Canon: Auto loop and auto focus function for PTZ cameras

Canon expands the functionality of its PTZ cameras with two paid apps. These offer auto-loop and auto-focus, respectively, and are aimed at an audience that wants to produce videos professionally. Canon thus wants to enable a stand-alone solution without external hardware. With a firmware update, both new apps should become compatible with many of Canon’s PTZ cameras.

Auto Tracking App RA-AT001

The RA-AT001 auto-tracking app provides automatic tracking of people. Through it, the tilt and pan mechanism of Canon’s PTZ cameras is automatically controlled. Since no external hardware is required, tracking is said to be faster and therefore more accurate than alternative solutions. It also eliminates the need for any manual intervention, which can significantly reduce the amount of staff needed to film. In the app’s settings, it is possible to specify at what walking speed the camera should follow the person being filmed. The tracking sensitivity can also be adjusted in the app. Ten sensitivity levels are available for this purpose. Furthermore, it can be specified at which height it should be focused.

Canon is talking about the new app becoming compatible with various PTZ cameras, including the CR-N500 and CR-N300 models, with the next firmware update. Canon cites live productions, corporate events or lectures as the intended use of the auto-tracking app.
lectures.

Auto Loop App RA-AL001

In addition to the auto-tracking app, Canon will also launch an auto-loop app. This is called RA-AL001 and will be available for the CR-N500, CR-N300 and CR-X300 cameras. It will allow the camera to follow a preset pan/tilt/zoom movement. Again, this replaces manual intervention in the shooting process, reducing manpower requirements. The app is particularly suitable for scenarios where a specific pan, tilt or zoom movement needs to be performed repeatedly. Canon gives music events as an example in the app’s application. Here, people often pan from one band member to the next as well as to the audience and back.

The app not only allows the presetting of the desired movement, but also the possibility of adjusting the start-stop acceleration as well as deceleration. This can be used to make the camera movement appear as a manual one and thus fit seamlessly into a multi-camera setup.

Prices and Availability

The two new apps will become available for many of Canon’s PTZ cameras with the next firmware update, which will also bring several other new features. They are expected to be released around the middle of the year. They are already available for the CR-N700. The prices are 800 Euros for the Auto-Loop and 1,200 Euros for the Auto-Tracking function.