More than 20 Sony high-definition cameras were used by Game Creek Video for last weekend’s broadcast of the Daytona 500 race. They included a combination of Sony’s HDC-1500 multiformat cameras and HDC-3300 3x slow-motion cameras.
According to Game Creek president Pat Sullivan, the company used the cameras to capture the race and pre-race broadcasts, as well as action from the infield during the race. Eighteen HDC-1500 cameras served as the primary field-production units, supported by two HDC-3300 systems. The HDC-3300 cameras were used in a hard camera configuration in Turn 3 and at the Tri-Oval near the start/finish line. Game Creek supported the race with its FX HD mobile production system, which comprises five integrated production, support and studio trailers.
“A live event like racing has some very unique production requirements,” said Sullivan. “There’s obviously a lot of fast-moving action that needs to be captured, but it’s also critical to be able to slow down that action and do high-quality slow-motion analysis. The Sony cameras give us the combination of capabilities that we need.”
Sony’s HDC-1500 multiformat camera system captures high-definition images in 1080i or 720p. Sullivan noted that this type of race involves very challenging cable runs, and the ability to use fiber or triax with the HDC-1500 cameras greatly simplifies things. The HDC-3300 camera achieves 3x speed slow-motion effects in full-HD. Designed for use by OB vans and production or rental houses, the new system can output normal speed signals simultaneously for live feeds through separate digital signal processing.
Separately, this weekend, more than 20 Sony HDC-1500 HD broadcast cameras will be used to capture the annual Academy Awards, to be broadcast Sunday on ABC, according to a Sony spokesman.
