Angénieux Optimo zooms, ARRI Alexa cameras, and Element Technica Quasar Rigs converged on the Royal Wedding in 3D.
As an estimated 2 billion viewers watched the marriage of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, 3 rigs with 6 Angénieux Optimo DP zooms on 6 ARRI Alexa cameras recorded the event in 3D for broadcast on BSkyB in the days that followed.
Three Element Technica Quasar rigs were mounted with 3 pairs ARRI Alexa cameras, 2 pairs of matching 16-42 mm Optimo DPs and 1 pair of matching Angénieux Optimo DP 30-80 mm lenses.
In the side-by-side rig shown at left, I particularly like the nautical navigation colors for left and right lens: red on the left, blue on the right. Well…right should be green, but close enough. It’s a good way to quickly differentiate eyes, and sure beats writing on camera tape. Optimo DP zooms currently come with a choice of interchangeable rubber barrel rings–I can see green in their future.
On Sight was the facilities company chosen by Sky to supply the 3D equipment and technical crews for the BSkyB Royal Wedding 3D production. The event was not broadcast in live 3D on April 29, 2011. The 3D material was edited and broadcast beginning Tuesday, May 3.
Robin Broomfield, 3D Operations and Development Manager for Sky said, “We only had three camera positions. The choice of equipment was based on reliability and quality . It was obviously important to have a good archive as ‘future proofed’ as possible.’”
Sam Higham, Facility Manager of On Sight, said, “Filming a live event in 3D can be challenging, especially when it has such historical importance as a Royal Wedding. Because the time taken to change prime lenses would have meant the risk of missing an important moment, we chose 3D-ready Angénieux Optimo DP matched zoom lenses. The lenses performed brilliantly, allowing the operators to use multiple focal lengths, with the confidence the lenses would track perfectly for 3D. The results were stunning.”
For more information, go to: http://www.onsight.co.uk/showcase/100/capturing-the-royal-wedding-in-3d
