PTZ Auto Framing Camera

The BRC-AM7 is the smallest and lightest camera of its type in the world, making it easy to install just about anywhere. It is unobtrusive for the same reason, even in multi-camera setups. Additionally, the BRC-AM7 offers broad connectivity and system compatibility with for example S700PTP and free-d protocols.

Dramatically improved imaging performance

A 1.0-type Exmor RS image sensor with approximately 14.0 million effective pixels and the latest BIONZ XR image processing engine work in unison to achieve high resolution with low noise. Textures and materials are rendered with lifelike accuracy.

• This newly developed built-in lens features a 20x optical zoom range. In addition, Sony’s advanced Clear Image Zoom offers 30x zoom (720 mm) in 4K and 40x zoom (940 mm) in Full HD. This offers extraordinary range that can easily capture a subject in various situations.
• Sony’s original built-in electronic variable ND (neutral density) filter allows seamless variation from 1/4 to 1/128 ND, with an auto exposure mode automatically maintaining optimum exposure through lighting variations. Ideal exposure can be maintained when stage lighting changes, for example, without having to adjust iris, shutter, or gain. Also, optimum exposure can be achieved without affecting depth of field in the widest possible range of lighting situations.
• Colour matching with Sony’s system cameras is simple with ITU709 and 709tone, as well as S-Cinetone and S-Log3 for Cinema Line cameras for seamless multi-camera operation.
• AI analytics uses detailed human pose, head, face, clothing, and other data to recognise human subjects with high precision. This can be used to automatically control pan, tilt, and zoom to follow an athlete at a sports event, for example. PTZ Auto Framing is smooth and natural-looking, making it possible to work with a smaller camera crew.
• The latest Exmor RS image sensor and BIONZ XR image processing engine work in unison to achieve outstanding subject detection precision and speed for significantly improved tracking performance. The image sensor has focal plane phase-detection AF in the imaging area, easily focusing on fast-moving subjects with extraordinary speed and precision over a wide area.
• PTZ Auto Framing works with this newly adopted AF system to dramatically improve overall AF tracking performance. A performer who is actively moving around on stage can be reliably followed while precise focus is maintained, for example. With this capability, a multi-camera system can be set up to follow individual performers without requiring a correspondingly large camera crew.
• Ideal for capturing basketball games, the BRC-AM7 tracks both the ball and players, automatically framing the scene from an overview angle to clearly capture the flow of the game. Unlike conventional subject tracking, it employs advanced tracking technology to account for the fast and irregular movements of the ball.
• PTZ Auto Framing is performed only within the predefined area. When a subject goes out of the predefined area, PTZ Auto Framing stops and returns to search for the subject within the predefined area. The predefined area can be displayed as an overlay on the Web UI live view. Simultaneously, this function allows you to exclude subjects that you do not want to frame.
• When using PTZ Auto Framing to track a person, the composition is automatically adjusted to provide space in the direction of the subject’s gaze, depending on the orientation of the subject’s face. This allows for tracking in a natural composition that is close to professional camera work. Additionally, the size of the margin that can be set with the Lead Room Effect can be adjusted in three levels.
• The BRC-AM7 can automatically track a group of up to eight people, with a primary subject and secondary subjects. The primary subject can be specified via the camera’s Face Registration function, or on the web app screen. The secondary subjects are automatically selected according to their proximity to the primary subject. The camera’s pan, tilt and zoom function ensures that the selected people are included in the image, with natural looking framing. Multi-person Framing is ideal for various applications such as talk show, music event and other events.
• The BRC-AM7 can register the primary subject, tracking them reliably based on pre-registered face data and tracking priority. Automatic start/return is also enhanced, using registered face information to quickly re-acquire the subject after lost tracking or mis-tracking.
• Camera functions can also be controlled remotely using web app software on a networked PC. This allows easy and optimal adjustment of the composition (size and position) of the subject with intuitive drag operations. BRC-AM7 offers a wide range of picture composition options, with 150 subject sizes from full body to Closer Closeup, and detailed left/right and up/down settings. Scene composition can also be changed at any time, even when PTZ Auto Framing is active.
• A direct drive system using newly developed axial-gap brushless DC motors, with high torque and advanced control technology, provides highly accurate response and tracking. It allows smooth, detailed control of camera pan and tilt for high-quality visual presentation at all speed ranges. These advanced motors work with precision optical encoders to allow pan and tilt speeds ranging from a very slow 0.004 degrees per second to a snappy 180 degrees per second. This broad speed range makes it possible to be used in various applications.
• Realtime tracking AF is supported, allowing the tracking subject to be changed with a single touch. It also enables control of camera pan, tilt, zoom, focus, iris, ND filter density, recording, and playback from a web browser on a tablet or computer.
• The BRC-AM7 supports not only ITU709, 709tone, S-Cinetone and S-Log3 for seamless colour matching, but also has great control capability by S700PTP protocol. This allows remote control of Sony’s cameras via Ethernet, so detailed remote control is available from Sony’s RCP series remote control panels or MSU series master setup units. This makes it possible to combine the BRC-AM7 with Sony’s BRC series cameras and/or system cameras to create highly integrated systems with advanced remote-control capability.
• The BRC-AM7 is the smallest, lightest camera of its kind in the world. It fits easily in limited spaces where installation of other PTZ cameras might be difficult or impossible. This product is less likely to be noticed if it appears in a shot in a multi-camera installation. The BRC-AM7 also has a standard 1/4-20 UNC screw socket for tripod mounting and the same 3/8-16 UNC screw socket as other system cameras for accessory attachment.
• In addition to 12G SDI primary output, 3G SDI is provided for monitoring. The BRC-AM7 offers a variety of video output options such as optical-fiber 12G SDI available via an SFP slot, and HDMI. Audio input can be connected via a pair of 3-pin XLR type connectors or a 3.5 mm stereo jack, providing plug-in compatibility.
• Power can be supplied via a standard 4-pin XLR connector, or a PoE++ network connection without the need for additional wiring in environments where a power infrastructure is not available. Even when powered by PoE++, output of an optically converted SDI signal is possible via an SFP+ module (option) connected to the OPTICAL connector.
• The BRC-AM7 has dual memory slots that are both compatible with CFexpress Type A and SDXC memory cards. Slot A and Slot B accept CFexpress Type A and UHS II/UHS I SDXC memory cards for high-speed storage and retrieval of large volumes of data. The dual memory slots also allow simultaneous recording, relay recording, and proxy recording.
• Free-d compliant camera tracking information output (pan, tilt, zoom, focus, iris) allows the camera’s position in 3DCG space to be output so that its motion can be replicated in virtual VR/AR systems. This makes high-level virtual production available for news programmers, events, and much more.