The First Camera Robotics
This is the start of the remote/robotic studio camera. We can all “thank” Evershed Power Optics in the UK for this “brilliant” idea. As the story goes, BBC management let it be known that they were trying to cut staffing costs and low and behold, EPO stepped up to the plate. These photos are from 1963 and show on the left, the power head and zoom only. On the right is the full magilla which includes a remotely operated pedestal as well. The lens was made by Angenieux and I think this system could pan, tilt and zoom, but with the electronic pedestal, could crab and truck. I don’t know how many of these were sold in the US, but I don’t think there were many as these are the only two photos I have ever seen of these early units. Thanks to our friend Dicky Howett in the UK for the WDAF photo.
…quite nice ! ..thanks for posting ! !
I have many sad and funny stories from the Evershead era at WFLD Chicago. Mostly when they decided to have a mind of their own and do an artistic sweep of the studio grid just for fun, Or the fact they really didn’t work well manually (no drag or lock). Or the time an idiot decided (against orders) to switch a camera to manual just before the signoff news and the pan handles almost gored him like a bull.
The children’s cable network Sprout has moved its daily live show ‘The Sunny Side Up Show’ to Media Room 2 in the Global Media Center on the 6th floor of 30 Rock, using 3 interesting robotic panhead cameras:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dennisdegan/15585124836/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dennisdegan/15423211060/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dennisdegan/15608797185/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dennisdegan/15608799095/
Nothing screams fun like chasing a Robo across a news set because it suddenly decides it wants to be in a different room. 🙂