Broadcast RF used the new Sony TD300 3D camcorder as a radio camera for the Live Four Nations Rugby League games at Wembley. It is the first time the Sony TD300 camera has been used as a radio camera in a live sports production.

A major advantage of the TD300 camera is the form factor – it has the look and feel (and weight!) of a “regular” 2D camera, which means that – unlike many bigger stereoscopic rigs – it can easily be used as a shoulder camera or on a Steadicam. While the inter-axial distance between the two “eyes” is fixed, the convergence can be controlled either from the camera or remotely, the minimum convergence distance is 1.2 m.

The TD300 camera has an individual HD-SDI output for each eye, so both left and right eye are available in full HD resolution rather than merged into a single side-by-side output.

Broadcast RF’s 3D system was designed to achieve excellent 3D picture quality and full remote control for the TD300 camera as well as all major stereoscopic rigs (3ality Technica, P+S).

In comparison to a 2D HD radio camera, the video data rate is doubled in the 3D system to assure the picture quality for each HD-SDI camera output. The video from each eye, the left and the right, is similar to a “regular” 2D HD link.

Their wireless camera control system allows for various 3D and camera parameters to be controlled remotely from the OB truck. This way the stereographer has full control of the 3D settings such as convergence for Sony TD300, while the vision engineer has access to all the camera’s paint functions using the manufacturer’s control panel – in this case the Sony RCP1500.

www.broadcastrf.com