Camera Corps announces Q advanced compact robotic camera

Camera Corps announces Q3 advanced compact robotic camera 03 Mar 2014

Camera Corps has chosen NAB 2014 as the launch venue for a major advance in robotic camera technology. Developed from the multiple-award-winning Q-Ball, the new Q3 incorporates double the zoom power, a higher specification camera and a greatly expanded feature set. It is compatible with multiple serial data formats including IP plus Camera Corps own audio-based data system.

The original Q-Ball revolutionised the use of robotic cameras in applications such as sports and reality shows, states Camera Corps founder and managing director Laurie Frost. Q3 elevates remote camera control to an entirely new level. It gives producers much greater flexibility plus the freedom to source high-quality live video from an unlimited number of cameras located anywhere in, around or outside a production set. Q3 feeds can be intercut seamlessly with the output from broadcast cameras. Each Q3 head incorporates a high-precision pan/tilt/zoom/focus mechanism in a compact unit which can be mounted at any height, indoors or outdoors, and operated under full remote control from an adjacent desk or half-way round the world. Over a hundred Q3 heads can be operated from a single joystick panel.

Q3 retains the spherical shape which made Q-Ball so easy to conceal when in view of other cameras, adds technical director Jim Daniels. We have replaced the former 10 times zoom optics with a 20 times lens and incorporated a new high sensitivity imager that delivers high quality video with control that matches much higher cost systems. The camera can be upgraded as imaging technology continues to improve, making Q3 inherently future-proof. The motor system has been further refined, enabling remote operators to match the precise acceleration and deceleration of much larger robotic heads when tracking moving performers on-air.

Using an integral 3 gigabits per second slip-ring, Q3 can perform an unlimited number of 360 degree lateral rotations. Pan and tilt speed are adjustable from an ultra-slow 360 degrees in 90 minutes to 90 degrees per second. All pan/tilt/zoom/focus parameters can be stored to internal non-volatile memory for fast recall. Motion control sequences of up to 25 seconds duration can be stored in this way.

Q3 is compatible with all high-definition and intermediate-definition video formats currently in common use, including 1080 or 720 progressive or interlaced at 60, 50, 30, 25 or 24 frames per second. A concurrent PAL/NTSC output is available. Minimum illumination requirement is 0.5 lux (colour mode) or 0.02 lux (monochrome). Camera alignment features include gamma correction, white balance, 16-step edge enhancement and a 2 second to 1/10,000 second shutter. A genlock input with user-adjustable sync timing offset is provided. The camera can be locked to external C sync or tri-level HD sync. An optional optical-interface provides data control, genlock and 3 gigabits per second video over a pair of single-mode fibers.

Q3 retains Q-Balls ease of rigging with just a single cable to the head. Provision is made for easy user control programming. Continuous D1 format virtual-reality data is available for elaborate motion control requirements.

Fully compatible with all existing Camera Corps control systems, the Q3 robotic pan/tilt/zoom/focus head will be deliverable from the commencement of the 2014 NAB Show.

Q3 makes its world-first exhibition appearance on the Vitec Group stand, C6025, at the 2014 NAB Show in Las Vegas, April 7-10. Camera Corps representatives at the show will include Laurie Frost, Jim Daniels, Shaun Glanville, Neil Ashworth and Jeff White.

Camera Corps

A Vitec Group company, Camera Corps specialises in providing high-volume support services for reality television programmes as well as very large-scale sports and stage events worldwide. Based on the site of the former Brooklands motor-racing circuit near London's Heathrow airport, Camera Corps has achieved a pre-eminent reputation for its ability to acquire exciting and unusual television content from exceptionally challenging environments.

The Camera Corps equipment fleet encompasses HotShots, MiniShots and array of remote specialist cameras and lenses, remote underwater systems, cranes, platforms and dollies. Equipment of Camera Corps own design includes the iconic Q-Ball, and Q-Ball Preset, and RF Q-Ball, as well as bespoke builds such as Pop-Up Ice-Cam. Baseball Base Cam, Archery Cam, Underwater Remote Cam, Slalom Pole Cam, Helmet Cam and Body Cam. See www.cameracorps.co.uk.

Vitec Videocom

Vitec Videocom brings together some of the most respected, most innovative and most sought-after brands in the industry: Anton/Bauer, Autoscript, Litepanels, OConnor, Petrol Bags, Sachtler, Vinten and Vinten Radamec. It acts as an endorsing brand for these market-leading broadcast, film and pro video products, encouraging multi-brand system sales and simplifying the way that customers worldwide do business.

Vitec Videocom is an operating division within the Vitec Group, an international business serving customers in the broadcast, photographic and military aerospace and government markets. Vitec is based on strong well-known premium brands which its customers rely on worldwide.

Vitec Videocom - innovative products around the camera. See www.vitecvideocom.com

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