ADDITIONAL BENEFITS OF ROBOTIC CAMERAS

Camera shoots appreciate robotic cameras for four simple reasons, cost of lift, safety, operational tempo, and crew presence. 

COST OF LIFT

Cost of lift is a principal that the more mass you have to lift into the air or push along a track, the higher the cost of the shot.  A camera dolly designed to carry an operator requires heavy vehicles to move, a large grip crew to build and position, then must be pushed by one or two operators to achieve camera moves.  Each of those crew must be accounted for in the cost of craft services, must be housed when the production team is away from base, and themselves increase transportation costs.

These costs are multiplied for crane shots where every pound in the air can mean ten more on the ground.  While drones have started to save money in this area, the lack of lens selection for drone fielded cameras can be a limit on creative vision.

The basic math of lifts and dolly shots can be quite startling once a producer runs the numbers.  In some cases the cost savings from a single short shoot will pay for the purchase of robotics. With traditional rentals that cost savings is increased.  

CREW SAFETY

Safety is an area that is of concern for very producer.  No production is worth an injured crew person, and even past the ethics the publicity and expense of injuries can shut down even the best run and well-intentioned production.

In special effects shooting and harsh weather environments robotics keep the crew away from the action, which is an advantage for all involved.  It is easier to keep crew hydrated and shaded away from their camera mounts, and for scenes where pyrotechnics are involved, a robotic camera also reduces the number of trips crew must make down range.  No matter how safe your setup, you get extra safety by keeping the crew away from pyrotechnic builds and out of the hot sun / frigid winter wind. 

OPERATIONAL TEMPO

Operational tempo is a concern of every camera operation. Speed is important for saving money, and can be essential for getting the shots you need of high value production environments.  Every video photographer knows that time-on-location is a precious commodity.  A corporation that hires you to shoot a training video, a reality show scene where you have four days to complete your shoot, or shooting in a government facility where clearance windows can be small, means you want equipment that can be moved in rapidly by small crews, and repositioned easily to get as much work done as possible in the smallest amount of time.

Robotic cameras, especially with wireless controls and battery operation, can be moved rapidly into shoot locations without the need for long cable runs.  Once in place moving them is no harder than moving a single staffed camera in the same position.  This has the advantage of allowing you to spend the most time possible getting the material you need, and reduces the number of assistants you need just to push gear around shoot locations.

CREW PRESENCE

A final advantage of robotics is crew presence.  Most actors will agree that some scenes are difficult to practice even in the quiet of their own home.  Hard working actors, struggling to deliver a strong performance for a demanding director, are often beset by distractions on set.  Crew presence is the concept that for some scenes the fewer crew on set the better for actors to deliver difficult performances.  

Robotic heads, especially when they are designed for low profile operations, reduce talent distractions by creating a "closed set" atmosphere without losing important crew from the production process.  This can also be important in reality television or when working with actuality productions where the general public may be in close vicinity of the set.  Fewer staff near the set increases realism in extras and non-professionals.