Advances in technology have made end zone cameras much cheaper and they are now much more accessible to smaller teams to the extent that any team that has not yet invested in an endzone video system is now at a distinct disadvantage. But choosing the best end zone camera for a team can be quite difficult, because there is now quite a lot of suppliers on the market, including High Rise Camera, Hi Pod, and each one has used technology in slightly different ways in their video camera tower systems.
In some cases, you will find that suppliers of endzone camera systems have used all the latest gadgets in their camera tower systems, including a motorized head that allows you to pan and tilt the camera easily, while others have kept things simple and stuck with a manual pan and tilt system. On the face of it, a motorized head would seem like a great idea, but is it technology for technology’s sake?
If you are thinking of purchasing an endzone video camera tower and you are unsure whether you need to pay the extra for a motorized head, here are the reasons why keeping things simple with a manually operated head might be your best option.
Less to go wrong
Quite simply, the more moving parts and electrical components that you have in any piece of equipment, the more likely it is to go wrong. While panning and tilting at the touch of a button may sound great, it really is unnecessary, because manual panning and tilting is not at all difficult to do. With a manual pan and tilt system, like the Hi Rise Camera endzone video system, you know that the system will work every single time you use it, because there are so few parts that could malfunction.
More control
Most people find a manual pan a tilt system easier to operate, because you have full control over where the camera is pointing. In some end zone camera systems that use a motorized head, you can get a slight delay in the movement of the camera, which can be extremely frustrating if it means that you miss some important action on the field.
Cheaper spare parts
In time, you will inevitably get some wear and tear on any video camera tower and, eventually, you may need to purchase spare parts. If you are using a simple manual system, spare parts are easy to find, and they are not very expensive. If a motorized head needs a repair, you will need specific components from specific suppliers that will cost you a lot more.
More robust
Having too many electronic components on sideline cameras and endzone cameras will make them more prone to damage. A video camera tower is frequently assembled and disassembled, and it will need to be transported to different locations, so inevitably it will have to withstand a few bumps and it will probably be dropped a few times as well. A motorized head can be damaged by a bit of rough treatment, but a manual head will easily withstand a few knocks.
While end zone camera systems like Hi Pod, US Sports Video, and HD Endzone Camm all now feature motorized pan and tilt heads, Hi Rise Camera systems have deliberately kept things simple to make their system affordable for all teams, and to keep the operation and maintenance of their systems easy. While they have used modern technology in the design of their end zone camera, when it comes to a telescoping tower, Hi Rise Camera believes that keeping things simple is the best way to design a video camera tower.