Methods and apparatus including or for use with one or more cameras
Camera related methods and apparatus which are well suited for use in capturing stereoscopic image data, e.g., pairs of left and right eye images, are described. Various features relate to a camera rig which can be used to mount multiple cameras at the same time. In some embodiments the camera rig includes 3 mounting locations corresponding to 3 different directions 120 degrees apart. One or more of the mounting locations may be used at a given time. When a single camera pair is used the rig can be rotated to capture images corresponding to the locations where a camera pair is not mounted. Static images from those locations can then be combined with images corresponding to the forward direction to generate a 360 degree view. Alternatively camera pairs or individual cameras can be included in each of the mounting locations to capture video in multiple directions.
1. A camera rig, said camera rig comprising:
a support structure including three mounting positions, each mounting position for mounting one or a pair of cameras, each mounting position corresponding to a different 120 degree direction, wherein said support structure includes a camera mounting plate; and
a support tower to which said support structure is rotatably mounted, said support tower including a tripod base.
2. The camera rig of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first pair of cameras mounted in a first one of said three mounting positions.
3. The camera rig of claim 2 , further comprising:
a second pair of cameras mounted in a second one of said three mounting positions.
4. The camera rig of claim 3 , further comprising:
a third pair of cameras mounted in a third one of said three mounting positions.
5. The camera rig of claim 1 , further comprising:
a single camera mounted in each one of said three mounting positions.
6. A camera rig, said camera rig comprising:
a support structure including three mounting positions, each mounting position for mounting one or a pair of cameras, each mounting position corresponding to a different 120 degree direction;
a first pair of cameras mounted in a first one of said three mounting positions;
a second pair of cameras mounted in a second one of said three mounting positions; and
a pair of left and right microphones each with an audio input positioned perpendicular to a face of a lens of the first pair of cameras.
7. A method of using a stereoscopic camera rig including at least a first pair of cameras, the method comprising:
capturing a first pair of images with the first pair of cameras mounted on a camera mounting platform of the rig at a first camera pair mounting position while the first pair of cameras is facing in a first direction, wherein said first direction is a first rear direction;
rotating the camera mounting platform, after capturing the first pair of images, to position the first pair of cameras to face in a second direction, wherein said second direction is a second rear direction;
capturing a second pair of images using the first pair of cameras while the first pair of cameras is facing in the second direction;
rotating the camera mounting platform, after capturing the second pair of images, to position the first pair of cameras to face in a third direction, wherein said third direction is a front direction, and wherein said first, second and third directions are 120 degrees apart from each other; and
capturing a third pair of images using the first pair of cameras while the first pair of cameras is facing in the third direction, wherein stereoscopic pairs of images corresponding to said front direction are captured in real time by said first camera pair while an event is ongoing, and wherein stereoscopic pairs of images corresponding to said first and second rear directions are captured at a time the event is not ongoing; and
transmitting the pairs of images corresponding to said front direction captured in real time during an event and at least one rear image pair captured before the event to a communications system or playback device while the event is ongoing.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein cameras included in the first pair of cameras include fish eye lenses allowing the individual cameras of each of the first camera pair to capture wide angle views.