Entertainment Technology News

Camera Corps' recently-introduced Q-Ball HD/SD robotic camera made its broadcast debut in the latest series of 'I'm a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here', set in the Costa Rican jungle. ITV Studios awarded the contract for the US series to broadcast solutions company Gearhouse Broadcast, part of Gravity Media Group. Camera Corps provided point-of-view cameras, remote pan/tilt heads and camera controllers. The show is being transmitted in the USA by NBC and in the UK by ITV2.

"Camera Corps has worked with us on many successful projects including the 'I'm a Celebrity' programmes in 2008 for the UK and Germany," comments Kevin Moorhouse, Chief Operating Officer of Gravity Media Group. "Their cameras and robotic heads have performed well in the high temperatures and high humidity and have been able to handle everything the jungle climates have thrown at them."

"Our new Q-Ball is designed for exactly this kind of environment," adds Camera Corps' Managing Director Laurie Frost. "It consists of a camera, lens and robotics integrated in a fully weatherproof sphere machined from solid aluminium. We supplied a total of six Q-Balls for the latest 'I'm a Celebrity' series, four infra-red HD MiniZooms cameras, eight Hitachi HV-HD30 and one Iconix, plus 10 Egripment Minishot remote pan/tilt mounts and one Microshot."

Introduced at the 2009 NAB convention in April, the Q-Ball consists of a full dual-mode colour camera, high-precision pan and tilt system, 10:1 zoom optics and infra-red night-vision capability, all under full remote control. Pan and tilt can be operated at any speed from 4 seconds to 20 minutes per 360 degree rotation through an unlimited number of turns with no visible stepping. Integral low-noise motors allow the camera to be repositioned smoothly during live shooting rather than merely between shots.

Designed for fast exterior or interior rigging and de-rigging, the Q-Ball measures just 115 mm in diameter and weighs 1.3 kg including mounting shaft. It can be operated at any angle. The camera incorporates a 1/3 inch 2 megapixel 16:9 CMOS sensor delivering 1080i/720p HD or 625/525 SD, both at 50 or 59.94 Hz and in 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio. Signal-to-noise ratio is >50 dB. Focus can be controlled manually or automatically. The Q-Ball is fully compatible with Camera Corps' range of pan/tilt and CCU controllers. Its interface delivers up to four channels of audio embedded into the SDI feed. It operates from 9 to 18 V DC power supply.

Gearhouse Broadcast is a leading international broadcast services company. With offices located in the UK, Australia, USA, Dubai and Doha, the company provides a comprehensive range of broadcast solutions including broadcast sales, broadcast rental, project solutions and systems integration.

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. Its ever-growing arsenal includes high-level cranes, HD and SD motorised tracking cameras, underwater cameras, bullseye-mounted archery target cameras and fire-proofed high temperature cameras. The Camera Corps team expands during large-scale events from nine full-time 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.