The CCU allows the camera operator to concentrate solely on certain aspects of the filming process. The CCU is not located on the camera itself, but rather refers to equipment used to control functions of the camera remotely from another location. The CCU has the ability to control shutter speed, the iris, black level, gain, color balance and other technical parameters. Since remote control is used to control these functions, the camera operator can focus on framing, focus and camera movement. The need to use a CCU depends on the type of production being filmed. Lower-budget films may not require a CCU, while news programs or multi-camera productions may.
The CCU would be pointless if no one was controlling it. Those who operate CCUs are referred to as the vision controller, the CCU operator or the technical director. CCUs can be used for either partial control or full control of the filming process. When used for partial control, the CCU operator only handles the technical aspects of the camera operation. Other productions eliminate the use of a camera operator altogether, leaving the entire production in the hands of the CCU operator. In this case, the CCU operator controls all aspects of camera movement including pans, tilts, zooms and focus.
There are numerous different CCUs for sale, including the Sony CCU-M7. This particular unit comes standard with a 999-foot cable and a built-in AC power supply. The starting MSRP for this system is $4,250 as of 2011. Accessories are sold separately. For those looking to rent a CCU, options are available online. Prices vary depending on the style and type of CCU the consumer is looking to rent. Most can be rented on a daily basis. Always make sure the CCU is compatible with the type of camera being used.
The number of CCU operators needed for a production depends on the size of the production itself. In smaller multi-camera productions, the CCU operator may be responsible for two to three cameras, and in some cases as many as ten. For productions that have more cameras, the CCU operator may work with other CCU operators. For example, if 20 cameras are being used, there could be five operators controlling four cameras each.