NEWARK, NJ — Seminole Productions, the video production unit of Florida State University’s College of Communication and FSU Athletics partner (www.seminoles.com), recently invested in Panasonic’s VariCam LT 4K camcorder to shoot cinematic features and opens for display on Panasonic large-format LED video boards that are installed throughout Doak Campbell Stadium. The VariCam LT is also being used to shoot segments and interviews for The Jimbo Fisher Show and
Seminole Sports Magazine. Both are half-hour weekly television shows currently airing on the Fox Sports Sun Network.
The VariCam LT (
us.panasonic.com/varicam) complements Seminole Productions prior purchase of eight Panasonic AK-HC5000 4X high-speed camera systems, as well as AG-DVX200 4K handheld camcorders and an AW-HE130 PTZ camera. Like the new HC5000 camera, the VariCam LT offers capture rates up to 240fps - well suited for fast-motion sports footage.
Mark Rodin, executive director of Seminole Productions, says that while the video boards are 1080/60p models and the sports magazine shows air in HD, the VariCam LT affords him the opportunity to “shoot in 4K with HDR now. Shooting in the 4K space lets us move the image around to create beautiful video for a broad variety of uses. The fact that VariCam LT has 240fps super slow-mo built into the cost of the camera is a key benefit. We are utilizing the camcorder on the sidelines for every football game for game action and player reactions, and altogether the resulting segments have a real cinematic look.”
The VariCam LT’s dual native 800/5000 ISOs are another asset of the camcorder. “Shooting in low lighting at ISO5000 is making for some very creative effects with the players and more dramatic opens and features for the fans in the stadium,” he notes.
Seminole Productions will use the VariCam LT throughout its 17 varsity athletic programs. “With the LT, we have been able to access all the prized VariCam functionality we need at a price point we can afford,” Rodin says.