Production Toolbox recently provided a miniature camera car for the USRowing Masters National Championships. The client’s requirements were simple. Provide a mobile HD wireless camera system that has a range of one mile and can operate in adverse weather conditions. The vehicle must be compact so it can be driven in small spaces. The “small space” was a 10’ wide floating road with a 30’ wide turnaround at the start line.
We built our mobile camera system around the uniquely designed “Smart Car”, the smallest production vehicle in the US. While there are many camera cars and trucks available for film and video shoots, none can drive and negotiate turns in such tight spaces. An ATV mounted camera wasn’t an option because the vehicle had to accommodate two people in comfort and the system needed to be wireless and weatherproof. A boat was also out of the question because of the wake it would create.
Our system started with the Canon BU-47H outdoor rated PTZ camera coupled to an RF Central long range HD wireless video system. Then we added several 12V storage batteries in the trunk, Motorola communications, a skilled remote camera operator and an equally competent driver.
After successfully shooting several hundred races (and performing the same number of 3-point turns at the start line!) over 4 days, our miniature camera car managed to stay dry and operate flawlessly, and all at a fraction the cost of a Gyrocam system.
