Today, RedSpy powers thousands of studios and productions around the world, establishing itself as the industry’s leading solution and the most widely used choice for camera tracking by professionals.
Thanks to RedSpy’s success, stYpe was chosen in 2022, in the face of strong global competition, as a recipient of the Technical, Science & Engineering Emmy® Award for its outstanding contribution to redefining the television industry.
But you may wonder – how did it all start, and where are we now?
Debuting in 2017, the original RedSpy (USB version) set a new standard for high-end camera tracking.
Out of the box, it was a revolutionary product, outperforming its optical and mechanical camera tracking counterparts.
Why it was revolutionary:
- Unmatched freedom of camera movement, without the need for recalibration of any kind
- Absolute precision through the use of low-footprint infrared stickers on the ceiling or floor – a significant improvement over mechanical tracking systems
- First camera tracking solution featuring Ethernet out for tracking data
- No mechanical parts, resulting in higher reliability and easier setup
- Infrared light and intelligent algorithms ensured immunity to studio lighting and reflections, as well as higher precision and robustness over other optical tracking solutions
- Integrated accelerometer and gyroscope for enhanced reliability and precision
- Lens calibration and integration of the StypeHF protocol (including lens distortions) with all major rendering engines
While mechanical tracking still has some project-specific applications today, for standard studio use, it’s no match for optical camera tracking.
The earliest version of RedSpy in 2017 was USB-based, meaning the connection between the RedSpy camera and the Main Unit (used for processing) relied on a USB cable.
RedSpy USB had a major role in paving the way for Virtual Production to become mainstream and widely adopted by broadcasters.
However, after firmly establishing itself in the broadcast market and gaining a great deal of know-how – we sought to eliminate the limitations of USB connectivity.
The main drawback of USB was its limited range, which required the Main Unit to be mounted close to the studio camera, often directly on the camera or tripod. This added unnecessary weight, cabling, and inconvenience for users – something our competitors still struggle with today.
2019. – The RedSpy 2.0 (“RedSpy Fiber”) Era Begins.
In 2019, the RedSpy 2.0, also known as RedSpy Fiber, marked the beginning of a new era.
This version eliminated the USB cable, replacing it with a fiber optic connection that allowed users to mount the lightweight RedSpy camera (around 300g) directly onto the studio camera, while keeping the Main Unit safely stored in a server or control room.
The RedSpy Fiber systems still in use today remain objects of admiration among our community of retro-enthusiast broadcasters and filmmakers (we appreciate you!).
The Fiber system was designed after years of studying real-world studio environments, where conditions were often far from ideal. The result was a virtually bulletproof platform that introduced several major advancements:
- Wireless operation
- A database of lens files for streamlined workflow
- Camera tracking recording (FBX and XML formats)
- LTC and lens distortion data for use in post-production
The fiber cable itself was developed from scratch by stYpe’s R&D team, with each cable individually manufactured and shipped from stYpe HQ. However, because it was a proprietary design, any change in cable length, normal wear and tear (or downright studio violence) required ordering a new cable directly from us.
Although the Fiber was an excellent system on its own, hardware technology kept advancing and broadcast workflows evolved, so the time came for a new platform.
After the reign of Fiber and the valuable experience gained from it, we were ready for a complete transformation – introducing RedSpy 3.0.
2022. – The RedSpy 3.0 Revolution
In 2022, RedSpy 3.0 set the cornerstone for the ultimate camera tracking system we have today.
The RedSpy 3.0 camera was designed and built entirely from scratch. It featured Power over Ethernet (PoE), replacing the Fiber cable with a single Ethernet connection – transforming RedSpy into a network-based camera tracking system.
But more importantly, being network-based opened up a world of new possibilities:
- Enabled users to use affordable, locally sourced Ethernet cables for camera tracking
- Introduced a rack-mountable Main Unit with a redundant power supply
- Allowed the use of a network trunk to transmit RedSpy camera data – creating a camera tracking system without any extra cabling on the rig (!)
- Opened the possibility to remotely manage all RedSpy units from a single interface
- Featured an improved RedSpy camera with higher resolution, capable of operating at heights of over 30 meters, and using ultra-small infrared markers (as small as 0.5 cm for a 4-meter ceiling height)
- Introduced integration with PTZ cameras (example)
2024 – RedSpy 4.0: Building on best practices
In 2024, RedSpy 4.0 was launched, mostly building on top of the already solid foundations laid by the RedSpy 3.0.
Major improvements included:
- A new generation RedSpy camera that can handle ceiling heights up to 40 meters, all while being 20% lighter
- Redesigned server-grade Main Unit with ECC RAM (including redundant power supply, rack mounts and an IPMI port for remote management)
- Custom mounts for the most popular cameras and lenses
- First to introduce PTP genlock
- RedSpy Control Center – a centralized, remote interface to manage and monitor all RedSpy systems from one place
- TWIM – Broadcast-grade Lens Calibration Tool that can calibrate lenses in minutes
With these new improvements, the RedSpy 4.0 could deliver extreme performance and was used in very demanding real-world projects such as the Red Bull Dual Ascent.
In this project, RedSpy had to handle:
- Bright daylight reflections
- Long distances to infrared markers
- Sharp angles
- curvature of the dam
- Use on a fast-moving wingcam
Since the RedSpy 4.0 was built to handle extreme conditions, managing standard studio environments remains effortless.
2025. RedSpy 5.0 – the ultimate camera tracking system
RedSpy 4.0 solved the puzzle of camera tracking for broadcasters and high-end filmmakers.
So with the RedSpy 5.0, stYpe took on a challenging task of covering all possible camera tracking use cases – from small studios and hobbyists, to large TV stations and film production companies.
We can proudly say that this task has been accomplished.
First, to achieve this, the RedSpy 5.0 needed to provide an insane amount of flexibility, as well as entry-level models of the product, all while keeping the same camera tracking quality throughout all RedSpy models.
In both broadcast and film production, the core requirements are the same: sub-millimeter accuracy, zero drift, and frame-accurate latency. The difference is not precision, but environmental predictability.
RedSpy 5.0 also introduced the Watcher X – an image-based camera tracking add-on for markerless tracking. Watcher X solves the problem of losing sight or blocking of the markers. RedSpy combines optical, inertial, and image-based tracking into a single hybrid system, allowing productions to move seamlessly between marker-based and markerless workflows without changing platforms.
It uses precision sensors to keep the camera tracked in tight interiors, under set pieces, or outdoors. Setup takes only minutes.
RedSpy 5.0 also introduced Absolute Lens Encoders, so there is no need to redo zoom and focus ranges on each power up.
But the first major game-changer is that the RedSpy 5.0 is now available in four versions to serve a wide range of camera tracking users.
All four versions share the same flagship, broadcast-quality hardware:
- RedSpy Air – entry-level option for smaller studios (software limit to 5x5m tracked area and 4m high ceilings). No Main Unit. Starts at 7.000 EUR. Upgradeable to Air Plus.
- RedSpy Air Plus – unlimited tracked area and ceiling height. No Main Unit. Starts at 18.000 EUR. Upgradeable to RedSpy 5.0
- RedSpy 5.0 – standard RedSpy system with a Portable Main Unit
- RedSpy 5.0 Pro Broadcast – flagship RedSpy system with a rack-mounted, server-grade Main Unit with Redundant Power Supply, ideal for broadcasters.
RedSpy Air and Air Plus finally broke down the barrier of professional camera tracking systems to an emerging market of smaller productions, which previously couldn’t afford the high-end RedSpy.
Meanwhile, the RedSpy 5.0 flagship model now comes with two different main unit options to cover all possible workflows, as well as an image-based tracking add-on:
– Server-grade Main Unit – designed for 24/7/365 operation, ideal for broadcasters (ECC RAM, rack mount, redundant power supply, IPMI port), mounted in the server room
– Portable Main Unit – very lightweight and small (11x12x4cm), mounted behind or near the studio camera – ideal for portable setups, wireless operation and Watcher X image-based tracking add-on
RedSpy 5.0 is the only camera tracking system that can cover both versions of the main unit – or even completely remove the main unit from the workflow.
And the best of all, it’s completely network-based – using a standard PoE Ethernet cable for connection.
The second game-changer of the RedSpy 5.0 is the software included with each system:
- TWIM Lens Calibration Tool, which simplifies and speeds up calibration (prime lens in ~15 minutes, zoom in ~1 hour) – this is the same lens calibration tool our engineers use onsite while doing the RedSpy setup.
- RealLine Recording and RealLine WARP – records tracking data into XML and FBX files with timecode, automatically applies lens distortion and film-back offsets, ensuring perfectly matched renders and minimizing manual cleanup
- RedSpy Control Center – Centralized remote management of all RedSpy systems via a web-based interface
TWIM is a professional-level lens calibration tool, meaning that, unlike its competitors, TWIM actually delivers results ready for professional production. It’s a product of a decade-long know-how and lens calibration processes in the field. Best of all – it’s simple and friendly to use.
With most camera tracking systems, controlling, managing, or monitoring multiple units requires connecting peripherals directly to each system and operating them individually.
With RedSpy, however, everything is network-based – allowing you to manage, operate, and monitor all RedSpy systems remotely through a centralized web interface.
This becomes especially valuable when working with multiple RedSpy setups across a studio or production environment.
So the RedSpy 5.0 manages to cover all possible camera tracking workflows, includes powerful software tools, remains affordable, all while keeping the well-known, broadcast camera tracking quality.
A final word on the RedSpy 5.0
We can proudly say that the RedSpy had a huge part in paving the way for Virtual Production to become mainstream and widely adopted by broadcasters and filmmakers around the world.
It has always been a shining star at stYpe – our guiding principle has been that it should never lose in a side-by-side comparison against any other camera tracking solution. And to this day, since the first version was launched back in 2017, it has never lost a duel.
While most companies innovate and launch new versions of their camera tracking system every 3-4 years, the RedSpy has had five major releases in 7 years, which made the difference between a RedSpy and the competition very palpable.
When we say the RedSpy is the ultimate evolution of camera tracking, we mean it.
And don’t take our word for it – if you would like to test out the RedSpy against your current camera tracking systems, let us know and we’d be happy to help!
