems.
Don't you hate it when you go to someone's house for dinner and they've hidden the plunger?
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| Re: Remote controlled cameras [message #314055 is a reply to message #314036 ] |
Fri, 18 April 2008 21:31  |
Brad Weber
Messages: 1315
Registered: December 2005
Location: Marietta, GA |
Has No Life |
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What is the application? Are you looking for a certain video output format? What type of control? Are you looking specifically for an integrated unit or are separate camera, lens and pan/tilt units acceptable? What kind of budget? There is a very wide range of options available, from lower cost security/CCTV packaged units to assemblies with broadcast quality cameras, lenses and pan/tilts, so it would help to know more about what you want.
Even within the Vadddio line, there is a very wide range of products. Just in case you didn't know, most of the Vaddio products are actually built around Sony and Canon cameras.
From what I've seen, the Vaddio products work well. Here's another option for camera video, control and power on CAT5 http://www.soundcontrol.net/.
Brad Weber
muse Audio Video
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| Re: Remote controlled cameras [message #314062 is a reply to message #314055 ] |
Fri, 18 April 2008 21:47 |
Jeff Plumblee
Messages: 65
Registered: November 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC |
Should Get Out More |
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HOW application, video overflow and DVD recording of regular services and special events (weddings, etc.).
Starting in standard definition, ability to upgrade to HD without significant system overhaul.
Pan/tilt/zoom all remote from a control surface.
I'm hoping there is an integrated unit with decent enough picture quality to be projected on a large (100" diagonal I think) screen without looking like some cluged together junk. These units would blend into the room much better than separate pan/tilt and cameras would. I'm afraid though that the only way to get acceptable quality will be with separate units.
I knew that Vaddio used several varieties of Canon and Sony cameras, and given my 'druthers I would start with their add-a-cam system and Canon GL-2 cameras, but I'm not sure I could slide that cost by.
Budget is negotiable, but I'll be going at it with the mindset of the best quality/feature compromise. I don't think they would be shocked with $15,000. Thanks a lot for your help.
Don't you hate it when you go to someone's house for dinner and they've hidden the plunger?
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| Re: Remote controlled cameras [message #314085 is a reply to message #314062 ] |
Fri, 18 April 2008 22:36 |
Brad Weber
Messages: 1315
Registered: December 2005
Location: Marietta, GA |
Has No Life |
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Vaddio offers several integrated HD units and I know a number of people that use the Sony BRC HD cameras with the Sony VISCA controllers with very good success. If you consider a packaged unit make sure to verify the lens and zoom, many of the packaged units are made more for conferencing applications in smaller rooms and you'll probably want to verify that you can get the shots you want.
Brad Weber
muse Audio Video
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| Re: Remote controlled cameras [message #315133 is a reply to message #314085 ] |
Tue, 22 April 2008 12:41 |
Jeff Plumblee
Messages: 65
Registered: November 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC |
Should Get Out More |
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I'm concerned that the integrated units like the BRC won't get a tight enough shot from the distance I'll be working from. It will be about 75 feet from the camera to the subject and I'd like for a person to fill the frame from about waist to head. I know these units can do a great deal of digital zooming but I'd rather avoid that; will the 12X optical zoom be enough to accomplish this, or should I just try to find somewhere to see the cameras being used?
Don't you hate it when you go to someone's house for dinner and they've hidden the plunger?
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| Re: Remote controlled cameras [message #315147 is a reply to message #315133 ] |
Tue, 22 April 2008 13:09 |
Brad Weber
Messages: 1315
Registered: December 2005
Location: Marietta, GA |
Has No Life |
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The best option would certainly be to see one in action but based on the lens information Sony provides and my handy little field of view calculator, it looks like the tightest optical zoom shot with the BRC series cameras would be around a little over 3' high to a little over 4' high at 75', depending upon model (the BRC-Z700 seems to offer the longest zoom). That may work for waist to head but is probably too short a zoom for just a talking head.
Brad Weber
muse Audio Video
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| Re: Remote controlled cameras [message #315165 is a reply to message #315133 ] |
Tue, 22 April 2008 13:48 |
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I would add caution that the ability to pan and tilt smoothly while zoomed at that level is difficult. While it is possible, and I've been able to produce some pretty good results with the BRC cameras, odds are that it will never be as smooth as a low end professional tripod/eng camera combo with a standard 16x.
I don't know your needs and your use case however, so this may not be an issue for you. But with a shot that tight, someone simply shifting their weight from one foot to the other, could be enough to throw the framing off, if not the individual roughly out of the picture depending on how they were framed to start with.
While I haven't used any other options out there, I will say that the BRC with the controller mentioned above is a great combination, with up to 16 stored presets/camera, and I believe that each camera comes with an IR remote as well, which can control up to 3 cameras, and save and recall presets all by itself. Very handy for getting out of the 'booth' and talking with talent and folks on stage and helping them get the shot.
-Mikey P
Michael D. Prasuhn
Freelance audio engineer and technical director/IT
http://mikeyp.net
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| Re: Remote controlled cameras [message #315217 is a reply to message #315165 ] |
Tue, 22 April 2008 17:08 |
Jeff Plumblee
Messages: 65
Registered: November 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC |
Should Get Out More |
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There will be a lot of tight shots in what we'll be doing, so that may come into consideration.
Are my concerns about projecting the image from the camera onto a large screen unfounded?
Don't you hate it when you go to someone's house for dinner and they've hidden the plunger?
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| Re: Remote controlled cameras [message #315349 is a reply to message #315300 ] |
Tue, 22 April 2008 21:51 |
Brad Weber
Messages: 1315
Registered: December 2005
Location: Marietta, GA |
Has No Life |
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Mike,
I think that sharing your experiences regarding latency, pan/tilt operation, etc. could benefit many if it was shared here.
Brad Weber
muse Audio Video
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| Re: Remote controlled cameras [message #315355 is a reply to message #315349 ] |
Tue, 22 April 2008 22:11 |
Jeff Plumblee
Messages: 65
Registered: November 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC |
Should Get Out More |
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Agreed. I'd love to talk with you over the phone, but sharing your experiences here will help a far greater number of people.
Don't you hate it when you go to someone's house for dinner and they've hidden the plunger?
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| Re: Remote controlled cameras [message #320710 is a reply to message #318964 ] |
Wed, 07 May 2008 21:27 |
Jeff Plumblee
Messages: 65
Registered: November 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC |
Should Get Out More |
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Have you used the Vaddio add-a-cam system with separate Canon SD cameras? Does the Vaddio Production View work well as a switcher as well as a controller? (i.e. seamless quality switching and such)
Don't you hate it when you go to someone's house for dinner and they've hidden the plunger?
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