Pan Tilt Heads + Control - BlackMagic Micro Studio 4k

Hello,

I'm the video director for a non-profit organization that uses five Blackmagic Micro Studio 4k cameras, in addition to three in-house PTZ cameras, to capture live jazz concerts.

I'm looking for suggestions on what Pan Tilt Heads and controllers are recommended for the Blackmagic Micro Studio 4k. My goal is to control three Panasonic HE PTZ cameras, and five BlackMagic Micro Studio 4k cameras through a single camera controller.

Thanks in advance.

Well Panasonic and Visca (The protocol that comes from the BMD cameras) are not compatible in any way.. So get them up and running from the same control panel is not an option!!.

Also the PTZ control on the BMD cams are only to be controlled from the Atem Control Panel. Or 3rth party controllers with SDI control..

Also heads that accept Visca protocol that will take the Micro studio camera are hard to find..

Hi,

Look at Skaarhoj for controllers that can do Visca, Panasonic and Blackmagic cameras at the same time.
That said, I still have to come across a proper P/T head that works for the Blackmagic Micro Studio cameras - and you have the issue with finding motorised zoom lenses for the BMMSC (probably having to opt for a B4 adapter and B4 lenses, both rather expensive). And even if you get that all going somehow, good luck making them work together nicely (as in, i.E. being able to store and load a Pan/Tilt/Zoom/Focus preset somehow). Long story short, you are probably much cheaper off by just getting more high end Sony or Panasonic PTZs. If you don't need 4K, the Sony BRC-H800 is probably the best bang for the buck.

Cheers,

Daniel

[Gary Adams]

Hello All. There are Panasonic PTZ cameras that support VISCA and if so, should work with the ATEM.

Regards, Gary

As an owner of Panasonic AW-HE130, and HE40 cameras (both support VISCA says Panasonic), i can say that the ATEM VISCA control does not work with either of these cameras.

Even if they did, the less than ideal VISCA command set available from the ATEM would be a non starter for me anyway. No shading or focusing would be available. I don't understand how ANYONE could think that would be acceptable.

Also, I can't see how having to toggle your joystick/menus between pointing cameras, and running the rest of the switcher would actually work during a typical show. Not to mention I think it's a far better solution to have one person running cameras, and a separate person run the switcher.

One man's opinion...

While it could be handy for talk shows and webtalks.. Were only some minor adjustment is needed.. But when you really need to adjust cameras from time to time.. You have no time for that if you are really doing a live switching..

And with live performers that will result in always being late..

I did 8 years of live shows as a 1 man crew. Having a Sony RM-BR300 Visca remote and an atem switcher.. Running 4 dome cameras. The trick here was that i made an interface between the Sony remote tally output and the mixer. So everytime i selected a dome camera for control. This camera was auto switched to my PRV bus. I could setup the camera shot and hit cut on the atem.

After a show of 5 hours i was completly exausted.. These jobs were 4 night in a row.. And the quality of operating went down after 2 night.. Stopped working for that client because they insist there was no room for a second operator...

I have a BMD ATEM 2 M/E Production Studio 4K, ATEM 1 M/E Advanced Panel, and Sony BRC-H800 PTZ cameras. I cannot get them hooked up for control, I've got the pinouts for all devices, the panel is connected to the switcher but RS-422 (visca) is not working. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Tom

Baz leftler posted only yesterday on a control interface he was making available to run with ptz heads and the micro studio cameras.

From my mobile using Tapatalk

I have a BMD ATEM 2 M/E Production Studio 4K, ATEM 1 M/E Advanced Panel, and Sony BRC-H800 PTZ cameras. I cannot get them hooked up for control, I've got the pinouts for all devices, the panel is connected to the switcher but RS-422 (visca) is not working. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Check this topic>>
Atem Visca camera control

Shortly I will have available a PTZ controller for ATEM. Just waiting on what will be available at NAB 2019.

For anyone else going down this same rabbit hole, it is very likely best to just buy a quality ptz camera. But here is what I have discovered for going down this route. Skaarhoj does indeed support bmd cameras with pt heads. I reached out to them for a list of ones they had tested. "We have tested Rushworks, DataVideo, BR Remote Head, eMotimo, AutoPod, and Presenter Tech. We also work with Zanus, though I believe they built their integration custom." I looked thru these and they either seem cheeply made or too expensive. Probably the best route is to go with middle things apcr or apcr mini, but at this time you have to use their controller, or go through a computer to a game controller.

I wanted to use my skaarhoj but use one of the dji gimbals as they seem to be far superior in quality for dollars, and I stumbled across Signal Audio Pty Ltd out of australia.

He makes visca over ip controllers for dji gimbals, I'm going to see if I can get my hands on one to test.