2004General Discussion forum
Equipment and techniques for multi-camera concert videography
22 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
DisputedParticipants disagreed and reached no conclusion. Read the findings as positions, not as an answer.
What the thread found
- A second dedicated monitor displaying the director's current camera feed helps operators maintain their own shots without accidentally matching the active camera's composition
- A triax to BNC adapter can be useful for connecting to different cable infrastructure, though compatibility issues with house engineers may require using triax cables instead
- A tally light system provides essential feedback about which camera is live at any given moment
- Rewiring the camera run switch on a zoom control lens to function as a return indicator is a viable alternative to a second monitor
- Using a dedicated return switch instead of a second monitor requires adding extra conductors to the cable loop, which increases overall cable bulk between camera and support equipment
- Adding extra cables and switches to the camera rig increases the physical load and complexity of handheld operation
- Pre-coordinating with venue house crews about equipment movement and placement results in smoother operations and more helpful crew cooperation
Depends on
- The triax adapter solution depended on engineer familiarity with the specific equipment
- The return switch modification requires access to J-7 zoom control hardware or equivalent momentary pushbutton capability
- The comparison between second monitor and return switch approaches reflects different operational preferences without a definitive conclusion about overall superiority