P+S Technik’s Freestyle 3D Rig can now be fully integrated with broadcast live control and has had several upgrades added that make it more suited to use with heavier cameras and on a crane, writes David Fox. The new Magic Support allows the rig, plus Arri Alexa cameras, to be perfectly balanced on a crane or lambda head. It was developed for Astérix et Obélix: God Save Britannia (currently in production), which is using three of the rigs. It also works as an adjustable riser on tripods in the 90°-position, so that rigs can be easily tilted down.
For live OBs, the rig can now be integrated with Sony’s MPE-200 3D processor and HDFA-200 fibre adaptor/multiplexer, so that all the all rig-parameters, plus the initial calibration, can be handled with the MPE-200, using only a single fibre to carry every signal, including power, sync, video and genlock. “By simple integration of the cameras, fibre adaptor and rig itself it is just a single fibre connection back to the control room from where the operator has full control over both the rig and cameras making it not only very compact but also very easy and quick to install, in fact ideal for OB usage,” said Andy Hotten, product specialist group leader, live production, Sony Professional. The new Evolution upgrade for the rig allows it to be used with cameras weighing up to 9kg each (up from 6kg), with a max payload of 27kg (up from 20kg including lens, motors, etc.), and should make the rig a lot more stable. It increases the weight of the rig from 6.8kg to 7.4kg Also new is the PS-Freestyle Quarterwave Filter, which greatly reduces polarisation artefacts with almost no light loss, while decreasing flare and protecting the beamsplitter mirror.
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