Beetlecam 2 captures lions feasting up close and personal

Have you ever wondered just how an episode of National Geographic is filmed? Sometimes, it takes months of hard work just to get the perfect shot, even if it is meant for a few seconds of animal action. Well, not only do the camera crew require a huge amount of patience, it also places them at risk, especially when they need to get nearer to the action in human, and with wild animals being unpredictable, there is always the fear that something might go awry. I suppose sending in a robot to do a man’s job is being the norm these days, just like how drones are sent to scout enemy territory before the land troops roll into action, or robots being used to defuse IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices). The Beetlecam 2 is one such robot, where it has been used to sneak up a pride of feasting lions and taking stunning photos like the one you see above.

Constructed by London-based wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas, the robotic camera is definitely capable of shooting winners, delivering a view that you would never have been able to capture using a long-focus lens. According to Will, “The large depth of field and close-up ground level perspective is one you don’t see every day. You get a real sense of the animal in its own environment. The Beetlecam 2 will feature an armoured carapace made of aluminum and fibreglass, and totes a remote-controlled camera worth $6,000. We are talking about a Canon EOS 550D on the BeetleCam, while the BeetleCam 2 relied on a Canon EOS 1Ds MK III, where both cameras snapped photos using a 16-35mm f/2.8 lens.

Edwin Kee
Categories: Gadgets, Robots
Tags: Camera