American Cinematographer’s Noah Kadner looks at some of image capture highlights from this year’s big game
CBS deployed 165 Sony broadcast cameras in total, including many capable of 4K zoom and 48 featuring 4K super slo-mo. Smaller FX-series models, like the FX6 and FX9 were used for “more intimate, cinematic shots at field level”.
There were also two mid-level 4K cameras shooting at 480 frames per second and more shooting at 480 fps in the vicinity of the goal line pylons, on the end line of the endzone, and down the sidelines. These were particularly useful for referees, for slo-mo replays. Played back at 24 fps, a 480 fps feed is slowed down 20 times.
Twenty three augmented reality cameras integrated with Unreal Engine produced live AR graphics, that, along with other images, were superimposed over landmarks like the Bellagio fountains and Las Vegas Boulevard.
Other image capture highlights
- shallow depth-of-field cameras for more intimate shots of players on the field
- “Red Cat” POV cameras for unique replay angles
- a 53-foot MovieBird TechnoCrane for sweeping stadium shots
- the Falcon 360 Camera for comprehensive venue views
- an array of wireless RF cameras to cover various aspects of the game
- sky cams, fly cams, a “trolley cam” and drones captured Las Vegas’s vibrant atmosphere and dramatic shots above the Strip and the Sphere.
Main image ℅ KTVQ