Supporting the 4K Revolution in Sports Broadcasting

Supporting the 4K Revolution in Sports Broadcasting posted: 31/01/2017

Vinten Explains How Camera Support is Critical to 4K and UHD Adoption in Sports Production

For years, sports video production professionals have been in the unique position of being able to forecast upcoming broadcast trends. From the transition of standard definition to high definition to 4K, sports video production has influenced the purchasing decisions of millions of home viewers with each Super Bowl, Olympics, and UEFA European Championship. Now Vinten, a leading provider of manual and robotic camera support systems and a Vitec Group brand, is proud to announce the release of their new whitepaper Supporting the 4K Revolution in Sports Broadcasting. With more global sports networks switching to 4K resolution, this whitepaper - written by the Vinten Product Manager Philip Dalgoutte - examines the importance of camera supports in 4K and UHD adoption for sports video production.

4K and UHD sports production offer both exciting potential and unusual challenges for networks. While special attention has been given to ensure that camera sensors and lenses are 4K ready, these investments only cater to static images. It is equally important to consider the camera supports and their ability to deliver high quality moving images in a sports environment, writes Dalgoutte.

With a long-standing reputation as the market leader for sports-specific camera supports, Vinten has helped camera operators get 4K ready through its unique pantographic perfect balance system. Since it doesn't use springs or cams, this design minimizes the inertia of the moving camera and lens, allowing consistent movement and easy positioning at any angle. Moreover, its TF drag system also delivers complete control at any level of movement, infinite adjustment without steps, instant whip pan without manual drag reduction, and a fast setup. These Vinten-specific features enable the camera operator to capture the perfect shot with minimal effort and eliminates physical strain while working long hours.

Director of Photography Tom Guilmette has worked on nearly 1,000 Boston Red Sox games, the Super Bowl, and the Olympics, along with other major sporting events for FOX and CBS. Operating the latest HD and UHD camera technology from camera manufacturers such as Ikegami, Thompson, and Sony, Guilmette chooses the Vinten Vector Series with its unique pantographic design when covering sports.

What's really unique about the Vector line is its physical design. The head can breathe or expand through the pantographic design and that allows it to rise and lower as you tilt up and down. When it expands like that, it moves the center of gravity of that huge camera and keeps it in line. So as you tilt down, the center of gravity raises up with it, giving you even more control of the camera. A tilt-over-center head that's on a hinge or standard tripod really doesnt have that same type of control, so its important to have Vinten's unique pantographic design when using a large camera and lens systems, said Guilmette.

To read the complete whitepaper on the significance of camera supports in 4K and UHD adoption, click here.

About Vinten

Vinten , a Vitec Group brand, is a leading provider of manual and robotic camera support systems offering engineering excellence and globally supported solutions for a wide range of technologies and markets. Founded over 100 years ago by William Vinten, the Vinten brand is still based on its founders guiding principles of highly innovative design and extreme precision in manufacturing. Offering a best-in-class range of products that includes manual supports, robotic heads, pedestals and controllers, Vinten is the premium solution for studio and outside broadcast. With over 80 registered patents, Vinten frees the camera operator's creativity by making camera operation effortless.

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