Using an External Camera (Part II)
We recently implemented the capability of using an external video camera with Takedown. By “external” we mean a separate camera rather than the iPad’s camera.
Previously, we used a Logitech Streamcam with Takedown to capture a high school dual meet. Our thoughts on that experience are in Part I.
This week we used a more advanced camera — Sony ZV-1F — to video record a dual meet with Takedown.
Our verdict: A game changer. Spendy. But…wow.
Why use an External Camera?
There are many reasons to use an external camera.
The video view is independent from the iPad orientation. Put your iPad in a comfortable position for scoring — on your lap, for instance — and still get a great shot.
Separates the scoring and video recording tasks. Scoring and video recording simultaneously can be overwhelming for one person.
If you have a videographer, it allows them to be part of the process (rather than outside of it) without asking them to also score wrestling matches. Not surprisingly, some videographers aren’t interested in scoring wrestling matches.
Potentially, better quality and features — zoom or low level light correction, for example — than the on-device iPad camera.
4. Improved iPad battery life if the external camera has its own battery as is the case with this camera.
The camera we used was a Sony ZV-1F with a standard tripod and mount.
We connected the camera to an iPad (10th generation) running iOS 17. Takedown automatically chooses the external camera instead of the on-device camera.
This camera generates 720P output, the resolution used by most Takedown customers. Pinch-to-zoom works the same as it does with the on-device iPad camera. Unlike the Logitech Streamcam, this camera’s features — and there are many — are accessible via the camera. Importantly, the Sony has a viewfinder, manual zoom and re-chargeable battery.
Results
To our eyes, the video quality of this camera was similar to the Logitech Streamcam.
Here are a few example videos:
Video Recording Experience
We used one operator for scoring and video recording. The camera’s zoom setting captured the full mat area — so panning wasn’t required to keep the action in the view — and used the iPad pinch-zoom feature to get an action closeup. This seemed to be the most practical operating mode for one person. Of course, with a dedicated camera operator a tighter zoom would be possible and often desirable.
Occassionally, we used the Sony camera zoom and tripod panning. This wasn’t sustainable — when the scoring activity picked up we inevitably failed to keep the action in the viewport. So, we reverted to a wide zoom on the Sony camera and used the iPad pinch-to-zoom for tighter shots.
The camera viewfinder was very helpful as it eliminates the need to monitor the iPad’s screen to know if the wrestling action is in the video view. This also means that the camera’s position relative to the iPad is limited only by the length of your USB cable.
Lastly, decoupling the iPad orientation from the camera view yields considerable benefits. We placed our iPad in the most comfortable position for scoring without affecting the camera view. As with the Logitech Streamcam, the entire process of scoring and video recording was much easier.
Cost
Camera — $500 delivered.
Tripod —Pricing for floor standing tripods varies from $50 to multiple hundreds of dollars.
Cable — $10 - $20. Get at least 6’ and it must be USB-C and USB 3+. USB-C alone isn’t sufficient.
Considerations
Not all cameras work as an iPad-compatible external camera for Takedown. Only ‘UVC 1.5 compliant’ cameras are compatible.
Not all iPads work with an external camera. You’ll need a USB-C port and iOS 17 at a minimum. The iPad 10th generation seems the most affordable model that works.
Takedown’s implementation is a bit — technical word here — janky. The perspective shown in the Scoring viewport is rotated 180 degrees around the vertical axis. This doesn’t impact the recorded video; it impacts only the viewport image. You’ll appreciate the Sony camera viewfinder because it offers the correct perspective and makes panning intuitive.
Unplugging the camera when Takedown is in the background can cause a crash when Takedown is brought to the foreground.