NG
A rostrum/jib/remote op camera in 1 with super advanced track puts ITVs barcodes to shame.
Not really - the FreeD system at ITN is probably more flexible - as you can use it handheld, on a jib, on a ped, on an arm, possibly even on a Technocrane (if it would fit in the space!) etc. and with a skilled operator you can do moves live based on what is actually happening - think Jeremy Vine's election graphics - rather than having to go for pre-programmed stuff. The ZDF 'robot arm" system is entirely remote, and actually appears to be quite fixed in base terms - it can do a bit of jibbing and a small amount of tracking - but it isn't a full jib as ITN can have. I suspect it is fine at pre-programmed moves, but not as intuitive to drive live on-shot.
It looks as if they have gone for a mix of manual cameras and a couple of remote cameras which can do some limited motion moves simulating a track or a crab or a jib - but with more restrictions than a jib or a ped would have.
However as they have a fixed base - I suspect their arms are a LOT cheaper to maintain. You don't need anywhere near as much health and safety support compared to fully robotic cameras - or the laser read wall barcodes that the BBC used to have to have on the studio wall. (The BBC robots checked their position by looking at barcodes on the wall but didn't use it for VR purposes. The ITN VR camera position detection system - actually invented by the BBC and marketed as Free D - has a small CCTV camera mounted on top of every camera that looks at circular bar codes in the ceiling and as long as it can see 4 it can tell its height, position and rotation)
If anything I'd say ITN have the better camera position detecting system... It's more flexible than having to use remote/robot cameras.
noggin
Founding member
A rostrum/jib/remote op camera in 1 with super advanced track puts ITVs barcodes to shame.
Not really - the FreeD system at ITN is probably more flexible - as you can use it handheld, on a jib, on a ped, on an arm, possibly even on a Technocrane (if it would fit in the space!) etc. and with a skilled operator you can do moves live based on what is actually happening - think Jeremy Vine's election graphics - rather than having to go for pre-programmed stuff. The ZDF 'robot arm" system is entirely remote, and actually appears to be quite fixed in base terms - it can do a bit of jibbing and a small amount of tracking - but it isn't a full jib as ITN can have. I suspect it is fine at pre-programmed moves, but not as intuitive to drive live on-shot.
It looks as if they have gone for a mix of manual cameras and a couple of remote cameras which can do some limited motion moves simulating a track or a crab or a jib - but with more restrictions than a jib or a ped would have.
However as they have a fixed base - I suspect their arms are a LOT cheaper to maintain. You don't need anywhere near as much health and safety support compared to fully robotic cameras - or the laser read wall barcodes that the BBC used to have to have on the studio wall. (The BBC robots checked their position by looking at barcodes on the wall but didn't use it for VR purposes. The ITN VR camera position detection system - actually invented by the BBC and marketed as Free D - has a small CCTV camera mounted on top of every camera that looks at circular bar codes in the ceiling and as long as it can see 4 it can tell its height, position and rotation)
If anything I'd say ITN have the better camera position detecting system... It's more flexible than having to use remote/robot cameras.
