Zanus - Robotic Camera Heads, Pedestal, and Dolly

Automation for any video production

In 2019, Zanus started its robotics department, Zanus Robotics. Soon, its first product, won third place in the competition for the most innovative product in 2020. This was Pauli; a robotic camera head that makes your broadcast or studio camera a PTZ camera, controllable from a distance.

Since then, the Serbian-based company has developed several robotic products for the TV, film, and live events industry. Each product has a built-in CAN connector to communicate with other Zanus products, so you can create a fully automatic production workflow with Zanus robotic products.

Overview Product Line

PT Heads

Pauli: Zanus' flagship PT Head for precise control and heavy camera payload of up to 20 kg.
PauliB: the same as Pauli but without the base for cable pass-through and hence the capability to pan 360° (multi-turn).
Paulinho: the small and affordable PT Head for superb control and cameras up to 5 kg payload.
PaulinhoB: same as Paulinho but without the base for cable pass-through and hence the capability to pan 360° (multi-turn).

Pedestals

PTZ Raise: a motorized pedestal to raise a camera from 1.32m to 1.82m.
Manual Lift: a mechanical pedestal to lift a camera from 0.6m to 1.3m.

Dolly System

Move: a robotic camera dolly system for motion on rails.
Dolly tracks: straight and curved tracks to set the ground for Move.

PAULI + PAULIB

Professional PT Heads for precise control and heavy camera payloads

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Pauli and PauliB are first class PT heads for precise control and heavy camera payloads of up to 20 kg.

Differences between Pauli and PauliB

The difference between Pauli and PauliB is the base: it is present in Pauli and absent in PauliB.
The base functions as a cable pass-through over the pan axes for 2x 6G/Genlock SDI, Ethernet, and power out to the camera.

Pauli is, therefore, ideal for productions where minimum cabling is required.
On the other hand, because of the absence of the base, PauliB can pan 360° in multi-turns, whereas Pauli can make a pan angle of about 175°.

Unique Features

There are robotic heads in the market for a few hundred dollars. These low-cost PT heads are for lightweight cameras and miss the interface and communication protocols to automate professional equipment, hence, incomparable to Pauli and PauliB. Compared to the professional robotic heads market, Pauli and PauliB have the following unique features.

Multiple ways of control
The head can be controlled via smartphone, tablet, computer, or any joystick with VISCA over IP (such as the AIDA or Skaarhoj controller).

Various lens control interfaces
The head contains the following interfaces to control zoom, focus, and iris of the lens:

Canon control interface: to connect to Canon cine servo lenses (PL and EF mount, full frame or super 35) and Canon broadcast lenses with B4 mount for MFT lenses.
Fujinon control interface: to connect to Fujinon broadcast lenses with B4 mount for MFT lenses.
LANC interface (Local Application Control Bus System): to connect to Sony, Canon, JVC, and Panasonic prosumer camcorder lenses and some Sony digital cinema cameras.
PDmovie interface: to connect to an external lens motor wheel or follow focus system from PDmovie. PDmovie is often used to control cine lenses on digital cinema cameras or lenses with an infinity focus and zoom ring on prosumer cameras.
Ethernet interface for Canon XC ethernet protocol: to connect to Canon EOS C500 mark 2, EOS C300 mark 3, EOS C70, and EOS XF 605.

Daisy-chaining
Allows for connecting and controlling multiple heads from a unique control point.

Up to 100 advanced presets
Almost any parameter can be stored in presets, such as execution times, zoom, focus, and iris. Also, an array of presets can be timed and executed fully or partially automated.

Wide speed range with very smooth operation
0.001-180°/s for pan and tilt (so from 2s to 4 days for a full rotation).

A payload of 20 kg
A considerable payload of 20kg with a head weight of only 8.4kg for Pauli and 6.2kg for PauliB enables the mounting of large and heavy cameras, even with a teleprompter, while allowing easy transport of the head.

Modern look (lightweight L-shape design)
Could be of critical importance in situations where the head is placed next to the guests.

An easy extension to full automation
It is, for instance, compatible with the Seervision suite for autonomous tracking and directing.

Good price/quality ratio
Pauli and PauliB are competitively priced compared to similar models on the market.

Quiet
The head has a quiet operation at 40 dB offering a very comfortable surrounding for any kind of event.

Easy and adaptable mounting
Standard tripod mount with half ball, reverse mount possible, 90° wall mount with adapter possible.

Target Customers for Pauli(B)

High-quality broadcasters
Video production companies
Creators of video content
Hybrid and online conferences and events
Sport events
Small and large studios
Churches, parliaments, etc.

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PAULINHO + PAULINHOB

Affordable PT Heads for superb control and camera payloads up to 5 kg

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Paulinho and PaulinhoB are designed for productions with limited budgets.

If you want to use your camcorder, box camera or DSLR as a PTZ camera, Paulinho and PaulinhoB are the ideal solution.

They offer a payload of 5kg, superb motion control quality, and advanced preset options with a compact and lightweight design at a competitive price.

Differences between Paulinho and PaulinhoB

The difference between Paulinho and PaulinhoB is the base: it is present in Paulinho and absent in PaulinhoB.
The base functions as a cable pass-through over the pan axes for 1x 6G/Genlock SDI, 1x HDMI, Ethernet, and power out to the camera.

Paulinho is, therefore, ideal for productions where minimum cabling is required.
On the other hand, because of the absence of the base, PaulinhoB can pan 360° in multi-turns, whereas Paulinho can make a pan angle of about 175°.

Unique features

There are robotic heads in the market for a few hundred dollars. These low-cost PT heads usually miss the interface and communication protocols to automate professional equipment and, hence, are incomparable to Paulinho and PaulinhoB. Paulinho and PaulinhoB have the following unique selling points.

Multiple ways of control
The head can be controlled via smartphone, tablet, computer, or any joystick with VISCA over IP (such as the AIDA or Skaarhoj controller).

Various lens control interfaces
The head contains the following interfaces to control zoom, focus, and iris of the lens:

Canon control interface: to connect to Canon cine servo lenses (PL and EF mount, full frame or super 35) and Canon broadcast lenses with B4 mount for MFT lenses.
Fujinon control interface: to connect to Fujinon broadcast lenses with B4 mount for MFT lenses.
LANC interface (Local Application Control Bus System): to connect to Sony, Canon, JVC, and Panasonic prosumer camcorder lenses and some Sony digital cinema cameras.
PDmovie interface: to connect to an external lens motor wheel or follow focus system from PDmovie. PDmovie is often used to control cine lenses on digital cinema cameras or lenses with an infinity focus and zoom ring on prosumer cameras.
Ethernet interface for Canon XC ethernet protocol: to connect to Canon EOS C500 mark 2, EOS C300 mark 3, EOS C70, and EOS XF 605.

Up to 100 advanced presets
Almost any parameter can be stored in presets, such as execution times, zoom, focus, and iris. Also, an array of presets can be timed and executed fully or partially automated.

Speed range with smooth operation
0.01-30°/s for pan and tilt

A payload of 5 kg
A payload of 5kg with a head weight of only 3.3 kg for Paulinho and 2.9 kg for PaulinhoB enables the mounting of small professional and proconsumer camcorders, box cameras or DSLR.

Good price/quality ratio
Paulinho and PaulinhoB are competitively priced compared to similar models on the market.

Quiet
The head has a quiet operation at 40 dB offering a very comfortable surrounding for any kind of event.

Easy and adaptable mounting
Standard tripod mount with half ball, reverse mount possible, 90° wall-mount with adapter possible.

Target Customers

Video production companies with limited budget productions
Creators of video content
Hybrid and online conferences and events
Sport events
Small and large studios
Churches, parliaments, etc.

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PTZ RAISE + MANUAL LIFT

Motorized and manual pedestal

PTZ Raise

PTZ Raise is a robotic motorized pedestal for PTZ, DSLR, broadcast cameras, and camcorders. It can be used in combination with a PT head.

Compact and lightweight, suitable for PTZ cameras
Camera payload up to 20 kg
Speed range 0.01 – 100mm/s
Maximum height 2 m
Minimum height 1 m

Manual Lift

Manual Lift is a mechanical lift to raise a camera from 0.6m to 1.3m. It can be used in combination with a PT head.

MOVE + MOVE DOLLY TRACK

Robotic Dolly System for motion on rails

MOVE

Move is a robotic camera dolly system for motion on rails, featuring the following.

Moves on both straight and curved rails
There is a possibility to combine straight and curved tracks into complex shapes. It can also move in a closed circle.

Speed range
Move dolly has a speed range of 1mm/s - 3m/s on a straight track, and 1m/s on a curved track.

Flexible and modular system
The Move system is modularly built, as you decide how you want the camera to be mounted to the dolly system: direct, through a PT head, or through a pedestal, in all variations. This gives you the flexibility to adjust the height of the camera and the level of automation, whatever is suitable for your video production.

All Zanus robotic products have a special built-in CAN connector to communicate with Move, allowing a completely automated system to control the dolly, motorized lift, PT head, and camera lens.

For instance, Move can be combined with the Pauli robotic PT head directly mounted on the dolly for low point-of-view shots. Alternatively, Pauli can be mounted on the dolly by using an adjustable manual lift that allows for fine manual positioning of the camera of up to 1.3m in height. Or, the dolly can be combined with PTZ Raise (the motorized lift) and the robotic head for covering heights from 1.32 m to 1.82 m and remote actuation of the camera height. In all combinations, a PTZ camera can also be used instead of a robotic head and a regular camera.

Easy setup and control
System setup is fast and easy. It allows for an arbitrary combination of straight and curved rails. The placement of track limits and the dolly on the track are straightforward. Additionally, control of the whole system is intuitive and easy with the Skaarhoj controller. It allows for the control of the dolly, motorized lift, PT head, and lens. Overall, one day of training is enough for an operator to start using the system in production.

Advanced presets
Besides the direct control of the system axes, it is possible to save presets. The system features advanced preset options allowing the user to select which axes to include in the preset. When the preset is executed, axes that are not included in the preset can be operated manually. The system also gives the possibility to save and execute preset arrays – sequences of presets with execution times.

Possibility for extension and customization
It is possible to extend the solution to be battery powered and fully wireless. In addition, customizations are also possible based on the joint specifications with Zanus engineers.

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MOVE DOLLY TRACK

There are two types of Move - Dolly Track:

Move - Dolly Track Straight. These are straight tracks of 1.5m per track. It can be supplied with End limits, a physical barrier to stop a motion.
Move - Dolly Track Curved. These are curved tracks of 1.2m per track. 16 pieces of curved tracks create a full circle.

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Download Product Brochure and Price List

Download here the product brochure with specs of Pauli(B)

Download here the product brochure with specs of Paulinho(B)

Download here the product brochure with specs of Move

Download here the price list

About Zanus

Zanus is a company based in Belgrade, Serbia. The company was established in 1977 and its main activity was in the production of electronic devices and water pumps. In 2016 the company transformed into a provider of advanced mechatronic solutions. In 2019 Zanus launched a project for developing innovative production robotics. In the context of this project, the team won third place in the competition for the most innovative product in 2020: Pauli PT Head!

The company strives for innovative robotic products for the TV, film, and music industry.

https://zanusrobotics.com/