Camera Corps readies POV cameras for Vancouver

Two 40 metre tracking systems, nine sports dollies, more than 60 robotic heads, 118 HD cameras and a large inventory of lenses, controllers, interfaces and support equipment are being installed to cover events from Vancouver.

Winter sports resorts of Whistler and Cypress Mountain are also on the agenda with four teams covering those locations.

The cameras are being supplied to the host broadcaster OBSV.

“Our Winter Games installations are thoroughly tested to ensure efficient operation at sub-zero temperatures,” said Camera Corps’ technical director Jim Daniels.

“Tolerance of high ambient temperature is often an important factor at summer sports events but in Vancouver our concern will be to ensure protection against snow and ice, including the common-sense element of keeping the camera powered overnight to maintain a moderate level of internal heating.

“All our sports POV cameras are designed to ensure maximum weather resistance. Q-Ball achieves this by being housed in a 115 mm diameter sphere machined from solid aluminium.”

• Twelve complete Q-Ball robotic camera systems will be in operation.
• 16 cameras will be mounted in the roof of the bobsleigh track to follow the passage of each bob down the course.
• There will also be two special pop-up cameras mounted in the ice that can be remotely lowered flush with the ice surface if a bob has turned on its side.
• For the speed skating, a camera will be installed inside one of the marker cones to capture ice level shots.
• Cameras will also be placed at the end of the ski jump to capture the each contestant’s actual ‘takeoff’.

Camera Corps will also provide RF links in co-operation with the Kent-based company Broadcast RF.

These range from links with handheld and Steadicam systems to the complex requirements of receiving camera feeds from the SeaBus ferry without any signal breakup.

Camera Corps will be exhibiting at Broadcast Video Expo 2010 (February 16-18, Earls Court2, London)