michof_d219
Member
I bought a TC Mini SDI bundle (the Mini with AE3, two PTZ2 cameras, a Lumens PTZ controller, and a Planet brand gigabit POE switch) from a reputable NewTek reseller in the Chicago area. Straight out of the box, I had issues where the controller and the Cameras just didn't seem to be working well together: very often (and I'm talking as bad as three or four out of ten times), when I release the joystick after a move, the camera overshoots and continues anywhere from a few degrees past the intended stopping point on up to the full range of its ability to move. During the overshoot, nothing I do with the joystick will stop the camera, and maybe half the time, the joystick itself will not regain control of the camera for several seconds, if at all. I don't need to tell anyone here that that's absolute death during a live shoot, moreso one that's being streamed.
I've battled this for well over a year. At first, I asked the vendor if the Lumens controller was really the best match for the cameras. I was told it literally was the best match because Lumens is the manufacturer of the NewTek cameras themselves, so the vendor recommends Lumens controllers specifically for those cameras. They offered some things to try but nothing really worked. Lumens was even less helpful, pulling the "let me talk to our guys and get back to you" line and then ghosting me.
Recently, fed up with the situation and having no budget to replace what is essentially new gear (we're a public school), I reached back out to the vendor and Lumens with a six-minute video I made, illustrating the worst examples of these overshoots from just a single night of use. No usable help from the vendor, absolute crickets from Lumens. Not a peep.
I don't recall if I posted here at that time, and the only reason I'm not checking that is that I've already decided I'll post here now (either for the first time, or again, as the case may be).
I've tried different cameras (replaced one of the PTZ2s with an identical unit) — no joy. Today I replaced the Planet switch with a brand new Aruba switch (an HP box branded as both Aruba and HP right on the product). It's one of our stand-by POE switches here at the school, and was literally new-in-box. New cam, new switch, same old issues.
I've also tried using the TriCaster's own PTZ control. Slightly faster camera response, but overshoots still happen. Furthermore, I swapped out my Mini CS (the small one that came with my TC Mini bundle) for a larger CS that came with the Broadcasting class' 455 model TriCaster. That control surface has a joystick which I knew would control my PTZ cameras (even though it's probably meant more for virtual set movement). It did control the cams, but also experienced overshooting.
Even presets are dicey on the Lumens controller. I sometimes have to try three or four times to save a preset, and calling them up works maybe 85% of the time. Not very reliable when trying to lock a preset on a live shot I might want to use again.
Finally, I downloaded PTZ Optics' free PTZ controller software. I figured maybe I'll run it on a laptop with a touchscreen, so I can call up presets quickly by touching the screen. Nothing worked... I couldn't get it to talk to the cameras.
I haven't yet tried a different brand of PTZ controller, but I'll be doing so later this week... I'll take one from our Board of Education room where I've had no issues controlling two cams with this controller. The cams and controller at that building are made by Ottica, and were purchased as a set of two cams and the controller. If the Ottica controller works better than the Lumens, I'll be really miffed that we paid so much for the Lumens and it doesn't stack up to the other, supposedly lesser brand. I don't have any other NDI cameras to try (I'm sure not taking the Otticas off the ceiling mounts at the office building).
So, after that long-winded intro, my questions are:
• Does anyone else have frequent overshooting PTZ2 movement (let go of controller, camera continues moving)?
• Have you figured out a way to overcome the issue?
• In the opinion of my fellow users, are NewTek's cameras and Lumens' controllers actually any good?
ANY useful advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
— Mike
I've battled this for well over a year. At first, I asked the vendor if the Lumens controller was really the best match for the cameras. I was told it literally was the best match because Lumens is the manufacturer of the NewTek cameras themselves, so the vendor recommends Lumens controllers specifically for those cameras. They offered some things to try but nothing really worked. Lumens was even less helpful, pulling the "let me talk to our guys and get back to you" line and then ghosting me.
Recently, fed up with the situation and having no budget to replace what is essentially new gear (we're a public school), I reached back out to the vendor and Lumens with a six-minute video I made, illustrating the worst examples of these overshoots from just a single night of use. No usable help from the vendor, absolute crickets from Lumens. Not a peep.
I don't recall if I posted here at that time, and the only reason I'm not checking that is that I've already decided I'll post here now (either for the first time, or again, as the case may be).
I've tried different cameras (replaced one of the PTZ2s with an identical unit) — no joy. Today I replaced the Planet switch with a brand new Aruba switch (an HP box branded as both Aruba and HP right on the product). It's one of our stand-by POE switches here at the school, and was literally new-in-box. New cam, new switch, same old issues.
I've also tried using the TriCaster's own PTZ control. Slightly faster camera response, but overshoots still happen. Furthermore, I swapped out my Mini CS (the small one that came with my TC Mini bundle) for a larger CS that came with the Broadcasting class' 455 model TriCaster. That control surface has a joystick which I knew would control my PTZ cameras (even though it's probably meant more for virtual set movement). It did control the cams, but also experienced overshooting.
Even presets are dicey on the Lumens controller. I sometimes have to try three or four times to save a preset, and calling them up works maybe 85% of the time. Not very reliable when trying to lock a preset on a live shot I might want to use again.
Finally, I downloaded PTZ Optics' free PTZ controller software. I figured maybe I'll run it on a laptop with a touchscreen, so I can call up presets quickly by touching the screen. Nothing worked... I couldn't get it to talk to the cameras.
I haven't yet tried a different brand of PTZ controller, but I'll be doing so later this week... I'll take one from our Board of Education room where I've had no issues controlling two cams with this controller. The cams and controller at that building are made by Ottica, and were purchased as a set of two cams and the controller. If the Ottica controller works better than the Lumens, I'll be really miffed that we paid so much for the Lumens and it doesn't stack up to the other, supposedly lesser brand. I don't have any other NDI cameras to try (I'm sure not taking the Otticas off the ceiling mounts at the office building).
So, after that long-winded intro, my questions are:
• Does anyone else have frequent overshooting PTZ2 movement (let go of controller, camera continues moving)?
• Have you figured out a way to overcome the issue?
• In the opinion of my fellow users, are NewTek's cameras and Lumens' controllers actually any good?
ANY useful advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
— Mike
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