Motorized Pan Heads...

[PC Master]

First off...yes, I realize that this forum is primarily about DV video capture and such. Why then, am I posting this here? Simply put, it occurred to me that several who visit this forum seem to have a lot of experience with cameras and filming in general.

What I'm looking for (aside from the stuff in the other thread I posted) is a motorized pan head. Sure, those are easy to find, but I need one that will automatically follow a transmitter. Basically, the subject of recording wears the transmitter (say, in a shirt pocket or something), and then, as the subject moves around, the camera will follow.

Is there something like this on the market that isn't $5,000?

[trevlac]

A tad late on my answer but what the heck ...


Yes ~ $200 ... try markertek.com or Bhphoto.com and there is a company that makes something called powerpod.com or trackercam.com .

At this $ range I don't think it is so smooth. I tried a powerpod for automated pan but didn't find it to be smooth enough. I did not try the tracking one. I've seen the same type of thing in the markertek catalog and maybe at B&H too.

[edDV]

There is a parallel universe of security cameras and video forensic techniques. It's been a few years since I looked there. Google should lead you into this world with the right key words.

[PC Master]

trevlac> I appreciate the response. It seems that I'm unable to find the products you mentioned, however. Could you possibly post some links to the specific pages for the items you mentioned? Thanks.

[Nelson37]

Gee, and I though this was a question about old Harley-Davidsons.

I am pretty sure that some of the motorized security cameras and software can be programed to track motion, though if there is more than one moving object this may not help. The motorized mounts and cameras are not too terribly expensive.

[ribac]

I recomend www.pana3ccduser.com which forum mainly for Panasonic cameras but they are talking a much about filmmaking and building all kind of accesories or www.DVinfo which is great forum too.

[ribac]

Sorry I meant ww.DVinfo.net

[trevlac]

http://www.trackercam.com/TCamWeb/powerpod.htm
http://www.markertek.com/SearchProduct.asp?item=ITP%2D1&off=1&sort=prod

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=breadCrumb&A=FetchChildren&Q=&ci=3496


1st 2 are the exact items you are looking for (but the quality may not be what you want). Last link is general CCTV/Security stuff as edDV mentioned.