Camera operators are going to often be the last ones in unsafe positions because we still haven’t solved the remote camera problem yet. There’s too much latency to have the cameras that whip pan running on the remote tripods used in a few other series.
Object tracking has been a solved problem for a few decades. Tracking a predictable moving object against a static background is trivial. Any small latency can be compensated with predictive control.
I bet the problem is more related to the logistics of Formula 1. Traveling all the time to circuits that have different mounting locations and constraints. At that point, it’s just more practical to hire a cameraman.
Tracking can be done, the rest of everything can’t, especially at F1 speeds.
Even professional grade cameras and lenses can’t reliably track f1 cars like that automatically. Photographers still frequently have to use manual focus to capture f1 cars due to the speed, and photography autofocus is much more advanced than video. Not to mention that TV cameras are fully manual in 99% of cases.
It doesn’t really make sense to change them, and even the closest thing we’ve got (the formula e remote cams) are still not fully capable of handling fast corners, straights or a few other things.
The logistics definitely don’t help either. If they didn’t have to setup and tear everything down every week it might allow for a bit more permanent infrastructure, which is going to likely be what’s needed for something like that.
I’d be more than fine with some less whipy pre canned motion that accommodates far more cars per screen than the stupid zoom setting and motion they have now
Worth it for the shot
Camera operators are going to often be the last ones in unsafe positions because we still haven’t solved the remote camera problem yet. There’s too much latency to have the cameras that whip pan running on the remote tripods used in a few other series.
Object tracking has been a solved problem for a few decades. Tracking a predictable moving object against a static background is trivial. Any small latency can be compensated with predictive control.
I bet the problem is more related to the logistics of Formula 1. Traveling all the time to circuits that have different mounting locations and constraints. At that point, it’s just more practical to hire a cameraman.
Tracking can be done, the rest of everything can’t, especially at F1 speeds.
Even professional grade cameras and lenses can’t reliably track f1 cars like that automatically. Photographers still frequently have to use manual focus to capture f1 cars due to the speed, and photography autofocus is much more advanced than video. Not to mention that TV cameras are fully manual in 99% of cases.
It doesn’t really make sense to change them, and even the closest thing we’ve got (the formula e remote cams) are still not fully capable of handling fast corners, straights or a few other things.
The logistics definitely don’t help either. If they didn’t have to setup and tear everything down every week it might allow for a bit more permanent infrastructure, which is going to likely be what’s needed for something like that.
I’d be more than fine with some less whipy pre canned motion that accommodates far more cars per screen than the stupid zoom setting and motion they have now
The sponsors unfortunately aren’t. The whole reason it’s the way it is was to give sponsors more screen time
I’ll be sure to buy more… checks notes… “Aramco” next time I am at the store. Fuck advertising.
Just out a 1 meter cable behind the camera, nonexistent latency because it’s just 1 meter but keeping the operators safe behind the protection