Camera Corps' new Net-Cam goes into action in South Africa
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"Two Net-Cams have been installed at each of the ten tournament venues, capturing each goal-mouth plus the full length of the goal interior without wide angle distortion or aberration," explains Camera Corps' Sales & Project Coordinator, Tim Reynolds. "As well as providing television viewers with high-quality close-up views of goal-mouth skirmishes, Net-Cam assists with any goal line disputes. Each Net-Cam incorporates an ultra-compact remote-controlled pan, tilt and roll head which allows the viewing angle to be adjusted in the event of direct collision from a football. The head is controlled by an operator via the Camera Corps CCU panel, eliminating the need for anyone to wait at the pitch-side to adjust the camera by hand."
Integral to Net-Cam is a 1/3 inch progressive-scan CMOS 2.1 megapixel sensor delivering 1080 and 720p video at 50 or 60 Hz. Operating from 12 V DC, the camera can be operated at illumination levels down to 8 lux across a temperature range of 0 to 40 Celsius at up to 90 per cent humidity. Control facilities include automatic and manual white balance, automatic and manual electronic shutter, HD-SDI video output and on-screen setup menu. Net-Cam's lens captures a 125 degree horizontal field of view.
As well as the two Net-Cams, Camera Corps has provided ten Com-Cam systems, two robotic box cameras, one robotic tactical camera, and one robotic venue-wide camera at every one of the ten venues.
The 2010 South African tournament is supported by a Camera Corps crew of 29 technicians and engineers, plus spare and support equipment.
Net-Cam is the latest addition to Camera Corps' wide range of remote camera systems and special-projects cameras, the latter designed to televise events as varied as bobsleigh, boat-races, baseball, archery targets, skiing and underwater swimming. Other cameras in the range are designed to mount directly onto contestants' clothing or helmets. A special heat-resistant system is available for use by fire-fighters.
About Camera Corps
Camera Corps specialises in providing high-volume support services for reality television programmes as well as very large-scale sports events. The company has achieved a pre-eminent reputation for its ability to acquire exciting and unusual television content from exceptionally challenging environments. The Camera Corps team expands during large-scale events from 11 staff based at Shepperton Studios to as many as 200 specialists, including highly-skilled rock climbers able to establish camera positions in almost any location.