Camera information at DVinfo.net

R.J. Wortmann · February 18th, 2015, 04:55 AM

Hello,

I'm looking for information about camera's.
What i'm looking for is the following:
PT(Z) camera. Or a camera that has some kind of PT(Z) controller added to it.
Does a PTZ controller exist?

I'm going to use this camera to attach to a telescopic mast.
I will use it to video sport matches and would like to capture the video stream via WIFI (so the camera should have wifi)
Furthermore there has to be some kind of mobile power source since we will move venue a lot.

Not sure if im in the right forum but any help is appreciated.

R Wortmann

Bruce Dempsey · February 18th, 2015, 06:37 PM

Oh dear you have cut a thick slice of challenges for yourself there but you are on the right track. as elevation makes a big difference in seeing the plays develop and overviewing a good part of the field from a height. You will need to mount a camera at the top of your pole and I think bescor make motorized video head Bescor MP-101 Motorized Pan & Tilt Head MP101 B&H Photo
Any camcorder will do the trick really but you will need a long lanc to control the zoom
then you will need to view what the camera is seeing probably from the same HDMI out from the camera that will carry the signal to your streaming device. (forget wifi) you need to get plugged into the ethernet with a cable

Edward Carlson · February 18th, 2015, 09:24 PM

A big question that we all have is: What is your budget? We can suggest a package that costs around $500, or one that costs around $500,000.

Does the telescopic mast have to telescope during your shot, or are you just mounting the camera on top of a stationary mast? This is the difference between a few hundred and a few thousand dollars. Do you already have a mast in the venue, or do you own a mast of some sort? Does it need to be portable?

Why does the camera need to have WiFi? That's probably the least reliable type of video transmission out there, and is way more expensive than a cable (at least if it is of any quality.) How are you going to be capturing the footage? Are you doing it locally in the camera, or on a recorder or computer of some type external from the camera? How long does your zoom need to be? Do you want full body shots from the opposite end of a football field, or will a medium wide shot suffice?

How smooth does the PTZ need to be? The Bescor head is...ok for the price. It doesn't have variable speed during your moves. The direction controls are just buttons, so you only have one speed. Compare that to professional remote heads which have joysticks that allow you to ramp up your speed by pushing the joystick farther. There are also controllers that use a dummy tripod head with pan handles, and ones that use cranks (like geared cine heads.) This, again, is the difference between a hundred dollars and a few thousand.

A portable power source is dependent on the head and camera, but many types of batteries exist, so that is trivial once we know how much power you're drawing. Also, do most sports arenas not have power available? All the venues I've been in have had plenty of power hook-ups.

R.J. Wortmann · February 24th, 2015, 05:21 PM

Hello me again.

I have a telescopic mast in mind which can mount any camera (also CCTV cams) to the top. The mast will be put in position and left there during the videoing.

I will need to be able to zoom and tilt the camera for better picture quality.

In order to be able to move and tilt i need to have some to operate the camera hopefully from a laptop or tablet pc.

I need to capture video on either laptop or memory card.

An extra would be to be able to watch the video live from the sideline since you get a view from the top.

I thought WIFI would be easiest but if thats not possible a cat5 cable will do the trick as well.

Edward Carlson · February 24th, 2015, 05:41 PM

I don't know of any remote heads that use a computer interface like you're describing. Most IP cameras, like the ones from Sony and Aixs, can be controlled that way, but the resolution of the pan and tilt motions is far too low to make smooth moves. They are security cameras primarily.

Sony does have some PTZ cameras that are designed for broadcast. They can be controlled over Ethernet, but they are mighty expensive, and have no internal recording function. Again, we need to know your budget.

If WiFi is only going to be used for monitoring, and not for recording, then the Teradek Bolt is a good option.

Bruce Dempsey · February 24th, 2015, 05:42 PM

As a matter of interest have you any experience in the video field?

February 18th, 2015, 04:55 AM	#1
R.J. Wortmann Tourist Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Ohio Posts: 2	Camera information Hello, I'm looking for information about camera's. What i'm looking for is the following: PT(Z) camera. Or a camera that has some kind of PT(Z) controller added to it. Does a PTZ controller exist? I'm going to use this camera to attach to a telescopic mast. I will use it to video sport matches and would like to capture the video stream via WIFI (so the camera should have wifi) Furthermore there has to be some kind of mobile power source since we will move venue a lot. Not sure if im in the right forum but any help is appreciated. R Wortmann

February 18th, 2015, 06:37 PM	#2
Bruce Dempsey Major Player Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Atlantic Coast Canada Posts: 599	Re: Camera information Oh dear you have cut a thick slice of challenges for yourself there but you are on the right track. as elevation makes a big difference in seeing the plays develop and overviewing a good part of the field from a height. You will need to mount a camera at the top of your pole and I think bescor make motorized video head Bescor MP-101 Motorized Pan & Tilt Head MP101 B&H Photo Any camcorder will do the trick really but you will need a long lanc to control the zoom then you will need to view what the camera is seeing probably from the same HDMI out from the camera that will carry the signal to your streaming device. (forget wifi) you need to get plugged into the ethernet with a cable

February 18th, 2015, 09:24 PM	#3
Edward Carlson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: North Hollywood, CA, United States Posts: 807	Re: Camera information A big question that we all have is: What is your budget? We can suggest a package that costs around $500, or one that costs around $500,000. Does the telescopic mast have to telescope during your shot, or are you just mounting the camera on top of a stationary mast? This is the difference between a few hundred and a few thousand dollars. Do you already have a mast in the venue, or do you own a mast of some sort? Does it need to be portable? Why does the camera need to have WiFi? That's probably the least reliable type of video transmission out there, and is way more expensive than a cable (at least if it is of any quality.) How are you going to be capturing the footage? Are you doing it locally in the camera, or on a recorder or computer of some type external from the camera? How long does your zoom need to be? Do you want full body shots from the opposite end of a football field, or will a medium wide shot suffice? How smooth does the PTZ need to be? The Bescor head is...ok for the price. It doesn't have variable speed during your moves. The direction controls are just buttons, so you only have one speed. Compare that to professional remote heads which have joysticks that allow you to ramp up your speed by pushing the joystick farther. There are also controllers that use a dummy tripod head with pan handles, and ones that use cranks (like geared cine heads.) This, again, is the difference between a hundred dollars and a few thousand. A portable power source is dependent on the head and camera, but many types of batteries exist, so that is trivial once we know how much power you're drawing. Also, do most sports arenas not have power available? All the venues I've been in have had plenty of power hook-ups.

February 24th, 2015, 05:21 PM	#4
R.J. Wortmann Tourist Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Ohio Posts: 2	Re: Camera information Hello me again. I have a telescopic mast in mind which can mount any camera (also CCTV cams) to the top. The mast will be put in position and left there during the videoing. I will need to be able to zoom and tilt the camera for better picture quality. In order to be able to move and tilt i need to have some to operate the camera hopefully from a laptop or tablet pc. I need to capture video on either laptop or memory card. An extra would be to be able to watch the video live from the sideline since you get a view from the top. I thought WIFI would be easiest but if thats not possible a cat5 cable will do the trick as well.

February 24th, 2015, 05:41 PM	#5
Edward Carlson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: North Hollywood, CA, United States Posts: 807	Re: Camera information I don't know of any remote heads that use a computer interface like you're describing. Most IP cameras, like the ones from Sony and Aixs, can be controlled that way, but the resolution of the pan and tilt motions is far too low to make smooth moves. They are security cameras primarily. Sony does have some PTZ cameras that are designed for broadcast. They can be controlled over Ethernet, but they are mighty expensive, and have no internal recording function. Again, we need to know your budget. If WiFi is only going to be used for monitoring, and not for recording, then the Teradek Bolt is a good option.

February 24th, 2015, 05:42 PM	#6
Bruce Dempsey Major Player Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Atlantic Coast Canada Posts: 599	Re: Camera information As a matter of interest have you any experience in the video field?