Cable-suspended camera system

A cable-suspended camera system is a system of cables above or along an area to be filmed or videoed, over or along which an attached camera head travels to achieve required camera angles.

There are two broad types cable-suspended camera systems: fixed-cable and moving-cable types.

Fixed-cable type

In fixed-cable type cable-suspended camera systems, the cable is attached at fixed anchor points and a motorized camera head travels along the fixed cable. This kind of system can be advantageous over longer distances and where it might be difficult to set up winches with moving cables, or in no fly zones. Some use cases have a camera head running along the ground in trolley mode for a kind of tracking shot.

Uses of fixed-cable suspended camera systems include: amateur sports videos, hobby video, lower budget film and video, photography, and motion time-lapse footage.

Companies selling fixed-cable suspended camera systems include: Flyline,[1] Defy Products,[2] High Sight,[3] Wiral [4] and Syrp.[5]

Moving-cable type

In moving-cable type cable-suspended camera systems, cables are attached to winches at their ends to allow movement of an attached camera head between multiple cables. There are several variants of moving-cable type cable-suspended camera systems, including:

  • 3D moving-cable type cable-suspended camera systems, a.k.a. suspended flying camera systems, with four cables moving an attached camera head in three dimensions;
  • 2D moving-cable type cable-suspended camera systems, with two cables moving an attached camera head vertically and horizontally;
  • Point-to-point (1D) moving-cable type cable-suspended camera systems where there is one cable pulling an attached camera head between two fixed points.

3D moving-cable type cable-suspended camera systems

3D moving-cable type cable-suspended camera systems, a.k.a. suspended flying camera systems, are used by broadcasters and video production companies to create dynamic video footage of sporting events and cultural events like concerts. They are a type of cable robot.

Advantages include reducing or eliminating the need for crane shots, using camera cranes or jibs that might obstruct spectator sight lines or take up valuable space or interfere with a shot.

Commercial 3D moving-cable type cable-suspended camera systems include: SkyCam, Spidercam, and RobyCam 3D.[6]

Events that have been photographed using 3D moving-cable type cable-suspended camera systems include: NFL games (e.g., when the Skycam captured the Chicago Bears' Cordarrelle Patterson's 102-yard kickoff return touchdown on October 20, 2019),[7] WWE matches (Spidercam),[8] swimming and esports (RobyCam).[9]

2D moving-cable type cable-suspended camera systems

2D moving-cable type cable-suspended camera systems typically move in the horizontal (X) and vertical (Z) planes are used by broadcasters and video production companies to create dynamic video footage where other types of systems are impractical or impossible to setup because of venue/location.

Commercial 2D moving-cable type cable-suspended camera systems include the RobyCom 2D[10] and CamCat's CamCat 2D.[11]

Point-to-point (1D) moving-cable type cable-suspended camera systems

Point-to-point moving-cable type cable-suspended camera systems are used to draw a camera head or dolly between two fixed points. These systems tend to move faster than 3D and 2D systems and are thus used for sports where speed is a factor like horse-racing, skiing and extreme sports.

Commercial point-to-point (1D) moving-cable type cable-suspended camera systems include Robyline (used at Biathlon World Cup and FIS Alpine Ski World Cup)[12] and the RTS SpeedWinch.[13]

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References
  1. "Flyline Cablecam System". Flyline. PS ONE Cinema Motion Systems. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  2. "Defy Products". Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  3. "High Sight". Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  4. "Wiral". Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  5. "Cable Cams for professional videomakers". Syrp. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  6. "Robycam 3D". Movicom. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  7. Greene, Nick (Oct 21, 2019). "An Interview With the SkyCam Operator Who Filmed the Year's Most Incredible NFL Highlight". Slate. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  8. Jump PR (2019-03-05). "New spidercam fly-by-wire camera hits the heights on busy US debut". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  9. Hernandez, Kristian (2020-02-11). "Movicom Integrates Virtual Graphics With High-Flying Aerial Camera Systems". Sports Video Group News. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  10. "RobyCam 2D". Movicom. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  11. "2D System". CamCat. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  12. "Movicom RobyLine reel 2020". YouTube. 2020-04-08. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  13. "Cameras In Motion". Rail & Tracking Systems. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
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