In Broadcast June 2012 - 48

WWW.INBROADCAST.COM | ISSUE 9 - JUNE 2012

InGEAR
Protective Covers Hold All The Aces
Flexibility is the key to excel as part of a camera crew. This applies to the local news team on-call to shoot at a moment’s notice with minimal kit. For the ﬁlm team it means every piece of equipment always at hand. For international news and current affairs teams, cameramen require a lightweight camera, tripod, lights, sound equipment and batteries to board the plane and be well protected from the elements. Indeed, to win the prestigious annual Rory Peck Awards, one clearly needs kit to survive against all odds. The 2011 winners included Mohammed al-Nabbous, the ﬁrst person to broadcast from within Libya during the revolution, Jezza Neumann whose undercover ﬁlm portrayed the harsh reality of life for children living in rubbish dumps and slums in Zimbabwe while Abdallah Omeish recorded the fight for Benghazi under sniper and shell ﬁre. No modern camera crew could operate – either covering a breaking local story or in a warzone – without kit that is protected from the worst of the environment, the perils of mistreatment and the rigours of travel. It is today’s bag and case manufacturer that has to predict and prepare for every harsh condition. And in these days of economic austerity and falling budgets, all products have to be multi-functional, light-weight, low cost, long-lasting and ﬂight-ready. This is not the job for Dolce and Gabbana. This calls for broadcast specialists such as Camrade, Kata, Lowel, Peli, Petrol and Portabrace. While niche developers include: CP Cases, Datavision, EDAK, CF Cases, Plasticase, Oakleigh Cases, Photoflex, HPRC cases, SKB Corporation, Thermodyne Cases and Westcott, to name a few. it’s the production manager that starts to be concerned about returning the kit to the hire company in one piece. Camrade’s new range of camera wetsuits is the answer for the new breed of digital c i n e m a devices from the Canon C300 to the Red Scarlet. Made from noiseless fabric, they claim to be waterproof, ﬂexible and durable. Indeed the material is intended to reduce the noise that rain drops make when falling on the camera. Critically, they are designed to be quick to mount and to offer unrestricted access to the controls, zoom and LCD screen. According to Capitalist theory, this level of detail and focus on real camera operators’ needs can mean only one thing it’s a competitive market that is ﬁghting to win the
Kieron Seth

Kieron Seth explores the industry’s fast moving approach to protective bags and cases

Jungle Downpour
Taking a camera out for a shoot in the thick of the rainforest is a risky feat at the best of times. However, a National Geographic or BBC Natural History commission will ask just that. It’s enough to make a television health and safety ofﬁcer shriek. It’s an environment that’s perilous not just for the crew, but also for the kit. If the camera of choice is, let’s say, a Sony F65 (a complete kit costs around $100,000) or a Panasonic HPX3700,

Portabrace ﬂat screen monitor case with visor

business. Indeed, there is a powerful adversary that is constantly pushing Camrade to develop ever more effective products - Portabrace. The pride that Portabrace has in its manufacturing process is worth noting. It boldly states: “all good Vermont craftspeople know that crafting quality products also requires hard work, commitment, all characteristics that share a common Vermont heritage of converting local raw materials into long-lasting products.” This ethos feeds into a global reputation to be envied. Products such as its Sony CineStyle Rain Slickers stand out with its modular approach to camera covers. Owners of a Sony NEX FS100 who switch to a long telephoto lens, or attach a large electronic viewﬁnder will ﬁnd optional cover units from Portabrace ensuring adequate protection whatever conﬁguration is in play at any time.

Transport At 33,000 Feet
According to the American Air Travel Consumer Report of February 2012, over a 12 month period there were 1,907,769 mishandled baggage items on American air carriers alone. This is an alarming statistic for anyone who relies on being safely reunited with their kit bags at the reclaim carousel. There is little that anyone can do to prevent their baggage being lost, stolen or
Camrade raincover for Panasonic AG-AF101 CONTINUED ON PAGE 50

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In Broadcast June 2012

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