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Camera Corps' new Net-Cam goes into action in South Africa

Two Camera Corps Net-Cams in operation at the 2010 South African international tournament.

Football fans around the world are able to enjoy unsurpassed coverage of the 2010 South African international tournament (June 11 to July 11) thanks to Camera Corps' new Net-Cam. Developed specifically for this event, Net-Cam is a miniature HD camera with a high-quality ultra-wide-angle lens, designed specifically to capture the entire goal-mouth from the rear corner of the net.

"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.

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