Video -- External Camera Support

Starting with release 3.3.6, Takedown supports the iOS feature allowing use of an external video camera connected with a USB C cable. The benefit of using an external camera is that the video recording task can be assumed by a person who isn't scoring the matches. This can result in high quality scoring and video. Another significant benefit is that the scoring iPad can be oriented in any fashion since the on-device camera isn't being used to record the video.

Requirements:

• Requires iOS 17+
• iPad with USB-C connector
• Streaming video camera with USB-C connector
• Generates 480P, 720P or 1080P output
• UVC 1.5 compliant (*)
• Camera connects directly to iPad with USB 3+ cable
• Cameras we've tested and work well:
  
  • Logitech StreamCam
  • Sony Sony ZV-1F
• Cameras we've tested and don't work:
  • Elgato Facecam 

Use limitations in Takedown:

• If the external camera is plugged into the iPad, Takedown will attempt to use it for video recording.
• It is not possible to select the iPad rear-facing camera in Takedown if an external camera is detected
• Removing or plugging in the external camera when recording video with the iPad rear-facing camera will stop recording for that match.

Best practices:

• Plug in the external camera to the iPad before starting the match clock for the first period
• If the external camera has to be removed from the iPad, do it between matches. This practice will make it easier for the app to switch to the iPad rear-facing camera.
• A tripod, monopod or custom mount is very helpful.
• Major brand cameras -- Logitech, Sony for example -- have a better chance of being compatible. Inexpensive, unknown brands are less likely to be compatible.

The ultimate determination of whether a camera is compatible with this Apple iOS feature used by Takedown is to try it.

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(*) UVC (USB Video Device Class) is a camera standard.  The 1.5 refers to the latest version published in 2012. Many vendors claim UVC 1.5 compliance. We don't test UVC 1.5 compliance -- if it works with Apple products in the configuration described, that's our gold standard.