In Broadcast - July 2016 - 50


50

www.inbroadcast.com | Vol: 6 - Issue 7 | July 2016

InStudio

Smooth Operators
Chapman Leonard has been making
grip kit for four decades and has
pumped its know-how into the Hybrid
4, a self-proclaimed "Swiss army knife
of camera grip equipment". Adaptable
for studio or location work and on
any gauge of camera track, the unit is
compatible with small crane arms and
has the flexibility to work like a small
dolly or scale up as a large mobile
camera platform. It can be hired from
Chapman UK.
Vinten has collaborated with
Tecnopoint to create Hexagon, a
robotic dolly system on tracks which
incorporates the Vinten Control
System. With no cables outside of the
track and a height of just 30mm from
the ground, the unit is designed for
news studios and OBs. "The low profile
of the Hexagon is less obtrusive than
any other competitive solutions and
also minimises the risk of tripping,"
states Vinten. "It has four traction
wheels with dual synchronised motors
for high traction operation with
virtually no slipping."
Configurations include straight or
curved track shape, up to two dollies
on one track with collision avoidance
as well as the option for either highspeed/low payload or low-speed/high
payload options. The track position can
be very accurately measured and sent
to a graphics engine so that the system
can be used in an AR/VR environment.
The TG4M Track System
is the latest addition to
Telemetrics'
TeleGlide
Camera line. The TG4M uses
a streamlined trolley (capacity
of 200lbs.) and track to minimise
footprint "and deliver reliable,
stable operation with almost no
maintenance". A continual auto tracktrolley alignment is claimed to be
unique in the industry. Tracks can be
mounted on either the floor or ceiling
and configured in straight, C, S or
L-shaped designs. It is servo controlled
for accurate preset positioning and
repeatable motion, and is compatible
with all Telemetrics' pan/tilt heads,
extendable camera mounts, and
control systems. Custom track lengths
and cable management systems are
available. The system is VR and AR
ready; no updates or retrofits are
required, just the addition of the
virtual interface box.
Kessler's new Shuttle Dolly weighs
34 lbs (has a carrying capacity of
125lbs). Polly Systems' Polly Slider
is one of the lightest sliders on the

cont'd...

market, weighing 3.3lbs. It uses
patented
high-inertia
flywheel
stabilisation for stable panning.
Motorized Precision's KIRA is a
robotic camera rig capable of carrying
up to 40lbs. The rig has a maximum
height of 9 feet and can extend to
5.63 feet. Libec's new modular sliders
come in 47", 33" and 15.5" lengths
allowing users to mix and match
pieces to get the length required.
Panther's Camera Base is a new
mobile low shot camera system aimed
at sports broadcasting. The mount
is able to turn around 360-degrees
with the camera, has levelling feet -
for adaptation to uneven terrain and
features adjustable fluid drag and
friction.
Before we leave dollies, it's worth
noting Matthews Studio Equipment's
(MSE) Kerri Kart. This is for camera
technicians to mount all manner of
accessories and get them from A-B
around a studio as quickly as possible.
"You can mount anything on it," says
co-designer Michael Gorczynski. "I had
six cameras and two fully built gimbal
systems with wireless monitors and
focus systems attached to it on the set
of America's Got Talent - and still had
space on which to work."

Infinity Arm provides
adaptable short reach solution

Cranes
The Infinity Arm, built by MSE out
of tool steel and aircraft aluminium,
is designed to mount gear ranging in
weight from a tiny GoPro rig to a more
robust cinema camera. The articulated
arms pivot on a 60-section rosette,
and the ends connect to a variety
of tips for quick interchange and
interoperability. Originally designed
by Director Sage Seb, MSE funded
commercial development of the arm
through Kickstarter.
The latest addition to Technocrane's
fleet is the Supertechno 75 featuring
a motorised platform and column.
It offers a 23 metre lens height and
a five beam design for "unmatched
precision".
Chinese brand Came-TV has
devised a cost-effective extendable
jib. It's designed to have a gimbal
attached to the top and will hold up

Fast tote MSE Kerri Kart

to 33lbs./15kg at an extension of 15ft
(4.7m.) Several reviews have pointed
out that normally with a jib, you'd
place a weight at the controlling end
to prevent the camera from tipping
over. In this case, while the crane is
extended, there's a risk of camera and
gimbal tipping over.
Focus & Trackers
High-speed cameras can create
amazing shots in commercials and
films shooting frame rates in excess of
1000 fps. In order to make these shots
even more exciting, directors have
been asking how the camera can move
fast as well as shoot fast. Mr Moco
came up with the Bolt 'cinebot'. It can
move from standstill to high-speed
motion and back again in "fractions
of a second", allowing a camera to
follow falling objects and capture
images "that would be impossible
by any other method". It can be
programmed with the firm's
Flair motion control software.
Chrosziel's
MagNum
wireless lens control system
features dual-band frequency
selection for coverage in places
with a crowded spectrum. To help
select the clearest channel, the hand
unit features a spectrum analyser
that gives the operator a visual
representation of what channels are
safest to use in the area. Accessories
include gooseneck lights and belt
holster attachments, and a new Zoom

Rocker to incorporate mechanical
stepless zooming.
Mo-Sys' StarTracker uses a single
optical sensor per camera, and retroreflective stickers - or 'stars' - on the
studio ceiling. There is now a version
for hand-held camera positions,
pedestals, jibs and cranes, addressing
the demand for all-in-one systems
that enable virtual sets, augmented
3D graphics and pre-visualisation.
Mo-Sys says StarTracker does not
interfere with the set or lighting
in studios. The camera can do 360
degree pans, and move anywhere as
long as enough stars remain in sight
of the tracking camera.
For outside broadcasts, StarTracker
offers an ad-hoc solution for
Steadicams with a net fixed with
ready-mounted stars or a star carpet
that can be rolled out on location.
Not everyone has access to larger
crews and the ability of someone to
pull focus for them. Step forward
Redrock Micro which has a number of
systems targeting the single shooter
or small crew. Having debuted the
LIDAR-based Halo follow focus
tracking system last year, the firm
has reworked the concept into a
more compact system. Halo Solo can
be used in conjunction with Atlas
motors which are light (6 ounces),
self-contained units needing no base
station or head. In addition to radio
it has Wi-Fi and comes with a free iOS
app, giving budget shooters the option
to remotely control focus off a smart
device without having to purchase a
wireless follow focus controller. "It's
an inexpensive way to control motors,"
says the firm's Brian Valente. "There
are limitations to Wi-Fi but it gives
another option."
Redrock Micro's new Navigator
Command
Module
7-in-1
grip
expands on its popular finger wheel
controller with presets, for control
of PTZ gimbals from DJI and Freefly.
The Navigator also permits control
of Orbit, a motorised device which
automatically moves a monitor or
gimbal up and down so it is always
facing the operator.

Chrosziel MagNum system wireless
focus and zoom control
http://www.inbroadcast.com http://www.kerrikart.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdzWBk6y1bs
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of In Broadcast - July 2016
