Panasonic AW-UE150 PTZ cams rock the show!

Ed Sheeran is one of the most popular pop starts in the world and the experience he provides on tour is important to his fans. His latest +-=¸´ Tour had a 360-degree production set-up, surrounded by the crowd in each stadium, with Panasonic  PTZ cameras operated remotely to bring the audience closer to the action. 

"With the in-the-round stage design, we couldn’t have anything to obscure the crowd’s view. A tour like this would typically use traditional cameras with operators but they would have been too intrusive and that wasn’t an option."
Phil Mead, Colonel Tom Touring

Colonel Tom Touring was the video production company supporting the Tour and Phil Mead was the Tour Video Director. Mead believes Sheeran's Tour was the first time PTZ cameras have been used exclusively in a global stadium tour and Panasonic PTZ cameras made that possible.

 The video production team chose to use the  AW-UE150 PTZ cameras with the help of the CVP Group, one of the leading Broadcast and Professional video solutions providers in the UK and Europe. The AW-UE150outputs up to UHD 4K 60p over a variety of 4K connections including 12G-SDI, HDMI, optical fiber, and IP streaming. It features a large 1" type MOS sensor, a 20x optical zoom with a wide 75.1° angle-of-view, and PoE++ compatibility. 

"We were immediately impressed by the incredible picture quality, the size of the cameras and their versatility. Another great benefit was the ability to use the crop function. It means that a single camera and operator, can achieve two shots – a full body shot and a close-up."
Phil Mead, Colonel Tom Touring

12 AW-UE150 PTZ cameras were used in the Tour. Six on the masts that support the whole steel structure, four at each corner of the stage and two on the large screens above. Seven RP150 Advanced Joystick Controller were used to control the PTZ cameras.

"The fact that we have an IP-based network means that each element in the system is easy to integrate. For me, it is also a dream to be in the remote broadcasting truck because directing from the heart of a 360-degree show can be very difficult and distracting."
Phil Mead, Colonel Tom Touring

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