One of the highlights of the BBC's coverage of next month's Commonwealth Games in Manchester will be the number of unusual shots obtained courtesy of almost 70 specialist cameras, writes Barbara Marshall
One of the highlights of the BBC's coverage of next month's Commonwealth Games in Manchester will be the number of unusual shots obtained courtesy of almost 70 specialist cameras, writes Barbara Marshall.

These cameras, developed by BBC Resources and Camera Corp, will provide shots from goalposts, high buildings and motorbikes as well as from the water.

Special swimming cameras include Halibut cam - after the bottom-feeder fish - which travels along the bottom of the pool to provide shots from below the swimmers. Developed by the special projects team in BBC outside broadcasts, it is tipped to go into production for sale to third parties. Special projects manager Paul McNeil said: 'We aim to develop the best specialist swimming cameras in the world.'

Others include Barnacle cam which will sit beneath the water at the end of the pool to show the fingertip finish of the swimmers, and Lobster cam which will climb up the side of the pool.

One camera, jointly developed by the two companies, is the wire-cam which spans 200 metres and travels at 10 metres per second suspended between two points. Other high shots will be provided by a camera mounted on a Strada crane, which can go from ground level to six stories high in less than eight seconds, and is able to follow its target over broken ground for up to 170 ft without track or cables.

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