2011Cameras (Film/Video/HD) forum
Using tethered broadcast cameras for live concert shooting
15 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Triax or fiber optic cable supplies power to the camera, enables remote iris control from the truck, and carries video return, tally light, and communication signals.
- Fiber optic cable is increasingly replacing triax in broadcast work because it offers better flexibility and easier handling.
- A short jumper cable (6 feet) made from the same cable type as the main line reduces the pulling force while maintaining the same functionality.
- Zoom and focus control can be handled remotely by the truck operator, or the operator at the camera can control them using hardware controllers attached to the gimbal.
- A hardwired focus box can be tape-mounted to the gimbal, and a tripod-style zoom controller can be rigged to control lens zoom at the camera position.
- Most broadcast cameras used in this context have similar basic designs with zoom lenses that accept external controllers and operate through the power and control signals from the tether cable.
Depends on
- The specific camera model was not yet determined at the time of the discussion.
- The discussion does not clarify whether the venue would require the operator to control zoom and focus or if the truck would handle it.
- Jumper cable costs mentioned ($650) are from 2011 and may not reflect current pricing.
- Some venues still use triax while others have moved to fiber, requiring verification before the shoot.