Theia Lens Plays Role in World Cup Controversy

WILSONVILLE, OR. – July 9, 2010

Camera Corps selected Theia Technologies' ultra wide angle, undistorted megapixel lens in their Net-Cam system to cover World Cup soccer play. The Net-Cam uses Theia's MY125M lens on Toshiba's IK-HR1S 2.1 megapixel camera. The lens provides up to 125 degrees horizontal field of view and dramatically reduces the fisheye distortion of typical wide angle lenses.

Two Net-Cam modules, both including a Theia lens, were mounted in each of the 10 South Africa venues used during the FIFA World Cup soccer competition. The Net-Cam system was developed by Camera Corps specifically for the FIFA World Cup to capture the entire goal-mouth from the rear corner of the net.

And capture it did. Net-Cam became central in the controversy surrounding the referee call that denied England a goal against Germany in their June 27th cup match. The image below shows the disallowed goal captured by Camera Corps' Net-Cams and Theia’s lens during England's 4-1 defeat by Germany. The image was embellished to show how a goal line would have to look for the ball to not have crossed it. Despite video evidence to the contrary, Cup officials disallowed the goal and sparked a controversy about how best to monitor goal-scoring during soccer games in general and World Cup play in particular.

According to Camera Corps' Sales & Project Coordinator, Tim Reynolds, "Net-Cams capture each goal-mouth, as well as the full length of the goal interior without fisheye distortion. In addition to providing viewers with high-quality close-up views of goal-mouth skirmishes,

Net-Cam assists with any goal line disputes. Each Net-Cam uses an ultra-compact remote-controlled pan, tilt and roll head allowing adjustment of the viewing angle in the event of direct collision from the ball.  The head is controlled by an operator in Camera Corps' CCU panel, eliminating the need for anyone to adjust the camera by hand."

Theia lenses are distributed to the European broadcast market by Polecam. Spokesman Nigel Paine said "The clever design of this 125 degree lens provides a high definition image with low apparent distortion.  We are official distributors for Toshiba miniature cameras and have been searching the world for wide angle high resolution lenses that are compatible with their HD 1-CCD cameras.  The Theia range of lenses suits these cameras perfectly and provides us with an excellent solution for all types of Broadcast applications including sports, natural history, reality TV, etc."

With high quality video technology widely available and already used in many sports it is difficult to imagine how football and World Cup would continue to ignore its utility.  

To learn more about the utility of Theia's lens technology visit www.theiatech.com.  Theia is distributed to the European broadcast market by Polecam; learn more at www.polecam.com. For more information about Net-Cam visit www.cameracorps.co.uk.

About Theia

Theia Technologies provides high quality megapixel lenses for security and machine vision applications. Their patented, award winning Linear Optical Technology® corrects barrel distortion and improves image resolution over typical lenses. Theia lenses are designed and marketed from the US, and manufactured to ISO 9001 standards. Theia also provides optical engineering and custom design services. Theia has several issued and pending US and foreign patents for lens technologies. For more information, contact Andrea Iñiguez, (503) 570-3296, or visit www.TheiaTech.com.

About Polecam

Polecam provides complete HD/SD broadcast production solutions for a wide range of applications based on its world-leading truly-portable single-operator jib arm and ultra-compact HD camera systems. The Polecam system delivers the freedom to place a long-reach jib anywhere a cameraman can go, eliminating the restrictions associated with heavy multi-operator cranes. Polecam are also market leaders in the supply of miniature camera solutions for the Broadcast industry. As such they are official distributors for Theia, Toshiba, Iconix, etc. as well as supplying its own ranges of miniature camera accessories. For further information, contact Nigel Paine 0044 1234 855222, or visit www.polecam.com.

About Camera Corps

Camera Corps specialises in providing high-volume support services for reality television programmes as well as very large-scale sports events. The company has achieved a pre-eminent reputation for its ability to acquire exciting and unusual television content from exceptionally challenging environments. The Camera Corps team expands during large-scale events from 11 staff based at Shepperton Studios to as many as 200 specialists, including highly-skilled rock climbers able to establish camera positions in almost any location. For additional information see www.cameracorps.co.uk.

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