Christian from Camflag introduces an intelligent lens hood system designed to solve lens flare issues in broadcast, particularly for sports events where cameras often face the sun. The system is an automated, intelligent cardboard flag that connects to the lens and dynamically adjusts its position to block direct sunlight while always remaining just at the edge of the camera’s frame, regardless of the zoom level. This prevents the image from becoming washed out or gray due to high contrast caused by excessive light entering the optic.
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The Camflag system interfaces with the lens through its virtual port. It uses a pass-through connection, taking in the virtual port data from the lens and looping it back out so other systems can still access it. The system draws power from a 12V supply via a large lens adapter. By reading the high-precision position data of the lens elements, specifically from Canon box lenses, the Camflag calculates the exact edge of the frame and positions the flag accordingly for any zoom position.
This automated positioning ensures that the flag effectively provides shade to the lens without vignetting or requiring manual adjustment by the camera operator. The primary benefit is maintaining image quality and contrast, which is critical for high-value productions like the FIFA World Cup, where multiple cameras are positioned 360 degrees around a stadium. The system is particularly useful for the first two matches of a tournament day, which are often played in bright daylight conditions.
Presented at the Canon booth at NAB, the Camflag is positioned as a crucial addition to a professional broadcast camera setup, which can cost upwards of 250,000 euros or dollars. The system is designed to protect the quality of the investment by solving a persistent optical problem that even high-end equipment faces. According to the company, the system is ready for deployment in major international sporting events.
