Minicams

We are very excited with the announcement from Canon of the new XU-80 High Definition Robotic Camera.

Whilst providing outstanding HD images under normal lighting conditions, this camera also has the ability to film in Infra Red mode, with the removal of its IR cut filter. This function can be operated remotely from the versatile RCP, making it ideal for wildlife and specialist filming projects.

This is a product we have been eagerly waiting for, as not only does it offer Canons outstanding video quality with 20 X optics, but also makes shooting in Infra Red easily achievable and affordable.

This camera will provide the best option for anyone wanting to film in Infra Red, surpassing all current cameras currently available on the market.

Traffic Cops latest series has its first airing tomorrow night at 8pm on BBC1!

Last summer saw minicams provide 5 in-car HD minicam systems to Mentorn Media, for the highly successful filming of their latest series of Traffic Cops: Worse for wear.

Using the outstanding Toshiba IK-HD1 camera and custom system housings, minicams supported 10 flawless weeks of continuous filming, capturing all the in-car footage with combined audio.

Using specially designed high capacity battery systems, the crews were able to film for up to 9hrs a day without having to worry about losing power! This combined with other key system features resulted in a highly stable and fault free filming platform.

Company Director Nick McLachlan with 5 of the new AW-HE120 cameras and the AW-RP50 controller.

Minicams are proud to announce the arrival of the hotly anticipated AW-HE120 robotic camera from Panasonic Broadcast.

With many new filming projects on the horizon for 2012, we wanted to provide the very best in picture quality and control for robotic camera systems. This camera represents a huge step forward for integrated robotic camera technology, offering a feature rich user interface and best in class image quality.

We spent a lot of time considering all the options and looked at several cameras, including systems using the  FCB-H11 camera module.  The Panasonic AW-HE120 camera came out the clear winner, with amazing resolution and increased zoom capabilities.

Other benefits include:

• 20X zoom lens
• On-Air moves
• Genlock input
• Sleek and unobtrusive design
• Increased light sensitivity – Essential for fixed-rig filming!!
• Silent mechanical operation
• Four position ND filter – Remotely operated!!
• Up to a hundred preset positions
• HD/SD-SDI and HDMI outputs are standard as well as analog component and SD composite.
• 1000 TV lines of resolution
• 16-axis color correction

The new cameras are being deployed immediately and will be used for a months filming in the Scottish courts, starting from next week!

If you would like a demo of these new and exciting cameras, then please get in touch.

Minicams is rapidly building a reputation for the provision of high quality, robust and reliable in-car HD minicam systems. The HD systems are based around the Toshiba IK-HD1 cameras, which have consistently performed to provide a solid filming platform for continuous and uninterrupted in-car filming.

All camera and recording components are securely housed in  compact and lightweight peli cases, being easy to deploy, whilst achieving stunning results.

With flexible powering solutions and remote control management of the camera CCU functions, everything is ready to go with minimum fuss!!

Key features are:

• Based upon the awesome Toshiba IK-HD1 camera (click here to see why this camera is so good)
• Wide choice of lenses
• Your choice of solid state recorder
• Built in audio mixer with up to 4 mic inputs
• 4 channels of embedded audio
• Remote control of CCU functions for easy access to camera setup
• Flexible powering options
• Up to 10hrs run time from single battery

We have just spent the weekend filming at a private medical facility to capture cutting edge keyhole surgery techniques.

We used three remotely controlled Sony BRC-H700 robotic cameras and a Toshiba IK-HD1 minicam, recording to three NanoFlash  recorders.

There was limited space in the operating room, so minicams installed bespoke ceiling mounts for two of the Sony BRC-H700 cameras, with the third robotic camera being mounted on a compact floor stand.

The floor mounted camera provided coverage of the Surgeon, offering suitable eye-line shots and alternative close ups of his hands. This combined with the ceiling mounted cameras gave superb access for detailed shots of the procedures happening below.

The final camera, a Toshiba IK-HD1, was cheekily mounted on an existing monitor, to offer an excellent geography shot of the room layout and staff positioning below.   Just goes to show that we can mount cameras anywhere!

A live RGB feed was taken from the Ultrasound machine and converted to an HD-SDI signal using a TVOne scaler. If anyone wants live HD images recorded from any medical equipment, please let us know, as we have become masters at this process!!

We setup a small gallery upstairs, with all cables being run unobtrusively  through various false ceilings and piping ducts. Everything was recorded in glorious HD on the NanoFlash recorders at 50Mbps (Long GOP), using  a multi-viewer processor and large HD  LCD screen to view all camera feeds simultaneously.

Minicams have provided multiple in-car HD minicam systems for Mentorn Media’s  ‘Traffic Cops’ and spin off show ‘Motorway Cops’.

Using up to 5 of our HD in-car minicam systems at any one time, the Traffic Cops team have recently completed a hugely successful run of filming with our Toshiba IK-HD1 minicams.

The compact in-car systems, with built in NanoFlash recorders and specially designed battery systems, have once again proved extremely reliable and robust in the field.

Please get in touch for more information on our in-car HD minicam systems, or to arrange a demo.

Superior choice of lenses: The Toshiba IK-HD1 minicam has an increasingly wider range of C-mount lenses available. This provides huge benefits compared to cameras such as the Panasonic POVCAM, which have integrated zoom lenses and require external wide angle adapters to be screwed to the front of the camera housing. The Lenses available for the Toshiba IK-HD1 camera, such as the new megapixel Meuser Optik 3.5mm lens, offer vastly superior resolution with lower image distortion performance than other minicams with integrated lenses.

Global shutter : The Toshiba IK-HD1 minicam has a 3 CCD image sensor with global shutter. This means that it does not suffer from motion artifacts such as  Wobble/ jello effect, Skew, Smear or Partial Exposure, as exhibited by a CMOS based camera such as the Panasonic POVACM or GoPro HD Hero2. This means that the Toshiba IK-HD1 camera is ideal for dealing with high levels of vibrations and scenes containing areas of fast moving objects. This makes the camera the ideal choice for in-car or any on-board applications.

Robust and highly reliable: We have used the Toshiba IK-HD1 minicam for a wide range of demanding filming applications, from the freezing cold to boiling hot conditions. In off-road cars, planes and helicopters to name but a few. The camera has consistently performed to provide stunning footage with the ability to cope with all of these physically demanding scenarios.

BBC HD certified: The Toshiba IK-HD1 minicam is certified for BBC HD filming requirements with suitable external recorder, such as the NanoFlash.

Increased light sensitivity: The Toshiba IK-HD1 minicam is more sensitive to light than other CMOS minicams, such as the Panasonic POVCAM, Sony HXR-MC1P or Go Pro HD Hero cameras. This makes it the perfect choice for filming in low levels of light, where other cameras may struggle.

Various camera cable lengths up to 30m: The Toshiba IK-HD1 minicam system comprises of two parts, the camera head and CCU. These are joined together by a detachable  multi-core cable, which is available in lengths of 3m, 6m, 10m and 30m. This gives you the choice and ability to use the correct length of cable, depending on your filming requirements.

Small form factor: At only 65 grams, the tiny 1.6” camera head goes anywhere you need it.

External reference input: This enables the camera to be used in any multi-camera  situation, where being able to genlock the camera is essential for accurate lip-sync and live cutting between other line cameras.

RS 232C serial interface: This allows the Toshiba IK-HD1 camera to be remotely controlled by third-party controllers or even an iphone, running our custom control software. All CCU functions including paint, gain, shutter etc can be controlled to match cameras and set correct levels.

Ideal for 3D: Due to their small form factor, external reference inputs and choice of lenses, these minicams are ideally suited for 3D stereo rigs.

We are excited to be able to offer a new lens for our Toshiba IK-HD1 minicams!!  The new Meuser Optik 3.5mm (69° FOV) 1/3” prism compatible HD lens offers improved optics and vastly superior resolution with lower image distortion performance.

This lens will greatly enhance the performance of our Toshiba IK-HD1 cameras by releasing the full HD potential of the Toshiba IK-HD1. Please contact us  to arrange a demo of this amazing new lens and see how it will integrate with our HD on-board and in-car minicam systems.

Minicams are always looking to increase their pool of freelancers and are currently looking for new and talented crew.

If you are a minicam specialist or an experienced specialist camera technician/ engineer, then please get in touch.

The VT-1 system allows you to control cameras wirelessly  at a distance, with a video feed that helps you compose your shots.
The key to the VT-1 system is that it is self contained, being quick and easy to deploy. It has an integral Lithium battery, so all you need is something to mount it on! This can be anything from a wall, floor or even a tree mount!
It works with a variety of cameras:

Sony: HVRA1U, HVRV1U, HVRZ1U, HVRZ5U, HVRZ7U, HXRMC50U, HXRNX3D1U, HXRNX5U, HXRNX70U, NEXFS100U, NEXFS100UK
Canon: XF100, XF105, XF300, XF305

Full camera control is provided by the wireless remote joystick control, that also combines a video display of the camera output.

This is going to be a great solution for many types of filming ranging from Wildlife, covert and filming in hazardous conditions. There will soon be a static version of the VT-1, which will provide all the same functionality, apart from pan and tilt.

Please call us to arrange a demo or hire.