Robotic Camera vs Human Camera Operators: Which Is Best for Video Production?

If you want a clear-cut example of how fast technology continues to advance, look no farther than film and television production.

These days, many productions use the types of robotic cameras that would have been unthinkable even as recently as a decade ago. Of course, this certainly invites the question - which is better for a particular project, a robotic camera or a human camera operator? Are robotic cameras better because they're newer or do humans still have something to offer? The answers to questions like those require you to keep a few important things in mind.

Pros & Cons of Using a Robotic Camera

One of the biggest advantages of a robotic camera has to do with making the most of certain environmental limitations you may be dealing with.

Case in point: space limitations. Sometimes, you'll be shooting in an environment that just isn't very big - meaning that you'll only be able to get a certain number of crew members in there during a take. A camera is already large, and it will only eat up even more real estate once you add a human operator and any other piece of equipment like a Steadicam they might be using.

In those situations, robotic cameras would not only help save space, but they could also get into positions and capture angles that would be literally impossible with a human operator.

Another benefit to using robotic cameras is that their movements are consistent in a way that a human camera operator's aren't. By virtue of the fact that a human operator is exactly that - human - no two takes will look 100% identical. Maybe they move in a slightly different way from one attempt to the next, or they're starting from a slightly different position. This isn't necessarily bad, but when you compare footage you'll be able to tell.

Robotic cameras, on the other hand, can be programmed to move consistently that is 100% repeatable. Sometimes this will be exactly what your project calls for.

Perhaps the biggest potential con of robotic cameras has to do with the learning curve that they are known for. They still need to be programmed in a way that allows them to properly react, especially when it comes to live programming. A live, human camera operator has experience in the types of equipment they have been using for years - therefore, they may have a chance to excel in a situation that demands spontaneity in a way that robotic cameras haven't necessarily perfected quite yet.

Pros & Cons of Human Camera Operators

Along those lines, the biggest pro of human camera operators has to do with the experience they bring with them. Over the course of a seasoned professional's career they will have been in a huge number of environments and situations. Many have "seen it all" and they've faced major challenges on productions before, and they know how to solve them. A robotic camera brings none of this intuition with it - it simply does as it's told.

Of course, logically speaking a human camera operator can be difficult for those reasons outlined above including spatial considerations. In terms of the budget of a production, a human camera operator also represents another salary that needs to be paid. Once the initial investment has been made to purchase or rent robotic cameras, you don't have to keep paying them.

Which is Best for Video Production?

Ultimately, the decision about whether to use robotic cameras versus human camera operators will come down to what, exactly, you're trying to accomplish with your project.

There will be times when, for various reasons, you'll want a bit of an "old school" feel to the footage you're capturing. Maybe you're shooting an event, and you want a "fly on the wall" perspective to help people feel like they're really there. Perhaps you're shooting a documentary and are striving for as much verisimilitude as possible. In those events, the "human" element that human camera operators bring with them can really add to what you're going for - even if only on a subconscious level.

In many other situations, however, the benefits that only robotic cameras can give you would be the way to go. This is especially true if you're shooting a fast-paced event like a sports game where precision is of paramount importance. Robotic cameras will be able to give you that sense of place and stability in a unique and visually interesting way, making it the perfect choice for such an occasion. Robotic cameras are also great for live events with a lot of unpredictable action - they'll likely have a better shot at fully capturing something unexpected than a human camera operator could (through no fault of their own, of course).

Overall, you need to consider what the project requires for maximum impact before making a decision. Only by understanding what your end goal happens to be for the look and feel of something, and why it's so important, will you be able to select the resources that will help you bring it all to life.

At TV Pro Gear, we offer a wide range of different video production services for you to choose from depending on your needs. You have a vision for a piece of work, and we have the skills, the equipment, and the passion to help bring it to life in as much vivid detail as possible. With expertise in sports production, concert production, eSports, conferences, broadcast television, red carpet events and more, we want to help you succeed in any and all ways that we can.

If you'd like to find out more information about robotic cameras and human camera operators and which is best for video production, or if you'd just like to talk about your ideas for your next big project with someone in greater specificity, please don't delay - contact the team at TV Pro Gear today.