Z-Cam Hardware Setup

Rigging Cameras

Camera Placement

• Mounting: Secure cameras to your tripod or fixed clamp using the 1/4"-20 mounting points.
• Stability: Ensure all clamps are tightened fully before connecting cables to prevent "micro-shakes" during synchronised capture.
• Configure Lens settings: Set the manual focus to their optimal settings for the best possible capture.
  • Focus: Ensure the focus ring on all Laowa lenses is set to the ‘infinity’ position.

Cable Requirements

• Ethernet: Use Cat6 (or higher) cables. Cat6 is required to handle the high-bandwidth data transfer and PoE+ power delivery without signal dropouts.

• Shielding: If rigging in an environment with heavy electrical interference (lighting rigs, motors), FTP shielded Cat6 is recommended.

   

Connecting/Powering Cameras

PoE+ Setup

• One Cable Power: This setup utilizes PoE+. The switch powers all cameras through the Cat6 cables, eliminating the need for batteries or AC adapters at the camera head.
• Boot Up: Cameras will automatically power on once the switch is active and connected.
• Run a single Cat6 cable from each camera directly to the PoE+ Switch. Avoid using "daisy-chain" splitters; every camera needs its own dedicated home run to the switch.
• Then run a single cable from the 10GB SFP on the switch directly back to the host device (PC/laptop). A 1GB SFP on the switch can be used; however, expect to encounter slower file transfer speeds.