Stabilizer usage in Olympics at DVinfo.net

Norman Woo · August 24th, 2004, 04:07 PM

Hi folks

Anyone noticed the use of stabilizers in the Olympic games? Comments on their use?

I also notice the 2 cameras gliding on tracks alongside the track and field. What company makes this gear? I also notice this type of equipment tracking alongside the walkway being used in the Victoria Secret fashion show.
Regards

Charles Papert · August 24th, 2004, 04:41 PM

There are a number of point-to-point tracking systems out there, I haven't been able to figure out whose are being used this particular Olympics. I did recognize the Libra head in use tracking up and down the pool events.

Garrett Brown has a number of rigs that are used at the Olympics (http://www.garrettcam.com). Make sure to check out Molecam for a giggle!

Gints Klimanis · August 24th, 2004, 05:26 PM

Is the MoleCam for real ? It seems like a leftover from April 1st. It's a great viewpoint, though.

Rob Lohman · August 25th, 2004, 02:27 AM

I even saw they had a camera (or more perhaps) running on a
track underwater to follow the swimmers from beneath. I did
see a steadicam every now and then as well.

Charles Papert · August 25th, 2004, 07:40 AM

That one IS one of Garrett's rigs, the Mobycam. It's a brilliant concept, a camera mounted in a stealthy black teardrop shaped housing that creates no wake and runs on a track along a lane marker. When you are looking down from above, it is all but invisible (that was the dictum from the Olympic Committee, so that the swimmers wouldn't be distracted by it). It may have become more sophisticated in recent years, but when I was at the Atlanta Games in '86, it was operated via chain drive controlled by essentially bicycle pedals...! The poor guy would crank away one direction, then back the other, then back the other--he'd be soaked by the end of the relay! Another operator used a remote pan and tilt for framing.

That setup might seem like an April Fool's joke, but it is (or was) real...Molecam, not so much.

Rob Lohman · August 25th, 2004, 07:55 AM

Interesting Charles! From the quick looks I get it was still some
sort of chain type system or perhaps a pulley/cable kind of system.
I can't imagine they haven't moved to a motorized system though
with a electric motor at one or both ends. Shouldn't be too hard
to make I'd say.

August 24th, 2004, 04:07 PM	#1
Norman Woo Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Brossard, Quebec, Canada Posts: 147	Stabilizer usage in Olympics Hi folks Anyone noticed the use of stabilizers in the Olympic games? Comments on their use? I also notice the 2 cameras gliding on tracks alongside the track and field. What company makes this gear? I also notice this type of equipment tracking alongside the walkway being used in the Victoria Secret fashion show. Regards

August 24th, 2004, 04:41 PM	#2
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	There are a number of point-to-point tracking systems out there, I haven't been able to figure out whose are being used this particular Olympics. I did recognize the Libra head in use tracking up and down the pool events. Garrett Brown has a number of rigs that are used at the Olympics (http://www.garrettcam.com). Make sure to check out Molecam for a giggle! __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

August 25th, 2004, 02:27 AM	#4
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	I even saw they had a camera (or more perhaps) running on a track underwater to follow the swimmers from beneath. I did see a steadicam every now and then as well. __________________ 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 25th, 2004, 07:40 AM	#5
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	That one IS one of Garrett's rigs, the Mobycam. It's a brilliant concept, a camera mounted in a stealthy black teardrop shaped housing that creates no wake and runs on a track along a lane marker. When you are looking down from above, it is all but invisible (that was the dictum from the Olympic Committee, so that the swimmers wouldn't be distracted by it). It may have become more sophisticated in recent years, but when I was at the Atlanta Games in '86, it was operated via chain drive controlled by essentially bicycle pedals...! The poor guy would crank away one direction, then back the other, then back the other--he'd be soaked by the end of the relay! Another operator used a remote pan and tilt for framing. That setup might seem like an April Fool's joke, but it is (or was) real...Molecam, not so much. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

August 25th, 2004, 07:55 AM	#6
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Interesting Charles! From the quick looks I get it was still some sort of chain type system or perhaps a pulley/cable kind of system. I can't imagine they haven't moved to a motorized system though with a electric motor at one or both ends. Shouldn't be too hard to make I'd say. __________________ 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 24th, 2004, 05:26 PM	#3
Gints Klimanis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,222	Is the MoleCam for real ? It seems like a leftover from April 1st. It's a great viewpoint, though.