FilmNova and Timeline TV join forces to develop new super slomo camera

FilmNova and Timeline TV have developed a new super slomo camera, Supernova, which made its debut on the PTO Tour in August 2023

FilmNova and Timeline TV have jointly developed and launched a new super slomo camera, the SuperNova, which the companies have claimed is the only existing camera of its type.

Supernova made its debut on the PTO Tour in August 2023 and made an immediate impact at the PTO Asian Open in Singapore. High-quality shots at a mix of 300 frames per second (fps) and 500fps were utilised within the live broadcast as montages and replays, as well as additional content being used in the highlights show and by the PTO digital team.

The lightweight super slow RF camera offers a continuous, live output as well as onboard burst recording at high speed. SuperNova can provide dynamic shots from a variety of positions because it is a lightweight, agile one-op system, which can move around event zones with ease.

James Hopkins, FilmNova commercial director, commented on why SuperNova was built: “As host broadcaster of the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) and its Collins Cup events, FilmNova had trialled various super slomos, including Phantom and Antelope Air. Both systems had proved too bulky, heavy, and required two operators.

“FilmNova wanted dynamic shots from a variety of positions and knew they needed a lightweight, agile one-op system to move around Triathlon transitions and the event zones with ease,” Hopkins continued.

SuperNova made its debut in August 2023 on the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) Tour in Singapore and has received rave reviews. Its ability to capture high quality shots at 500fps make it an ideal partner for host broadcast productions, including for use in montages and replays, enhancing the quality and production values across broadcast output.

Watch Supernova at work here:

Hopkins went onto explain the innovations inside the new camera: “FilmNova talked to Timeline TV which was already utilising a cabled version of what was needed, on a tripod with a boxed lens. The companies launched a collaboration to combine the visual effect of that high frame rate camera, with the connectivity, size and weight of a lightweight RF handheld camera.

“Amongst other innovations, Timeline TV engineers designed and specified a high quality, 3D printed alloy chassis with industry standard fittings that has allowed a flexible approach to building, attaching and balancing the various modules required to produce an ergonomic, lightweight design that has proved popular with camera operators and engineers alike.”

Supernova’s onboard storage can record a total of 30,000 frames of video across four clips, recorded at frame rates of 50fps to 500fps, giving 60 seconds of real time recording at the highest frame rates

The camera’s onboard storage can record a total of 30,000 frames of video across four clips, recorded at frame rates of 50fps to 500fps, giving 60 seconds of real time recording at the highest frame rates. The camera produces two outputs – live and replay – which are presented to the transmitter as a single ASI stream. This stream is sent over a standard RF Link, and decoded in the truck into two discreet HDSDI outputs.

The live pictures from the camera are available to the live director and the high speed playback is recorded on EVS for turnaround. The record and replay functionality is controlled by the EVS operator using a StreamDeck controller, which the operator uses to select the required clip, control frame rate selection and to trigger replays.

This control, together with the data from the RCP is combined into a single data stream and linked to the camera over 4G. This means that the replay operation is totally driven from the OB truck, and crucially, does not involve the camera operator. As these parts of the workflow are controlled and executed in the OB truck, the camera operator is free to continue working with the live director throughout to offer shots.

“The 100km range of the PTO Tour provides ample opportunity for beautiful images that help tell the story of these incredible athletes, and Supernova proved itself to be adept at providing them,” Hopkins concluded.

Supernova is available for hire from Timeline TV and FilmNova.