The new Canon BU-51H HD Pan Tilt Zoom Camera may not perform miracles, but it may pay you back with time, staffing and operational dividends. This camera both surprised me and made me re-think one of my main philosophies.
I have always been a champion of human camera operators. For me there is no substitute. Human creativity is infinite and only limited to time, talent and training. In the corporate world this comes at a cost, mostly in the salary of the operator. In the church world the cost is in finding and training volunteer operators. My bias brings up a great question, a question I had to answer myself during this process. If humans are so much better at operating a camera, why would I even entertain the idea of using a PTZ camera? My answer came only after using the BU-51H PTZ for weekend services.
Operational Environments
There are basically two environments this camera could be used in. One would be a pure robotic system, while the other would be a mixture of human and robotic.
A mixed system using the BU-51H in conjunction with human cameras can allow for greater flexibility with shot selection and provide a new level of creativity. Because the size and shape of the BU-51H is much smaller than human-operated cameras, placement is very easy in locations where humans either would not fit or where they would be much too distracting. The camera also assists in staffing flexibility, allowing you to use your volunteer staff in high profile or strategic locations.
A purely robotic system is only limited to your budget and the skill of your operator. One main benefit of this camera is its size. In some church's, architectural and cosmetic interests are primarily the deciding factors in selecting A/V gear. Adding one or more BU-51Hs can be done without any disruption to the look of the space, and many times the installation of the camera can be invisible to the congregation. Other advantages would include churches looking for a simple way to record and distribute their services to locations outside the main sanctuary, as well as churches that need to run multiple cameras with a small number of volunteers.
Connections and Control
Control of the camera system is virtually limitless. The RS-232 based open control protocol allows you to use off-the-shelf PTZ controllers, room automation systems such as Crestron or AMX, existing RS-232 control systems, or a completely custom control system designed by you or your installer.
Connections are also very simple. The pan tilt housing has the RS-232, main power and camera control link connection. All of the video connections are on the camera body. The camera is native 1080i and includes HD-SDI, Analog HD, and Video out. I was impressed with the Genlock capability, which makes integrating this camera into a video switching system quick and easy.
Performance
I was amazed at the quality of this camera. We use camera systems three to four times the cost of the BU-51H, and to my amazement the Canon optics and image quality were indistinguishable to the untrained eye. This camera only has a 1/3-inch imaging sensor and an internal installed lens. I have to admit I was not expecting anything great. In the past I have not had any luck with the image quality of 1/3-chip systems in our space-and even more concerning was the lens. Most internal or fixed lens cameras have never met my standards for quality HD images. The BU-51H gave me a pleasant surprise in both image quality and zoom speed smoothness. I use a lot of camera motion in our services and the zoom of the BU-51H was able to keep up with the required motion needed to ensure a consistent look to our IMAG feed. The camera also has a digital extender, and again I was not expecting to be impressed. I used the extender over and over because the quality of the image did not suffer. In fact, I had a hard time distinguishing whether the extender was actually being used.
I was also impressed with how smooth, extremely quiet and precise the BU-51H was. The controller I used would save preset shots, and each time I recalled a preset the camera always moved into the exact position. The speed of the pan tilt motors was adequate. I could recall a shot from the BU-51H, take it, and then recall the next shot. In most cases the camera was in position and ready within five seconds, which gave me a few seconds to adjust it (I was following swaying musicians) and take it live again.
Limitations
There was only one mechanical limitation I experienced with the system. When operating the system in manual iris mode I could not adjust the iris while panning, tilting, or zooming. Canon says this limitation was a function of our controller, not the camera itself. So if you plan to use this function, be sure your remote camera controller is fully compatible. You can always just use the auto-iris setting. The only issue for me with the auto iris active was that I found the image to be always too bright or too dark. So to mask the iris limitation, I used the manual iris setting and just set the iris somewhere between too dark and too bright-and continued on.
Conclusion
The BU-51H is an exceptional camera, and with an experienced operator the practical and creative possibilities are endless. To cycle back and answer the question I posed to myself at the beginning of this review, if humans are so much better at operating a camera why would I even entertain the idea of using a PTZ camera? The simple answer for me is it's another tool to use to create engaging weekend experiences.
