Robot cameraman, SoloShot

[Robert Dible]

Have you seen this little gizmo?  You place a small tag on an object (1.2 oz.) and this camera system can automatically track the tag as it moves.  Now this is the 21st century I was expecting.



It's called the SoloShot 3, which means 1 & 2 were less refined.  There a number of videos on YouTube that show it in action *, plus a web site if you Google SoloShot.  For what it does, it is fairly low cost, in the half kilo buck range.


* The girls surfing might too dull........... naw, I'm kidding.  I am going to watch that one on the smart TV.

[Howard Rush]

I can track those surfer girls myself without added machinery. 

[Brett Buck]

I can track those surfer girls myself without added machinery. 

  Yeah, but SoloShot won't get arrested for being a dirty old man.

    Brett

[Randy Cuberly]

Remember there are Quads (drones) that will follow you and film everything you do.  Sort of an automated "selfie".  Put one of these little devices on someone without their knowledge and let your little drone film them in whatever they do>   Hmmmm  has interesting possibilities.

Randy Cuberly

[CircuitFlyer]

I, for one, can't figure how some of you guys can get that perfect zoomed-in shot of CL planes in flight.  I guess my reaction time is too slow.  This gizmo sounds like the perfect answer.

Paul

[Brett Buck]

I, for one, can't figure how some of you guys can get that perfect zoomed-in shot of CL planes in flight.  I guess my reaction time is too slow.

It can be a little trying, but electrons are cheap. When the airplane is flying around, focus the camera on the ground below it, and "hold" the focus - usually, you can half-press the shutter and it will focus once, and stay that way. Then start following the airplane in the viewfinder half-a-lap before it gets to you, panning along with it. When it gets near the spot you focused, push the shutter all the way while continuing to pan. It will take the picture of the airplane, and since it is mostly stationary in the field of view, it won't be blurred. While at the same time, the background *will* be blurred, which tends to separate the airplane from the background clutter.

    It is possible to just point it and wait, but by the time you push the button, it can be too late. Its very much more difficult with point-and-shoot cameras because they usually only have video viewfinders, and those lag far behind the action.

       Brett