Sports Camera Systems from Polecam

Polecam, a world-leading innovator of compact, man-portable, mobile crane systems for digital film and television content creation, has developed high quality, cost effective camera units allowing efficient outside broadcast coverage of stadium sports such as rugby, soccer and hockey.

Polecam provided Toshiba cameras to Camera Corps for coverage of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and they caused a sensation during the England team's defeat by Germany at Bloemfontein when 26 million viewers saw Frank Lampard's goal disallowed because the referee and his assistant had their attention elsewhere!

A key element of the GoalCam system is that it can be brought to site, installed and dismantled much more easily than traditional heavyweight kit. It is also ideal for use in combination with one or more Polecam portable rigs.

The system consists of two Goalcams and one StadiumCam. Each camera incorporates a 1/3 inch CMOS HD-SDI imager allowing the use of ultra-wide-angle lenses with high corner resolution. Both GoalCams are fitted with 125 degree low-distortion lenses giving images of the entire goal mouth without the barrel distortion commonly experienced at such wide angles.

The 125°degree lens allows the entire goal to be seen even when cropped from 16:9 to 4:3 thus enabling the commentators to report accurately if a ball has indeed crossed the line.

StadiumCam is equipped with a 170 degree fisheye lens and, like the GoalCams, can deliver 1080i line resolution at 50/59.94Hz.

All three cameras plus two auxiliary cameras can be controlled from a single Polecam RCP remote control panel which can in fact control up to 5 cameras from the one panel. The GoalCams and StadiumCam incorporate individual data receivers allowing full control of camera functions, including motorised iris adjustment. The data signal can be sent along standard audio cable, over optical fibre or via a radio microphone link. Control data can also be embedded and de-embedded into the HD-SDI video stream and converted to fibre.

Each GoalCam is supplied with a fully adjustable bracket equipped with a weather housing, available in white or carbon fibre effect. The bracket allows the camera to be positioned in the corner of a goal and will re-stabilise quickly if the net is struck by a ball. Suspended from a single point, the mount is also designed to prevent injury by flexing if a player collides with it.

Weighing less than 500 grammes, StadiumCam can be positioned overhead, at a halfway line or at a corner of the pitch. With 5 megapixels equivalent optical resolution, its 170 degree lens allows the entire crowd and stadium to be encompassed in a single view.

The system uses 3 x Toshiba IK-HR1S cameras. The two Goalcams are fitted with Theia 125° low distortion lenses and the Stadium Camera is fitted with a 170° Fisheye lens.

The cameras are 1/3" single chip CMOS HD-SDI 1080i 50/59.94/hz switchable cameras.
A small cost effective downconverter (~£400) can also be used to give SD-SDI signals where required.

You can also add two more cameras to the system, for example in the players tunnel and in the dugout, and still only use 1 x RCP panel saving on 'retail space' in the engineering truck.

The Goalcam/Stadium Camera System gives high production value at a very cost effective price.

For further Goalcam and Stadiumcam specification / information Click here

Call us now on +44 (0) 1234 855222 - Systems available worldwide

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Polecam Ltd, 10 Sunbeam Road, Woburn Road Industrial Estate, Kempston, Bedford MK42 9BY, GB
T. +44 (0)1234 855222 F. +44 (0)1234 855270 M. +44 (0)7791 683349
www.polecam.com