remote cameras at DVinfo.net

Calvin Low · July 28th, 2004, 03:02 AM

Hi,
I'm actually looking for a remote camera, something similar to the canon nu-700 (the nu700 is too expensive). Is there a similar (and cheaper) alternative? anyone knows?

Rob Lohman · August 2nd, 2004, 03:36 PM

I think the best place to look for something like this is in the
security camera area. Those are always remote. There are
different types of camera's with different sets of resolution,
color vs. B&W and different output formats and quality.

Whether or not this is good enough for you I don't know.
You would also need to look into how to get the signal into
your computer if that is what you want.

Talking a bit more about what you are trying to do might help
people in giving you suggestions better suited to your "problem".

Calvin Low · August 3rd, 2004, 01:13 AM

well actually I'm looking for one that would enable me to shoot events... something which does not require a cameraman behind a camera. its for an average sized auditorium... I'm looking for something that would be able to shoot the person at the front of the auditorium and project the output onto a screen and also to record. I hope I'm making some sense...
basically something that produces video quality that's similar to a DV cam (eg. Canon XL1s & XM2), which can be ceiling mounted and remotely operated...
am I talking rubbish?

Rob Lohman · August 3rd, 2004, 04:58 AM

I believe there are some good quality CCTV/security camera's
out there. I would look at those first... some even have remote
zoom etc. capability.

Ryan Spicer · August 3rd, 2004, 07:07 AM

I'm by no means an expert, so take my commentary with a large grain of salt, but from what I understand, if you want the quality of an XL-1S on a remote control pan/tilt mount, your best bet is probably to buy or build a remote-control pan/tilt mount, a LANC remote control, and an XL-1S. I agree that a security camera is definitely the "budget" answer, but the image quality probably wouldn't be nearly as good as the XL-1S's, since the XL-1S has 3 large ccds and high quality lenses, whereas the security cameras probably have one small one and relatively cheap lenses. I'd definitely advise not buying a security rig sight unseen -- test it to make sure you get good enough quality for the uses you want.

My university has a system like what you describe in a few of the larger lecture halls, and they appear to have a commercial pan/tilt head supporting an ENG camera of some sort (it's hanging from the ceiling so I've never got a good look at the brand names).

Glenn Chan · August 3rd, 2004, 08:43 AM

Sony makes a cheap remote control tripod for ?~$150?.

John Beale's TRV900 site has information on it I believe.

http://www.bealecorner.com/trv900/ac...es.html#tripod

Boyd Ostroff · August 3rd, 2004, 09:09 AM

No idea of how good these are, or if they even work at all!... but this topic reminded me of one of the annoying ads that constantly flashes on the DV.com website: http://www.cameraturret.com

Perhaps the best solution for what you want would involve running a long firewire cable (you can get amplifiers for this) back to a deck or even a DVD recorder. That way you would have the full DV quality. Just a thought...

Jacques Mersereau · August 3rd, 2004, 02:09 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Calvin Low : well actually I'm looking for one that would enable me to shoot events... something which does not require a cameraman behind a camera. its for an average sized auditorium... I'm looking for something that would be able to shoot the person at the front of the auditorium and project the output onto a screen and also to record. I hope I'm making some sense...
basically something that produces video quality that's similar to a DV cam (eg. Canon XL1s & XM2), which can be ceiling mounted and remotely operated...
am I talking rubbish? -->>>

Canon makes a completely enclosed XL1s w/ pan and tilt head as part of
the whole unit. It even has a windshield wiper if installed outdoors.

I saw this unit with my own eyes at NAB this year and it was hooked up to
a controller made by another company. I really liked the rig. Nice and
smooth.

I think the cost was about $8K without controller.

Patrick King · August 3rd, 2004, 02:44 PM

Sony offers an entire line of remote Pan/Tilt/Zoom cameras inlcuding a $5k 3-CCD model (though it looks like its based on the same CCDs in the PDX-10). They also have serveral $1.2k to $1.5k cameras with remote P/T/Z capability.

But even at those lower prices, by the time you add the P/T/Z control station, wiring, etc...well as they say in DC, "a few billion here and a few billion there, pretty soon you're talking real money!"

http://bssc.sel.sony.com/Professiona...sp=22&id=75153

Jacques Mersereau · August 4th, 2004, 06:54 AM

I've seen the output from both the Canon version and the Sony of that
camera. Believe me when I say that their video is shabby when compared
to the XL1s. Those "all in one" remote cameras have a
heck of a time with contrast and their pan and tilt is okay for set and
forget, but not that good for trying to follow the action on stage.

The unit I spoke of is "real" all the way and actually reasonably priced for
what it is.

July 28th, 2004, 03:02 AM	#1
Calvin Low Tourist Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Selangor, Malaysia Posts: 2	remote cameras Hi, I'm actually looking for a remote camera, something similar to the canon nu-700 (the nu700 is too expensive). Is there a similar (and cheaper) alternative? anyone knows? __________________ calvinlow

August 2nd, 2004, 03:36 PM	#2
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	I think the best place to look for something like this is in the security camera area. Those are always remote. There are different types of camera's with different sets of resolution, color vs. B&W and different output formats and quality. Whether or not this is good enough for you I don't know. You would also need to look into how to get the signal into your computer if that is what you want. Talking a bit more about what you are trying to do might help people in giving you suggestions better suited to your "problem". __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

August 3rd, 2004, 01:13 AM	#3
Calvin Low Tourist Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Selangor, Malaysia Posts: 2	well actually I'm looking for one that would enable me to shoot events... something which does not require a cameraman behind a camera. its for an average sized auditorium... I'm looking for something that would be able to shoot the person at the front of the auditorium and project the output onto a screen and also to record. I hope I'm making some sense... basically something that produces video quality that's similar to a DV cam (eg. Canon XL1s & XM2), which can be ceiling mounted and remotely operated... am I talking rubbish? __________________ calvinlow

August 3rd, 2004, 04:58 AM	#4
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	I believe there are some good quality CCTV/security camera's out there. I would look at those first... some even have remote zoom etc. capability. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

August 3rd, 2004, 02:09 PM	#8
Jacques Mersereau Trustee Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,334	<<<-- Originally posted by Calvin Low : well actually I'm looking for one that would enable me to shoot events... something which does not require a cameraman behind a camera. its for an average sized auditorium... I'm looking for something that would be able to shoot the person at the front of the auditorium and project the output onto a screen and also to record. I hope I'm making some sense... basically something that produces video quality that's similar to a DV cam (eg. Canon XL1s & XM2), which can be ceiling mounted and remotely operated... am I talking rubbish? -->>> Canon makes a completely enclosed XL1s w/ pan and tilt head as part of the whole unit. It even has a windshield wiper if installed outdoors. I saw this unit with my own eyes at NAB this year and it was hooked up to a controller made by another company. I really liked the rig. Nice and smooth. I think the cost was about $8K without controller. __________________ Jacques Mersereau University of Michigan-Video Studio Manager

August 3rd, 2004, 07:07 AM	#5
Ryan Spicer Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Tempe, AZ Posts: 46	I'm by no means an expert, so take my commentary with a large grain of salt, but from what I understand, if you want the quality of an XL-1S on a remote control pan/tilt mount, your best bet is probably to buy or build a remote-control pan/tilt mount, a LANC remote control, and an XL-1S. I agree that a security camera is definitely the "budget" answer, but the image quality probably wouldn't be nearly as good as the XL-1S's, since the XL-1S has 3 large ccds and high quality lenses, whereas the security cameras probably have one small one and relatively cheap lenses. I'd definitely advise not buying a security rig sight unseen -- test it to make sure you get good enough quality for the uses you want. My university has a system like what you describe in a few of the larger lecture halls, and they appear to have a commercial pan/tilt head supporting an ENG camera of some sort (it's hanging from the ceiling so I've never got a good look at the brand names).

August 3rd, 2004, 08:43 AM	#6
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	Sony makes a cheap remote control tripod for ?~$150?. John Beale's TRV900 site has information on it I believe. http://www.bealecorner.com/trv900/ac...es.html#tripod

August 3rd, 2004, 09:09 AM	#7
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	No idea of how good these are, or if they even work at all!... but this topic reminded me of one of the annoying ads that constantly flashes on the DV.com website: http://www.cameraturret.com Perhaps the best solution for what you want would involve running a long firewire cable (you can get amplifiers for this) back to a deck or even a DVD recorder. That way you would have the full DV quality. Just a thought...

August 3rd, 2004, 02:44 PM	#9
Patrick King Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Enterprise, AL Posts: 857	Sony offers an entire line of remote Pan/Tilt/Zoom cameras inlcuding a $5k 3-CCD model (though it looks like its based on the same CCDs in the PDX-10). They also have serveral $1.2k to $1.5k cameras with remote P/T/Z capability. But even at those lower prices, by the time you add the P/T/Z control station, wiring, etc...well as they say in DC, "a few billion here and a few billion there, pretty soon you're talking real money!" http://bssc.sel.sony.com/Professiona...sp=22&id=75153 __________________ Fear No Weevil!

August 4th, 2004, 06:54 AM	#10
Jacques Mersereau Trustee Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,334	I've seen the output from both the Canon version and the Sony of that camera. Believe me when I say that their video is shabby when compared to the XL1s. Those "all in one" remote cameras have a heck of a time with contrast and their pan and tilt is okay for set and forget, but not that good for trying to follow the action on stage. The unit I spoke of is "real" all the way and actually reasonably priced for what it is. __________________ Jacques Mersereau University of Michigan-Video Studio Manager