PTZ cameras installed in St Peter’s Basilica for first time

PTZ cameras have been fitted inside St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican for the time, alongside an update of the Holy See’s broadcasting system.

The small size of the Sony BRC-H800 PTZ cameras made them perfect for discreet installation around the building, avoiding an impact on the historic surroundings.

The PTZ cameras can be controlled remotely, meaning there is no need for camera operators. This reduces the footprint of production while allowing for more creative productions, as filming can take place from new angles not accessible by people.

The installation took place as part of Sony’s relationship with Vatican Media, the official institution within the Vatican responsible for broadcasting the Pope and the Vatican’s activity. The institution, previously called Centro Televisivo Vaticano, aims to make the look and feel of the Vatican accessible worldwide, and provide high-quality footage for the historical archive through its broadcasts.

In a large project which began in 2020, the entire broadcast system of the Vatican has been updated to a more streamlined fibre network, connecting cameras to production control rooms efficiently. By using Sony’s HDCE-100 adaptor, all 4K cameras can be connected. Through single-mode fibre interconnection, it is possible to interconnect multiple sites within Vatican City creating a true baseband network to dynamically convey camera signals to the control room. The system also leaves a smaller footprint on the historical buildings, as the HDCE-100 unit used is small, silent, easily hidden and thin optical fibre cables can used on long distances.

All cameras across The Vatican have also been progressively upgraded to produce high-quality images, essential for preserving and reflecting the events happening around the most important sites in the Vatican complex. Sony’s HDC-5500s have replaced previous generation cameras, providing superior image quality and creative flexibility. The devices can shoot in 4K, HD, and HDR which allows them to capture 4K images with exceptionally low noise, perfect for the impactful, low light (and therefore difficult to capture) atmosphere of The Vatican. The upgrade includes the use of a new and efficient technique, where two camera heads are connected to a single camera cable. Operations are monitored on the Sony PVM-X series monitors which allows side-by-side comparison in the production suite.

In November 2022 the camera installed to film St Peter’s Square 24/7 was also upgraded to a Sony FX9 to improve image quality, and to provide a more cinematic feel whilst remaining completely reliable all day, every day.