Camera Corps Zoom Into Action For ITV

Mini-Zoom and Q-Ball remotely controlled miniature cameras from Camera Corps, went into action on recently during ITV's annual Text Santa fund-raising initiative for six UK charities.
Cameras were positioned at each extremity of a massive 'tree-of-terror' opposite ITV's London Studios on the South Bank.
"The 'tree' was ascended by Ant and Dec, two presenters well known for the challenges to which they subject contestants in their own very popular television series," explained Camera Corps Business Development Director, Shaun Glanville. "The 30 meter high structure was comparable in size and shape with the mast of a tall sailing ship. The presenters' task was to climb the main tower and walk out along each branch. It looks challenging enough from ground level and would be a nightmare for almost anyone, even with protective rigging."
Installed by experienced technicians from Camera Corps, each MiniZoom camera tracked the presenters' branch by branch progress during their fund-raising ascent. A Q-Ball mounted at the apex enabled viewers to track the climb. The MiniZooms and Q-Ball were operated from Camera Corps remote control panels in the production studio, delivering full high-definition video to intercut with signals from the main studio cameras.
"The cameras performed well, handling the extremes of outdoor night shooting and direct light from the various lamps which illuminated the structure. Fortunately the contestants and the cameras were spared the traditional Christmas rain!"
Measuring just 96 x 49 x 45 millimeters and weighing only 285 grams, the Camera Corps MiniZoom incorporates a 1/3 inch 2 megapixel CMOS sensor with 5.1 to 51 millimeter focal length optics and is housed in a two-piece weatherproofed aluminum case.
Q-Ball is a 1080i high-definition camera with 10:1 zoom optics plus a fully rotatable pan and tilt head housed in a cast-aluminum sphere of similar diameter to a standard Compact Disc or DVD. High-precision motors enable the operator to adjust the camera angle from practically any location, including smooth adjustment of vertical and lateral tracking speeds. Q-Ball has delivered close-up video from many very high-profile broadcast events in recent years, including the BBC Proms, Summer and Winter Olympics, international football, motor racing, water sports, tennis, football, rugby and many popular reality television shows.
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