Camera Corps Expands And Announces Investment In New Equipment

Camera Corps has announced its expansion into new premises plus major investment in new cameras, camera control equipment and video recorders.
These developments looks set to sustain the company as a leading provider of support systems and full service facilities to broadcasters and independent programme-makers as well as an increasingly active equipment manufacturer.
Laurie Frost, Founder and Managing Director of Camera Corps, said: "HD really is the new SD. We have experienced a strong increase in demand for 1080-line equipment both in studio-based projects and at outside broadcast broadcast events during the past year. Largest of these was the China Games in August where we fielded nearly 200 1080i cameras in a variety of roles across practically every venue.
"The signal quality these delivered proved well up to expectations. 625-line production equipment is still in demand and looks set to remain so for several years to come. We still have a large inventory of SD kit, but the transition to HD is a one-way journey and we have to stay at the front.
"The office relocation gives our staff a larger and more comfortable dual-floor working environment with much easier access to our entire equipment inventory. Most important of all, it provides us with additional space for production of the Q-Ball remote HD camera head which we will be introducing at NAB 2009 in Las Vegas.
"We made a firm decision to remain within the grounds of Shepperton Studios which has proved a very successful location over the past 12 years. Our new HQ is less than 500 metres from our former premises. Address and communication details remain unchanged."
The enlarged Camera Corps equipment inventory includes 75 Camera Corps HD MiniZoom cameras, 60 Camera Corps VHR remote heads, tracking systems, underwater remote systems, plus 17 Hitachi HV-HD30 cameras, 20 Hitachi DK-H32 and 8 Toshiba IKHD-1.
In addition, a total of 17 new Egripment remote-controlled camera heads have been purchased (7 HotShots and 10 MiniShots). The investment programme also includes five Fast Forward Video Mini DVR Pro ultra-compact solid state video recorders, purchased primarily for use with Camera Corps' Body Cam as lighter and more robust file-based alternatives to body-mounted video tape recorders.
Camera Corps has long experience in providing high-volume support services for reality television programmes as well as very large-scale sports events. The company has achieved a pre-eminent reputation for its ability to acquire exciting and unusual television content from exceptionally challenging environmnents.
Its ever growing arsenal includes high-level cranes, motorised tracking cameras, underwater cameras, bullseye-mounted archery target cameras and fire-proofed high temperature cameras.
The Camera Corps team expands during large-scale events from eight full-time staff based at Shepperton Studios to as many as 200 specialists, including highly-skilled rock climbers able to establish camera positions in almost any location.
Camera Corps will be at the Polecam stand at the NAB 2009 Convention, C7642, in the Central Hall, Las Vegas Convention Centre, April 20-23.
Further information is available at: www.cameracorps.co.uk.
(KMcA/BMcC)