Laboratory test conducted by Carlos Medina, Audiovisual Technology Expert and Advisor

The success of PTZ cameras has been one of the most relevant highlights in the audiovisual sector and in the field of live cameras in the past four years. Many professionals had real reluctance to use this type of camera because for them it was more identifiable with webcams, video calls or simply for security issues.

But the picture has changed substantially. Many manufacturers of cameras traditionally encompassed in the broadcast TV sector (such as studio cameras and/or ENG –Electronic News Gathering- cameras) have been gradually directing their efforts to PTZs.

At present, there are many television programs that have incorporated this type of camera, given its versatility and its perfect location on TV sets or in reality TV locations. Even more so in live production environments (for live events such as music concerts, conventions, religious ceremonies, galas and award-givng ceremonies…).

On this occasion, manufacturer Canon has showcased for us and has let us know more about the PTZ CR-N700 model.

As we already know, a PTZ camera has that generic name by the acronym for Pan-Tilt-Zoom. ‘Pan’ is the panoramic movement of the camera’s body horizontally (from left to right or vice versa) on its own central axis and without physical displacement of the camera. ‘Tilt’ shares the same characteristics, but it is the movement of the camera body vertically (from top to bottom or vice versa). And ‘Zoom’ is the internal movement of the lenses within the camera optics that allows us to have different focal lengths without changing lenses, thus being capable of going from a wide angle to a normal focal length or to a telephoto lens (that is, having different combinations that depend on the type and design of the manufacturer of the optics in the video field).

This PTZ model  offers us the following ranges:

PAN – PTZ CR-N700

– Panning Operating Range:  Horizontal ±170°

– Panning operating speed: 0.1° to 100°/s

TILT – PTZ CR-N700

– Tilt Operating Range: Vertical from -30° to  90°

– Tilt operating speed: 0.1° to 100°/s

ZOOM – PTZ CR-N700

– 15x optical zoom (8.3 – 124.5mm [35mm equivalent focal length: approx. 25.5 (angle) – 382.5mm (tele)]; with a 1:2.8 – 4.5 opening)

– This optical zoom can go to 30x with an advanced option in FHD (1920 x 1080 pixels)

– 20x digital zoom

Like many other PTZ cameras on the market, this model is designed to be fully operational regardless of placement, that is, either on the ground, on a tripod or platform or hung on the trusses or lighting grills of a TV set, a performing arts venue or on the stage of a concert, among other locations.

Before getting to know a little more about Canon’s PTZ CR-N700, we must highlight that we are dealing with a high-performance PTZ camera, one of great visual quality and compliant with broadcast regulations. This means that there is no problem with handling and operation within the workflow in any television program and/or within the multi-camera production of a live or real-time event.

Nowadays, the PTZ CR-N700 is Canon’s highest-performing model. Its size (W 200 mm x H 269 mm x D 208 mm) and its weight (approximately 4.4 kg, body only) accommodate a camera with a CMOS type 1.0 sensor of approx. 8.29 effective megapixels (3840 x 2160). In short, it is a professional 4K UHD 60P PTZ with a powerful image processor, the highest in its range: The DIGIC DV7.

Both a fantastic resolution and image quality are maintained from capture to connectivity thanks to its 12g SDI BNC output (output only), 0.8 Vp-p/75 Ω, which allows working with a 4:2:2 video signal at 10 bits that is compatible with SMPTE ST 2082, 2081, 424, 425, 292, 259, 299, 272, integrated audio and time code (VITC/LTC).

In addition, it features another output under the HDMI connector (type A – video signal 4:2:2 at 10 bits) and one more 3G SDI BNC (output only), 0.8 Vp-p/75 Ω, compatible with SMPTE ST 424, 425, 292, 259, 299, 272, integrated audio, time code (VITC/LTC). This model is open to IP connectivity under the RJ45, 1000Base-T connector (3840 x 2160, 4:2:0 8-bit video output).

Canon, a manufacturer perfectly established in the film, television and live production sectors, has designed this model to achieve maximum integration into different workflows under different protocols such as:

• SRT: stands for Secure Reliable Transport, a streaming video protocol created by the Canadian company Haivision, aimed at transporting video signals with ultra-low latency and high image quality.
• NDI|HX1: is the acronym for Network Device Interface and is an open standard, developed by NewTek, that allows two-way communication for video, audio and data between devices through a 1 GbE (Gigabit Ethernet) standard network with high quality and very low latency.

Additionally, PTZ CR-N700 includes RTMP/RTMPS, RTP/RTSP, along with Canon’s standard XC and FreeD communication protocols, for integration into virtual productions.

From the first moment and as soon as you take the camera out of the box, you can see the range of products you have in your hands. But, as soon as you connect the PTZ and start testing the features it has through the configuration and management software, you realize that it is designed for very demanding professionals who remember well the possibilities of a studio and/or an ENG camera. Thus, we can manually configure IRIS (from 2.8 to 11.0), ISO (from 200 to 12,800) and GAIN (-6.0dB to 21.0 dB or 36.0dB gain boost); in AUTO operation the camera responds very well to a spectacular level of brightness, adapting perfectly to different lighting conditions, from high lights to almost absolute darkness.

In this sense, there are many technical details that can be tweaked, but we will just highlight some of the most relevant ones: we can work with ND filters (disabled, 1/4, 1/16, 1/64), driven by a motorized knob; do Infrared Shooting (night mode); modify the Shutter under parameters of Speed (1/50 sec. to 1/1400 sec.) or Angle (11.25º to 360.00º) and even activate the Clear Scan (50Hz-2003Hz). We found the way of adjusting the white balance a real hit, both with mired degrees and with kelvin degrees, in manual and/or in AUTO (AWB), adjustment in memories or A/B users and the preset setup (daylight: 5600 K1, tungsten lamp: 3200 K2); it features a Daylight adjustment range from 4300ºK to 8000ºK and Tungsten from 2700ºK to 3700ºK.

The CR-N700 also stands out from the rest of PTZs in regard to everything related to focus: from manual (MF) to enhanced MF through AF, continuous AF, Face AF, Tracking AF. As for the AF, it allows us a Dual Pixel CMOS AF and a contrast AF. Face detection and eye detection are very noteworthy. Updating the firmware very intuitively improves the functionality of automatic tracking (RA-AT001), thus achieving smooth and accurate tracking of the subject without continuous changes in framing and focus, thanks to the possibility of customizing the priority screen area, rotation/tilt detection area, fixed viewing angle area, automatic selection exclusion area and/or smart detection of humans.

Another technical parameter that is worth highlighting in this model is the image customization setup (Custom Picture). In this aspect, we really love the possible combinations that we can make so that the image offers an aesthetics adjusted to current broadcast regulations under the prism of file type, gamma and color space: from BT 709 (Normal, Wide DR, Standard) to PQ and HLG through Canon settings (Standard EOS and Neutral EOS) or Canon curves (Log 3/BT.2020 and Log3/BT.709).

No less important details are, on the one hand, the possibility of mastering the recording both on an SD memory card or on a micro SD card; on the other hand, the video crop function, which is the intelligent cropping of a 4K UHD signal from a single camera to produce two video signals up to FHD. The PTZ CR-N700 can output a primary Full Screen Feed 4K UHD signal via the 12G-SDI output and a secondary cropped feed FHD signal (1920 x 1080 pixels) via the 3G-SDI output.

Also, by updating the firmware under the ‘Automatic Loop’ application we can program the camera’s repeated twisting, tilting and zooming movements to perform a live performance without the need for a camera operator to be aware of the action; from a back and forth loop as a programmed movement, to applying a continuous loop that allows the camera to move from positions A-B-C continuously in a loop or a reciprocal loop that causes the camera to move from positions A-B-C to positions B-A-B and positions C-B-A, to establishing five independent pre-programmed loops, with a maximum of 4 positions each. This loop application will allow us to have greater control over production and staging in many of the programs and/or shows that are require precise camera planning.

The CR-N700 works under the 12 V DC external power supply  and PoE: PoE++ power supply via LAN connector (compatible with IEEE802.3bt).

In short, Canon has provided a 4K UHD 60P 4:2:2 10-bit camera for television broadcasters, technical managers of live events and anyone interested in having a high-end PTZ who is looking for a more cinematic aesthetics  and depth of field thanks to its CMOS type1.0 sensor.

This model can be operated with a remote control (included) but we can make the most of this type and model of camera when combined with any of the Canon PTZ controllers (RC-IP1000 or RC-IP100) or through the Canon camera remote control application from a PC and/or tablet. With them, you can enjoy spectacular image capture without sacrificing creativity and the best point of view of the relevant program or event.