At the Bench: A Closer Look at the PCU2+ Control Unit

The PCU2 is the latest generation of AbelCine's popular control unit for Phantom cameras. The PCU2 is compatible with most Phantom cameras (including the Flex4K) and can simultaneously control two cameras in a stereo 3D configuration. The PCU2 adds Bluetooth capability for wireless control.

A few years ago, one of our Phantom customers asked us to solve a problem: how could handheld sports shooters using a Phantom v640, which lacked any on-board controls, perform basic functions without being tethered to a computer, which was the only existing way to control the camera at the time? Figuring that it should be possible to use a micro-controller to communicate with the camera to accomplish this goal, I started working on a solution in my spare time. Using a development board wired to the camera with some buttons and some custom code, the result was a box that could be velcroed to the side of the camera. It could perform black balance and white balance, as well as switch to some frame rate and shutter presets. The device worked pretty well and was used to shoot a number of sporting events, prompting clients to start asking for "Jesse's Box."

The Phantom VEO from Vision Research brings many of the features and tools from their Flex cameras into a compact and rugged form factor.