SD081 CAMERA ROBOTS

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Three motion control robots were recorded for this library capturing audio and EMF.
– SYRP Genie
– SYRP Genie Mini
– GIGAPAN Epic Pro

All three are designed for motion controlled camera movement while shooting timelapse.
The two SYRP devices are also designed for real time motion control of camera when shooting video.
The two SYRP models also allow Ease in/out, so variations were captured of constant speed moves, plus ramp up to speed and ramp down.
The Gigipan Epic Pro allows manual real time camera moves to check positioning before automating capture of large scale panoramas.

alt: Soundcloud link

The GigaPan EPIC Pro is a motorized panorama head built to create high resolution images by remote controlling a DSLR through 360 degrees of horizontal and vertical movement.
I enjoy shooting 360 panoramas with my drone, but this robot enables me to use my DSLR and whichever lens I like, safely indoors. The only problem? It seems the GigaPan company went broke during COVID, selling off its hardware division. There is a review from 2013 here and they are still available eg US$1,150 via bhphoto so when one came up for sale locally due to a deceased estate I was intrigued & ended up buying it for very little, such that the risk of no official company support was minimised. The two batteries it came with were dead, so I have modified it to run off a USB battery bank.
While testing it with my Canon 5D3, I could not help but notice the servo motors and have recorded: short bursts, longer sustained moves and programmed panaorama shoot moves, capturing audio and EMF.

Prior to doing my Artist Residency in Japan in 2013, I invested in the SYRP Genie Motion Control which provides two dimensions of automated movement: with the Genie mounted on a tripod, you can perform rotation at whatever speed you like – whether video or timelapse photos. I also have the SYRP camera slider which the Genie can be used with to do automated dolly shots – again in real time for video, or at spaced intervals for timelapse photos.

The third camera robot I own, is the Genie Mini, which SYRP released a year or two after the Genie. The Mini adds a second & third axis of automation, again supporting real time movement for video or interval movement for timelapse photos. These smaller devices have bluetooth built in and the motion can be controlled via an IOS app. The Genie Mini sounds far more ‘tentative’ even though the camera movements it enables are smooth.

Captured to 4 tracks 32bit 192kHz. Released 24bit 192kHz with photos and full UCS metadata.
– Sanken CUX100K
– MKH8050
– EMF via LOM Elektrousi x2

NOTE: Be aware of how much hi freq content the EMF captures. See two FFTs below comparing 192k audio vs EMF.

I really enjoy shooting 360 panoramas with my drone, as it is a great interactive way to document a landscape or environment,
for example view on FLICKR:
– My nephews farm near Hunterville
– Freezing Works ruins, Tokomaru Bay
– Fave West Coast lake
– Denniston industrial ruins Interior

My next mission: capture a 360 pan of my studio! Then night sky panoramas…

GIGAPAN Epic Pro

SYRP Genie Mini

SYRP Genie

Audio FFT of SYRP Genie Ease in and Ease out:

EMF FFT of SYRP Genie Ease in and Ease out: