Open Camera System (Preview)
A practical, low-cost camera movement and control system designed for small churches and church plants. Built with readily available materials, documented clearly, and shared freely.
The goal is a repeatable “reference build” that a sponsor church can fund and a small church can build in a weekend with basic tools.
Want this to be easy to install in an auditorium? We’re prioritizing safety, tidy cable management, quiet motion, and clean visuals from the audience.
Design principles
This project is intentionally simple. The “win” is not exotic gear — it’s a system churches can actually build, maintain, and share.
Budget-first
Prioritize readily available parts and minimize specialty components.
Volunteer-friendly
Straightforward assembly, common tools, and clear step-by-step plans.
Safety-first
Designed for overhead installs with redundancy and inspection access.
Open & shareable
Plans, parts list, and software shared freely so churches can replicate and improve.
This page is a preview. As milestones are completed, we’ll publish build steps, diagrams, and downloads here.
Churches can start simple and grow over time. Each level builds on the same foundation.
Level 1
Fixed camera placement + clean cable routing.
Level 2
Manual dolly motion (simple, reliable, no motors).
Level 3
Motorized motion (belt/rope) with basic controller.
Level 4+
Presets, slow moves, automation, software integration.
If this system is installed overhead, it must be built with redundancy (secondary safeties), mounted to structural members, and inspected. The final build guide will include a checklist and recommended hardware for typical church ceiling structures.
Until the full guide is published, treat this as a concept preview and avoid permanent overhead installation without qualified review.
As the camera project matures, we’ll publish the reference build parts list, printable components, and setup steps here — all freely available.