Remote camera
Encyclopedia
A remote camera is a camera
placed by a photographer in areas where the photographer generally cannot be. This includes areas with limited access, tight spaces where a person is not allowed, or just another angle so that the photographer can simultaneously take pictures of the same moment from different locations.
Remote cameras are most widely used in sports photography. 35mm digital
or film
, and medium format cameras are the most common types of cameras that are used.
1. A camera with automatic film advance or motor drive
2. Mounting hardware
3. Safety cables
4. Triggering units and cables
5. Gaffer tape
& black wrap
Cameras are often placed in angles that a photographer cannot physically be during a shoot. Sport use examples include behind the backboard at a basketball game or overhead in the rafters of an arena during a hockey game.
For remotes that are in close proximity to the photographer, hand triggers can be used. A hand trigger consists of a button or switch that is connected to the camera via a wire that is set to fire the camera's shutter.
For remotes that are placed away from the photographer, radio triggering systems such as Pocket Wizards or Flash Wizards are used. A radio trigger consists of a button or switch that is connected to a radio triggering transmitter or transceiver which is set to fire a radio triggering receiver or transceiver that is connected to the camera via a wire that is set to fire the camera's shutter.
For rocket
launches, including the Space Shuttle
, remote cameras are triggered by the sound of the launch.
s on each end.
surveillance by hunters.
Most cameras come with a strap that allows it to be hung from a tree and a lock to prevent theft. It will automatically take a picture when it senses motion. Each image is stamped with the date and time it was recorded. The game camera will usually function day and night by sensing game out to around 45 feet.
The first hunting trail monitor used heat sensing motion detectors to trigger a counter to count the number and record the time of animals passing by. The sensors are also known as passive infrared light sensors or PIR sensors. Normally, hunters are never around so they do not know what kind or size animal was being counted. Later, a camera was added. Game camera technology has evolved since then. Originally wildlife photography was only available by using film, but now there is a choice of film or digital cameras. The ability of game cameras to tell hunters where game is located is useful for pre-season scouting. The information tells hunters where to best place their blind or tree-stand. For digital cameras, all images are recorded onto a memory card, such as a commonly available SD card. This also allows hunters to conveniently transfer the images to a home computer or they can be viewed, copied and deleted by a Viewer in the field. More expensive units have the ability to wirelessly upload captured images to a computer or website without any user interference.
flash. LED flash enables the hunter to discretely image game in the night without a visible flash. This prevents the flash from giving away the hunters position in popular hunting areas. Some models have a manual switch to set an infrared filter for day or night mode.
research groups and enthusiasts making an effort to capture a photo of the legendary creature
.
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
placed by a photographer in areas where the photographer generally cannot be. This includes areas with limited access, tight spaces where a person is not allowed, or just another angle so that the photographer can simultaneously take pictures of the same moment from different locations.
Remote cameras are most widely used in sports photography. 35mm digital
Digital
A digital system is a data technology that uses discrete values. By contrast, non-digital systems use a continuous range of values to represent information...
or film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, and medium format cameras are the most common types of cameras that are used.
Necessary items
The general list of items that are necessary to set-up and use a remote camera are:1. A camera with automatic film advance or motor drive
2. Mounting hardware
3. Safety cables
4. Triggering units and cables
5. Gaffer tape
Gaffer tape
Gaffer tape, gaffer's tape, gaff tape or gaffa tape is a strong, tough, cotton cloth pressure sensitive tape with strong adhesive properties. It is used in theater, film and television productions as well as during live performances and any other kind of stage work...
& black wrap
Uses and practices
Remote cameras are used by photographers to make more pictures and from different angles. Remotes are very popular in sports and wildlife photography.Cameras are often placed in angles that a photographer cannot physically be during a shoot. Sport use examples include behind the backboard at a basketball game or overhead in the rafters of an arena during a hockey game.
Placement
Remote cameras that placed in suspended positions usually are mounted with clamps and arms such as the Bogen Super Clamp and Variable Friction Arm, often referred to as "Magic Arms". The camera and lens are connected to the variable friction arm which is attached to the Super Clamp which in turn is secured to a fixed item such as a basketball post, hand railing, or rafter. Ground plates or tripods are typically used for remote cameras placed on the ground.Triggering
Remote cameras can be fired via hand triggers, radio transmitters, or the self timer built into the camera.For remotes that are in close proximity to the photographer, hand triggers can be used. A hand trigger consists of a button or switch that is connected to the camera via a wire that is set to fire the camera's shutter.
For remotes that are placed away from the photographer, radio triggering systems such as Pocket Wizards or Flash Wizards are used. A radio trigger consists of a button or switch that is connected to a radio triggering transmitter or transceiver which is set to fire a radio triggering receiver or transceiver that is connected to the camera via a wire that is set to fire the camera's shutter.
For rocket
Rocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
launches, including the Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
, remote cameras are triggered by the sound of the launch.
Safety
The number one priority with remotes should be safety for other people during the shoot. Steel safety cables should be used to secure each part of the remote camera to a secure fixture. Safety cables are made of braided steel cord with steel carabinerCarabiner
A carabiner or karabiner is a metal loop with a sprung or screwed gate that is used to quickly and reversibly connect components in safety-critical systems. The word comes from "Karabinerhaken", meaning "hook for a carbine" in German.-Use:...
s on each end.
Game camera
Another type of remote camera is the game camera or trail camera. It is a device that records images, either as a still photograph or a video. It is a rugged and weatherproof camera designed for extended and unmanned use outdoors. The images it produces are used for gameGame (food)
Game is any animal hunted for food or not normally domesticated. Game animals are also hunted for sport.The type and range of animals hunted for food varies in different parts of the world. This will be influenced by climate, animal diversity, local taste and locally accepted view about what can or...
surveillance by hunters.
Most cameras come with a strap that allows it to be hung from a tree and a lock to prevent theft. It will automatically take a picture when it senses motion. Each image is stamped with the date and time it was recorded. The game camera will usually function day and night by sensing game out to around 45 feet.
The first hunting trail monitor used heat sensing motion detectors to trigger a counter to count the number and record the time of animals passing by. The sensors are also known as passive infrared light sensors or PIR sensors. Normally, hunters are never around so they do not know what kind or size animal was being counted. Later, a camera was added. Game camera technology has evolved since then. Originally wildlife photography was only available by using film, but now there is a choice of film or digital cameras. The ability of game cameras to tell hunters where game is located is useful for pre-season scouting. The information tells hunters where to best place their blind or tree-stand. For digital cameras, all images are recorded onto a memory card, such as a commonly available SD card. This also allows hunters to conveniently transfer the images to a home computer or they can be viewed, copied and deleted by a Viewer in the field. More expensive units have the ability to wirelessly upload captured images to a computer or website without any user interference.
Types available
- Digital - Produce digital pictures instead of film
- Film - Instead of digital these cameras use film, usually 35mm
- Laser aim - Produce a red light beam for aiming where the image location is to be taken from
- Strobe flash - Incandescent flash that will usually reach out to 15 feet for nighttime images
- IR - Sometimes available in addition to strobe flash or alone, for more stealth like performance
- Sound producing - Game calls or sounds to attract any of a wide variety of animals, with sounding intervals adjustable from 1 to 24 hours
Technical details
Depending on how the camera is set up, a new photo can usually be taken every 30 seconds for as long as motion/heat events are detected. Some game cameras give the user a choice of settings for regular camera flash or stealth-like LEDLEd
LEd is a TeX/LaTeX editing software working under Microsoft Windows. It is a freeware product....
flash. LED flash enables the hunter to discretely image game in the night without a visible flash. This prevents the flash from giving away the hunters position in popular hunting areas. Some models have a manual switch to set an infrared filter for day or night mode.
Advantages of strobe flash cameras
- Long range flash performance – Some have a flash range of over 60 feet
- High quality color images during both day and night makes animal identification easy
- Completely freezes animal movement so there is never any nighttime motion blur
Disadvantages of strobe flash cameras
- The flash may spook game
- The flash can be noticed by other hunters
- Cannot record night time videos
Advantages of IR cameras
- Less likely to alarm an animal (as no visible light is generated)
- Less likely to be noticed by other hunters
Disadvantages of IR cameras
- Nighttime images are black and white and have less detail and clarity
- Infrared Flash quality/range tradeoff: If the Infrared flash is designed for maximum range the images may be overly white, or blur. If the Infrared flash is designed for best image quality, range will be sacrificed.
Types
- Digital cameraDigital cameraA digital camera is a camera that takes video or still photographs, or both, digitally by recording images via an electronic image sensor. It is the main device used in the field of digital photography...
- Infrared photographyInfrared photographyIn infrared photography, the film or image sensor used is sensitive to infrared light. The part of the spectrum used is referred to as near-infrared to distinguish it from far-infrared, which is the domain of thermal imaging. Wavelengths used for photography range from about 700 nm to about...
- Movie cameraMovie cameraThe movie camera is a type of photographic camera which takes a rapid sequence of photographs on strips of film which was very popular for private use in the last century until its successor, the video camera, replaced it...
- Film formatFilm formatA film format is a technical definition of a set of standard characteristics regarding image capture on photographic film, for either stills or movies. It can also apply to projected film, either slides or movies. The primary characteristic of a film format is its size and shape.In the case of...
- Video cameraVideo cameraA video camera is a camera used for electronic motion picture acquisition, initially developed by the television industry but now common in other applications as well. The earliest video cameras were those of John Logie Baird, based on the electromechanical Nipkow disk and used by the BBC in...
Brands
- Bushnell CorporationBushnell CorporationBushnell Corporation, also known as Bushnell and Bushnell Outdoor Products, is an American company specializing in optics and imaging. Its products include binoculars, spotting scopes, telescopes, night vision equipment, GPS devices, laser rangefinders, riflescopes, holographic weapon sights, game...
- Cuddeback
- Leaf River
- Moultrie
- Predator
- Reconyx
- Stealth
- Trail-Pod
- Wildview
- Prostalk
Other uses of the game camera
Game cameras are also used by BigfootBigfoot
Bigfoot, also known as sasquatch, is an ape-like cryptid that purportedly inhabits forests, mainly in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Bigfoot is usually described as a large, hairy, bipedal humanoid...
research groups and enthusiasts making an effort to capture a photo of the legendary creature
Legendary creature
A legendary creature is a mythological or folkloric creature.-Origin:Some mythical creatures have their origin in traditional mythology and have been believed to be real creatures, for example the dragon, the unicorn, and griffin...
.