Wireless video transmission and monitoring is becoming more and more important. We teamed up with Accsoon to talk about their latest wireless device called the CineEye II Pro.
The main reason to use a system like this one is to be able to see what the camera operator is filming without having to look over his shoulder. Another reason would be for a group of people to watch a live stream on their phones.
The CineEye II Pro consists of two devices: A transmitter which usually sits on top of the camera and a receiver which is connected to an external monitor. Both devices can be connected via HDMI but don’t have SDI in- or output.
The big advantage that the CineEye II Pro has compared to similar wireless systems is the capability to use two video streams at the same time in a range of up to 350m. The dual band sends a 2.4GHz and a 5.8GHz signal at the same time to avoid any transmission problems and minimize the risk of a complete signal failure.
Keep in mind that the range of 350m will only work in clear line of sight meaning it’s not going to transmit that far through walls, buildings or trees.
The units have a wheel on the right side to switch the grouping by rotating it. If the grouping values are set to different numbers, they are not going to pair so it’s important to check the transmitter and receiver. Besides that it’s not complicated to connect the system because the channel will be set automatically but can also be adjusted manually.
The signal that is being sent is max. 1080p 60p but that doesn’t mean the camera can’t record 4K internally. It only means the signal is downsampled. The video is being sent with H.265 compression and offers three transmission modes: High Quality, Normal which is the standard setting or Speed which transmits the lowest data rate. When changing the data rate mode, the device needs to restart which takes a few seconds.
On the small screen most of the necessary settings are being displayed, like resolution, audio, frame rate and channel.
Useful is also the battery display which doesn’t only shows a bar but the precise status in percent.
One of the things I noticed immediately when I used the system for the first time, was the low latency which isn’t exactly the same on each camera but brings me to the next topic: The CineEye II Pro can also be connected with tablets or phone via mobile app. The latency hugely depends on the phone and its hardware. General tip: The newer the device the higher the chance of a good performance with the video signal.
The app doesn’t only display the video stream but can also be used to start and stop recording of some cameras like the Fujifilm X-T3 or Panasonic GH5. The app also features all common assist tools like Histogram or False Color which makes using a mobile device a good alternative to using a dedicated external video monitor.
I think this is great because it makes it usable for a wide-range of people and productions because everyone has a smartphone but not everyone has a dedicated monitor on set.
Regarding ergonomics: Both devices feel lightweight but well built. On the right side is a USB-C connection to connect a camera. On top are where the four antennas need to be screwed on. On the backside is space for an NP-F battery. Depending on the type of battery the power lasts for up to 13 hours but the devices can also be powered via DC cable.
With the antennas and the battery attached the devices are not as small and lightweight as one might think. I recommend checking how exactly the transmitter and receiver will be attached to avoid any damage to the camera or monitor or the wireless unit itself before a shoot. It makes sense to mount the transmitter on to a camera cage or the camera’s tripod to guarantee stability.
We also did a giveaway of the original first version of the CineEye. You can see who won the two devices below:
Written by filmmaker Moritz Janisch on October 12, 2020
