New slomo PoV with Polecam + Pico

High-speed cameras are small enough now to be usable on a hand-holdable jib arm, such as the lightweight Polecam, for use in places and ways they couldn’t have been previously.

The LMC Antelope Pico Point-of-View camera is particularly suitable for live sports production, and has been used for the German Bundesliga and Winter sports – a Pico was used on a white Polecam (to disappear into the background) at the start gates at the Alpine Skiing World Championship in Schladming. Polecam’s Founder, Steffan Hewitt (pictured above at BVE), also recently used the Pico in China, to cover the Rory McIlroy/Tiger Woods Duel at the Jinsha Lake Golf Club in Hengzhou.

“We had a full-size Polecam, with the Pico, and a Telecast Fiber PoV system – because the distance between the holes and the truck was kilometres, so we had to use fibre,” he explained.

The camera was primarily used above the players as they tee’d off, for slow-motion shots showing how their swings differed, for replay analysis. Because the system was so light, Hewitt, who was on his own, was able to just jump in a golf buggy between holes.

The Pico, which can deliver up to 340 frames per second from its 2/3-inch sensor, “worked great. It looked really good,” said Hewitt. “It’s the only really small high-speed camera that I know of.”

As it was on the Polecam, he could drop it right to the level of the green, where it was possible to see all the undulations that aren’t evident at normal camera height.

The current version of the Pico works with a pair of cables, but the next one will just require a single coax cable between the camera head and the CCU. “This will allow us to have much greater distances between the two, and use a longer Polecam,” he explained.

It will also be able to do live broadcast HD as well as slo-mo at the same time, so you can continue shooting HD while the high-speed shots are being cached for replay (which the current version can’t do), making it a much more practical proposition. “The new Pico will genuinely be live friendly.”

Given these developments, which should emerge at NAB in April, “I’m really excited about doing the high-speed stuff,” he added.

The slightly larger Phantom Miro slo-mo camera, from Vision Research, can also work on the Polecam (Vision Research were showing just such a package at BVE - pictured above), but it can’t be used as a direct feed for live production, although it does go up to 1,500fps.

Using the Polecam, operators can position the camera in places it wouldn’t normally be easy to go, such as over water, into a bird’s nest or in dangerous areas, to get close to the action.

One Polecam, being used with a Pico to cover a Bundesliga match, got closer to the action than it should have. During the warm up, the operator was rehearsing a shot above the goal, when one of the players used it for target practice, hitting it straight at the camera in beautiful slow motion.

“It completely bent the head in half. It cost £2,500 to completely rebuild the head, mainly with new parts,” said Hewitt.

By David Fox

IBC Polecam Competition

Steffan Hewitt of Polecam

If you fancy owning the new Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera and a Polecam Starter Pack - you should head to the Polecam stand C49 in hall 10 at IBC. 

Polecam have a simple competition to win more than €10,000-worth of equipment oh, and a Pelicase to hold it all in.

“We want them to be able to put it on a tripod, add their batteries and be ready to go,” said Polecam CEO, Steffan Hewitt. “It could be the start of somebody’s career.”

The guys at Polecam are always very welcoming and if you go with a bunch of business cards you can have five entries in the competition. If you can't make it to IBC then online visitors get one entry. There are also 101 runners up prizes of bottle openers - which double up as a Tripod Screw adjuster.

Good luck.

IndieGS2K global shutter camera

The new Indiecam indieGS2K is the first miniature CMOS camera with a global shutter, which will mean no rolling shutter issues (like skew and wobble) when you pan the camera quickly or shoot fast-moving subjects.

It is a 2K camera (2048 x 1080 pixels), with a 3G HD-SDI output, and its small size makes it ideal for use in 3D rigs. It can also be used with a 12-bit RAW workflow (using Adobe's Cinema DNG format). In its RAW 10-bit mode it can output 1080p at up to 120 frames per second (in 12-bit RAW and 10-bit 4:2:2 YUV it can do up to 50/60p).

“At last we have a single piece 2/3-inch minicam that can meet the requirements of not just the OB/live production people but also the film production people,” said Steffan Hewitt, Managing Director, Polecam (one of Indiecam’s distributors).

The global shutter means that “CMOS cameras can be fully integrated into high speed sports productions, where rolling shutter has always been a bottleneck in the past,” he added.

“We had it on our stand at NAB and we were very impressed with the picture quality out of the box.”

Its power consumption is just 4W (7-24v DC), it measures 39.8 x 39.8 x 100mm (about 1.5 inches x 1.5 inches by 4 inches) without a lens, and weighs about 170g (six ounces). It has a 2/3-inch sensor and takes C-mount lenses as standard, but can also be fitted with a PL-mount option.

The Polecam Remote Control Panel will soon work with the GS2K and there will also be a small handheld controller for individual camera control and set up.

Four GS2Ks have been used on the set of Rush, directed by Ron Howard and shot by DoP Anthony Dod Mantle. German post-house Cinepost is working on the movie and is using Colorfront's On-Set Dailies system, which supports Indiecam’s InstantRaw workflow, alongside other RAW formats. The new Convergent Design Gemini RAW recorder also supports the InstantRaw format. The cameras were also used to shot a high proportion of Danny Boyle‘s latest movie Trance.

Hewitt has found the small team at Indiecam very ready to respond to feedback. The Austrians had initially been focused just on the camera’s use for movies, and hadn’t given it interlaced output, but when Polecam pointed out how important it would be for broadcast work Indiecam added it very quickly.

For 3D work, the indieGS2K offers an interocular of as little as 40mm, making it one of the most compact 3D-set ups available as a side-by-side rig. The Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute is using the indieGS2K for its hybrid stereoscopic technology in cooperation with imcube labs, while the new P+S Technik PS-Micro Rig for 3D is also designed to operate with the GS2K.

Indiecam has also introduced a new indieFocus Control, which is 100% compatible with the C-motion system.

Related post: Indie shows 3D in the RAW

By David Fox

Polecam Struts its stuff - adds stability

Long term commitment: Hewitt demonstrates the new long-body head with a Panasonic AF101

Polecam has introduced several new accessories for its lightweight jib arms. Although its carbon fibre poles are reasonably stiff, when they reach their maximum length (up to 8m) some users might need extra stability, especially with the older poles that don’t benefit from the latest advances in carbon fibre.

In response, there is the new Polecam Wire Strut System (about £500) “to stabilise it further, for operators who want to throw it around, especially at concerts,” said Polecam founder, Steffan Hewitt. It will reduce vibration during any rapid movement, such as when mounted on a moving vehicle or in challenging weather conditions.

He also reported lots of interest in Polecam’s recently introduced wide DSLR head, and has now developed a long-body head, so that the jib can take a wider range of cameras. “It has a slip ring for power and composite video, and you can put HDMI through it for monitoring,” he explained.

Polecam has also developed a new stabilised cup holder (pictured above), with a gap in the side for a proper cup handle – “Only £6,000 with a free Polecam,” joked Hewitt.

By David Fox

Polecam GoalCam + StadiumCam

Polecam has announced a three-camera package for sports to cover action in either goalmouth and give a wide view of the stadium.

The new GoalCam and StadiumCam are designed for efficient outside broadcast coverage of stadium sports such as rugby, soccer and hockey. The lightweight systems are claimed to be easier to install and dismantle than traditional heavyweight kit.

The package consists of two GoalCams and one StadiumCam. Each camera uses a 1/3-inch CMOS HD-SDI imager allowing the use of ultra-wide-angle lenses with high corner resolution. Both GoalCams are fitted with 125º low-distortion lenses giving images of the entire goalmouth without the barrel distortion commonly experienced at such wide angles.

The StadiumCam is equipped with a 170º fisheye lens and, like the GoalCams, can deliver 1080i line resolution at 50/59.94Hz. An optional downconverter is available to provide SD-SDI output where required.

All three cameras plus two auxiliary cameras can be controlled from a single Polecam RCP remote control panel. The GoalCams and StadiumCam have individual data receivers allowing full control of camera functions, including motorised iris adjustment. The data signal can be sent along standard audio cable, over optical fibre or via a radio microphone link. Control data can also be embedded into, or extracted from, an HD-SDI stream.

Each GoalCam is supplied with a fully adjustable bracket and a weather housing, available in white or carbon fibre effect. The bracket allows the camera to be positioned in the corner of a goal and will re-stabilise quickly if the net is struck by a ball. Suspended from a single point, the mount is also designed to prevent injury by flexing if a player collides with it. The 125º lens allows the entire goalmouth to be seen even when the output video is cropped from 16:9 to 4:3. This gives commentators the ability to report accurately that a ball has indeed crossed the line.

Weighing less than 500g, StadiumCam can be positioned overhead, at a halfway line or at a corner of the pitch. With five megapixels equivalent optical resolution, its 170º lens allows the entire crowd and stadium to be encompassed in a single view. The size and weight of this system should make it easier to pass health and safety requirements than traditional cameras.

Polecam's three-camera system will be introduced at BVE 2011 in London, 15-17 February (stand B10).

By David Fox

Best in show: Acquisition

The combined editorial teams of TVB Europe magazine and the IBC Daily highlight the best new products on show at IBC every year, in every hall and every category.

These are all written up (by me) for the October issue (downloadable in full as PDFs or readable online by clicking on the top right of the TVB home page).

You can also view the full list of winners for acquisition products, with more information on each product, but here is that list in brief.

Best new cameras - 2D:

Canon – XF300/XF305 - the most affordable cameras on the BBC's list of approved cameras for HD production.

Hego – OB1 - A camera system that captures six viewpoints simultaneously from one position.

Imec – iVC - The imec Virtual Camera takes live feeds from at least two cameras at once to create a new viewing angle or even create 3D video.

Panasonic – AF100/AF101 - the first professional camcorder using a DSLR-sized sensor (pictured top).

Panasonic – HPX3100 wireless camera control system

Best new cameras - 3D:

3D One - integrated 3D camera with binocular viewfinders.

Arri – Alexa Plus and its new 3D upgrade

Canon – XF105 - although this is a 2D camera, the way it uses its Optical Image Stabilisation system in 3D mode makes it innovative.

Frontniche – VC-3100 HD - An Ortho-Stereoscopic camera that removes the need for a convergence operator.

IndieCam – 3D camera system - uses tiny 1080p 50/60 cameras that can output 10-bit RAW (Adobe Cinema DNG) video (pictured above).

Best new lenses:

Fujinon – 3D lenses - Five zoom lenses that should make 3D lens set up and synchronisation easier because they are matched pair with a new control system.

Polecam – HRO 69 - ultra-compact 3.5mm lens is designed for miniature 3CCD HD cameras (pictured right).

By David Fox

Polecam enters compact lens market

The lightweight jib maker, Polecam, has announced the first in a range of ultra-compact lenses designed for use with miniature 3CCD HD cameras. The new HRO 69 (High Resolution Optics) is a 3.5 mm lens compatible with prism cameras such as the Toshiba IK-HD1, Iconix RH1, Panasonic GP-US932, and Ikegami MKC300.

It is available at an introductory price of £2,000, compared to about £8,000 for similar existing lenses.

"Miniature split head cameras have become standard tools for HD video production in recent years, but traditional lens manufacturers have not responded to demand for matching high-quality optics. The Polecam HRO 69 is a C-mount lens designed specifically for 1/3-inch 3CCD HD cameras. It produces far higher resolution images than any comparable model and represents a tremendous advance both for Polecam operators and other programme makers wanting to benefit fully from the compactness of modern HD cameras and recorders," said Polecam founder and Managing Director Steffan Hewitt.

Such cameras are typically used with a Fujinon 4mm lens, an SD lens that was over specified, so still works in HD. "We've gone slightly wider, reduced the distortion and increased the quality," said Hewitt.

"Polecam has invested a significant amount of money and time in developing this new and unique lens [which is being built by a lens manufacturer to its specifications]. This is the first in a range of 3CCD HD lenses which goes a significant way to filling a requirement that the HD broadcast and film markets have been requesting," added its Camera Systems Sales Manager, Nigel Paine.

Hewitt is looking at possibly two narrower lenses (probably a 32º lens initially) suitable for 3D work, and probably one wider one. "If the prime lenses work well, we will look at doing a zoom lens." It will also make an adapter for single chip CMOS cameras.

The HRO 69 offers a 69º horizontal angle of view, F2.2 to F16 aperture range, back focus, and a special bump cover to protect the lens front. It has stainless steel locking screws for aperture and focus adjustment. It weighs just 159g, is 50mm long, with a diameter of 37mm (there is also a 40.5mm filter thread adapter option).

By David Fox

Panasonic unveils HD 3D camcorder

Panasonic has announced what it claims is the world’s first professional, fully integrated Full HD 3D camcorder. The Wall-E look-alike should start shipping late 2010, and Panasonic will start taking orders at NAB, when more details will be announced. It showed engineering samples of the solid-state camcorder at CES in Las Vegas, last week, and estimates that it will cost about $21,000.

The new camcorder should be simpler to use than existing twin-camera set ups, as its two lenses, camera head and dual memory card recorder are integrated into a single body. The camcorder also has stereoscopic adjustment controls. The twin-lens system allows the convergence point to be adjusted (according to the closeness of the objects being viewed), and there are also functions for automatically correcting horizontal and vertical displacement. Most current 3D camera systems require these adjustments to be made via a PC or an external video processor. The Panasonic camcorder will automatically recalibrate itself, making it easier to react quickly to changing requirements.

The camcorder is also a lot lighter and smaller than most current 3D rigs (although systems from Lux Media Plan [pictured right] and Polecam are smaller still, as both use two tiny cameras). However, the Panasonic model should be ideal for handheld use. Its simpler set up should make it particularly suitable for sports or documentary production.

Most conventional rigs require time-consuming adjustments whenever they are moved or knocked, but as this is a combined unit, the two cameras shouldn't go out of alignment. However, this may mean that it isn't as flexible in getting the perfect alignment for objects at certain distances.

All side-by-side 3D systems have an advantage over larger mirror rigs (where the cameras are too big to sit beside each other) as they don't lose any light coming through the mirror.

The Panasonic's left and right HD video streams will be processed separately and recorded as files on SDHC Memory Cards, with all the benefits that brings (less risk of being affected by dust or adverse weather, or knocks – compared to tape or disk), and reasonable costs compared to other solid-state media.

When Panasonic first showed a rather more curvaceous mock-up of this camera at NAB 2009 (right), it was to have recorded to P2 cards. That mock-up also had the AVC Ultra logo, but Panasonic hasn't stated what format the new camcorder will use. The fastest SDHC cards can record more than 100Mbps, but this could just as easily be an AVCHD device (at 24Mbps) – although AVC-I 4:2:2 would seem to be the minimum for professional 3D production and post.

Power consumption should be less than 19W, and it will weigh less than 3kg.

Panasonic is also developing a 3D Full HD LCD monitor for use on location and a professional HD digital AV mixer for live event production.

Like most of the big manufacturers, Panasonic sees considerable opportunities in moving to 3D, especially for its home theatre systems. It showed several 3D Plasma TV sets at the exhibition, 3D-enabled Blu-ray disc players, and 3D glasses, which will be available this Spring. It set up an Advanced Authoring Center (within the Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory) last February, where 3D movies are authored for 3D Blu-ray.

[UPDATE - Related post: Panasonic 3D camcorder gets AVCHD ]

By David Fox