ROUND TABLE
operators and help production teams make more informed creative decisions. We have already seen significant progress. Early tracking systems focused on keeping a person within the frame, but modern AI-assisted PTZ cameras can identify subjects, distinguish between multiple people, maintain framing as they move and support more natural- looking compositions. Panasonic’s approach is to use AI as a creative assistant, reducing repetitive workloads while leaving artistic decisions and storytelling firmly in human hands. This is particularly important as production environments become more complex, with operators often responsible for multiple cameras, robotic systems and production functions simultaneously. AI will play an increasingly important role when combined with robotic movement systems, enabling smoother, more dynamic and repeatable camera movements while maintaining precise subject awareness. For broadcasters, educators, corporate studios, sports producers and live events, this means more creative camera angles, greater consistency, faster operation and higher production values with smaller teams. The future of PTZ technology will be defined by the balance between automation and creativity. AI will handle complex and repetitive tasks, while people remain responsible for vision, storytelling and the creative decisions that make great productions successful. GB: I think it will be incremental versus revolutionary. Currently, AI is mostly found in auto-tracking cameras for facial recognition and determining the number and placement of individuals in a room or on a stage. Another main AI/automation feature to look for is the cameras’ ability to read hand gestures,
for panning and tilting. In the near future, it may be possible to provide a script and have an AI system choreograph all of the camera moves, which can then be edited and fine-tuned. DEF: Filmmakers increasingly expect technology to integrate seamlessly into wider production workflows. How is the PTZ market responding to those expectations, and where is there still room for improvement? KS: Many PTZ cameras have limited built-in recording options, typically relying on compressed formats such as H.264 or H.265. For wider adoption in filmmaking, support for professional recording formats such as ProRes, along with RAW recording and Log colour profiles, would provide much greater flexibility for colour grading and post- production workflows. CL: Integration has become one of the most important considerations for professional users. Customers no longer view a PTZ camera as a standalone device; they expect it to work seamlessly with switchers, production automation systems, virtual production platforms, robotic camera systems and software. The market is responding through greater support for industry-standard protocols, open interfaces and partnerships with third-party technology providers. PTZ cameras are being integrated with robotic rails, motorised sliders and other motion-control systems, enabling more dynamic camera movements while retaining the advantages of remote operation. Virtual production and AR/ VR workflows are also driving demand for more accurate camera positioning, tracking data and system integration. There is still room for improvement
in industry-wide interoperability and workflow standardisation. Greater consistency between manufacturers and easier integration between different systems would help users build more efficient production environments. DM: Interoperability is a huge priority. Open standards such as NDI, SRT and Dante AV-H are helping cameras integrate more naturally into diverse production environments, while improvements in network infrastructure have made IP workflows far more accessible than they were just a few years ago. At the same time, the traditional boundaries between broadcast and AV continue to blur. Users increasingly expect a single camera to work seamlessly across SDI, IP, HDMI, USB and cloud-connected workflows without having to choose one ecosystem over another. There is still work to do around simplifying deployment and ensuring seamless interoperability across different manufacturers, but the industry is moving steadily towards more open, standards-based ecosystems that give users greater flexibility and investment protection. MD: The next breakthrough will come through making imaging, control, automation and device management feel like one coherent experience. For filmmakers and video-production teams, integration is about more than connecting a camera to a network. The camera must fit naturally into the entire production workflow from acquisition We are seeing growing demand for production-native connectivity, REMI and distributed production, open control and automation and post-production readiness. There is still room for improvement. The industry needs greater interoperability and more consistent APIs across manufacturers, along with simpler software environments that bring camera configuration, control and automation together. Filmmakers also want more natural movement curves, including sophisticated ease-in and ease-out and camera control through live switching, remote collaboration, recording and post-production.
FUTURE-READY Marshall Electronics foresees an incremental rise in AI features on PTZs
56
DEFINITIONMAGAZINE.COM
Powered by FlippingBook