World Series coverage

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daplight

Well-known member
Has anyone noticed how many remote DLSRs are covering the plate and dugout shots? Also, whenever a batter hits a home run some guy jumps out with (I think) is a rigged DLSR with some sort of stabilizer to pick up batter rounding third running alongside all the way to the dugout. Excellent shot every time, smooth, stable, and very level. I suspect about a 20mm on FF wide-angle. I would be curious on exact rigging. Any thoughts?
 
I have not watched the games but are you sure this is a DSLR rig? The live broadcast folks do not like to use DSLRs as they can not control them remotely. The steadicam rigs that the NFL guys use are quite small these days in comparison to yesteryear. I would guess most of the cameras mounted everywhere are capturing stills but they might have some video running.
 
Bassman2003 said:
I have not watched the games but are you sure this is a DSLR rig? The live broadcast folks do not like to use DSLRs as they can not control them remotely. The steadicam rigs that the NFL guys use are quite small these days in comparison to yesteryear. I would guess most of the cameras mounted everywhere are capturing stills but they might have some video running.
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DSLR or compact camcorder of some sort. The operator has a large backpack with an antennae that feeds the signal to the main control room I imagine. Not too different than other remote cameras for sports broadcast.
 
But the technical director needs to have access to adjust the iris and other settings from the control room as well. DSLRs do not have this ability.
 
Bassman2003 said:
But the technical director needs to have access to adjust the iris and other settings from the control room as well. DSLRs do not have this ability.
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I did not watch The World Series, so I do not know what they were using. But having worked a number of games over the years, in almost every instance there is a dedicated engineer doing camera shading, not the TD, who is busy punching the show. I'll also remind folks that wireless focus/zoom/iris setups have been around for a long time.
 
daplight said:
Has anyone noticed how many remote DLSRs are covering the plate and dugout shots?
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Not DSLRs. Can't be. Broadcast requires that all cameras be calibrated and matched, so switching between cameras doesn't cause a change in colors or contrast, etc. IOW switching is required to be seamless. Can't do that with any DSLR I've heard of. Or for that matter any of the low end video cameras. Well, maybe the Panasonic AJ-PX270 can work in that environment; it's essentially a VariCam after all.

That, and most of the broadcast sports cameras are outputting two concurrent video streams. One at high speed (in the 1000-3000 fps range) used for slow motion replays, and one at the normal frame rate (Fox broadcasts at 720p60 IIRC) used for everything else. These are often based on a Vision Research Phantom Flex engine. Fox likes the Inertia Unlimited cameras. This is how they get multiple angles on a play, and can show each of them to you in slow motion. This capability is what big time football, baseball, soccer broadcasting is all about.

Ah... found a press release through the Vision Research website. It says those were Movi stabilizers. I just skimmed it, didn't see what cameras were on the Movis.
 
daplight said:
Has anyone noticed how many remote DLSRs are covering the plate and dugout shots? Also, whenever a batter hits a home run some guy jumps out with (I think) is a rigged DLSR with some sort of stabilizer to pick up batter rounding third running alongside all the way to the dugout. Excellent shot every time, smooth, stable, and very level. I suspect about a 20mm on FF wide-angle. I would be curious on exact rigging. Any thoughts?
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It was a C300 on a Movi during the Toronto/KC ALCS not sure of the lens but it looked to be an EF mount DSLR lens. Have not seen any of the WS so not sure if it is the same rig.
 
Nice find, Bruce. Those may be DSLR size but they're certainly not the DSLR cost cameras. Prices on these things must be astronomical. (with the exception of the dirt cams)

But I agree on Fox coverage. I have watched a bit of the KC-Toronto series and it looks like the video portion has stepped up a major notch.

PS. Steadicams have long been used for soccer (aka football, Fußball, calcio globally) with the barely-outside-the-lines cameramen.
 
David W. Jones said:
I did not watch The World Series, so I do not know what they were using. But having worked a number of games over the years, in almost every instance there is a dedicated engineer doing camera shading, not the TD, who is busy punching the show. I'll also remind folks that wireless focus/zoom/iris setups have been around for a long time.
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Thanks for clarifying. Sorry for my lack of terminology. I only sort of know what goes on behind the scenes. I will refer to what Bruce said!
 
fab410 said:
It was a C300 on a Movi during the Toronto/KC ALCS not sure of the lens but it looked to be an EF mount DSLR lens. Have not seen any of the WS so not sure if it is the same rig.
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If they are using a C300, would it be a special build model for control room communication?
 
With regards to controlling the camera remotely, does the C300 have that capability? EF lenses only have electronic iris control.
 
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