Polecam Starter Pack arrives in Hollywood

“American film-makers have long appreciated the versatility of camera cranes,” comments Greg Salman of Los-Angeles-based Polecam USA.  “The recent introduction of high-specification D-SLR cameras at very affordable prices makes them naturally receptive to the Polecam concept.

“The new Starter Pack is a highly cost-efficient rig with a 12 foot span, ideally suited to the burgeoning D-SLR market.  It comes with a newly designed wide head accommodating a D-SLR camera or similarly compact camcorders.  We demonstrated the system with a Canon D-SLR mounted at the working end.

“The cinematographers and camera operators attending Cine Gear were really impressed by the wide head and its 8 pound payload capacity.  This makes the rig incredibly versatile and opens up Polecam to whole range of new camera options.  The most frequent question we were getting was: ‘Can you put a Red Epic on it?’ to which the answer is: ‘We think so, if we can get our hands on one to try out.’  Check back for more info on that!”

Polecam Starter Pack incorporates a newly developed wide head with encoded motor control providing accurate pan and tilt even at very low speed, coupled with a progressive damping mechanism. The head itself is a fully motorized remote unit under joystick command from a controller located near the Polecam mounting pivot.

Priced at $9,995.00,  Polecam Starter Pack includes three interlocking carbon-fiber poles with a forward reach of nearly 12 feet.  The rig can be expanded gradually into a full-scale rig spanning up to 26 feet.  Follow-focus is achieved using optional devices such as the Hocus Focus wireless controller.  Polecam Starter Pack can be set up in minutes without needing special tools.

In addition to the new Starter Pack, Polecam’s Cine Gear 2011 exhibit featured a full Polecam rig with a 3D head and two Toshiba IK-HD1 3-CCD HD cameras.  Polecam also demonstrated the recently introduced StadiumCam one-piece miniature camera which offers an ultra-wide-angle 170 degree field-of-view.  Designed for sports applications, the 5 x 3 x 3 inch StadiumCam weighs just 1 pound and can be mounted quickly, easily and safely practically anywhere.

Polecam

Polecam provides complete HD/SD broadcast production solutions for a wide range of applications, based on the company's world-leading truly-portable single-operator jib arm and miniature HD and SD camera systems.  Polecam delivers the freedom to place a long-reach jib (8 meters or 26 feet) anywhere a cameraman can go. The only cable required is a standard power feed unless working from batteries. Full HD-SDI is available right out of the unit, eliminating the restrictions associated with heavy multi-operator cranes.Combined with an ultra-compact camera head and choice of recorders, Polecam jibs permit new and unique angles that would be difficult to achieve any other way.  Polecam rigs operate from a standard tripod and dolly or from the Polecam body harness, enabling smooth shots in the studio or on location.  Rig and de-rig are fast and easy (10 minutes), requiring no tools. Polecam systems can operate underwater with the FishFace fully submersible pan-and-tilt head.Polecam stocks a wide range of lenses, recorders, power options, remote control and multiplex equipment.  Polecam also offers the simplest 3D production system on the market.