In the business of gyro-stabilized cinematography for the film industry, there are completely different companies that offer similar, but distinctively different pieces of equipment. Those balls mounted onto helicopters may look alike, but they are not. Some people care. Some don’t.
At SpaceCam, we believe everyone should at least know the differences.
With increased creativity in the minds of Directors and DPs and today’s demanding audiences, stationary aerial views from hand held cameras leaning out of helicopter doors are no longer acceptable. Cinematography is now more than ever about artistic innovation and challenge. Great aerials can produce those results.
At SpaceCam, we believe that great aerials require the best stabilized camera equipment and the best crew to operate it.
But SpaceCam Costs Too Much
Nothing could be further from the truth when you look closer and consider all of the details. The old adages apply: Time is money and you get what you pay for.
First of all, SpaceCam’s basic rate sheet is identical to that of the other gyro-stabilized companies, even though their capabilities are far less than SpaceCam’s. When making comparisons, and considering other camera options such as those that are not even gyro-stabilized, consider these cost factors:
Each roll of 35mm film, raw stock and processing, costs an estimated $1,000. When shooting aerials with inferior camera equipment, how many rolls of film are ultimately rendered unusable due to extreme instability? Every production has had its horror stories of wasted film when shooting aerials. How many times has $1,000 gone into the trash? Just three rolls of wasted film is just about a day’s worth of shooting with SpaceCam. And with SpaceCam, there is no wasted film. Quite on the contrary.
When you consider the final product, SpaceCam actually saves a production money. In addition to film costs, consider the additional costs of helicopter time (upwards of $1,000 per hour) and crew overtime that are incurred when inferior camera equipment is the cause re-takes and re-shoots. Other equipment may seem less expensive on a paper estimate done prior to shooting. But when all is said done, what will the actual costs be, and more importantly, what will the finished product on the big screen look like? Don’t let your finished product be compromised by unrealistic promises and by budgetary fears. Get the best by using the best. You’ll be thrilled by the results and pleasantly surprised that the best doesn’t actually cost more.
Helicopter Nose Mounts
The most versatile way to shoot aerials from a helicopter is by mounting the camera to the nose. This enables flight speeds 30-40% faster than side mounts, unobstructed 90 degree down-look capability, unobstructed sweeping pan in forward flight, flexibility in changing screen direction and better visibility for the pilot. SpaceCam designed and developed the first fixed hard nose mounts back in 1993 and has offered that option ever since. Other gyro systems have been restricted to the side mount position until just recently. However the resulting nose mount replicas that other companies are introducing fall far short of SpaceCam’s original design as reported by the industry’s top film pilots.
SpaceCam RAMS
While the competition is just now trying to catch up with the nose mount option, SpaceCam is once again moving forward with even greater versatility. SpaceCam now introduces the RAMS system for its nose mount application. This “roll augmented mounting system” provides, for the first time, complete maneuvering freedom for the camera helicopter. Through the use of an advanced sensor and a proprietary design approach, SpaceCam’s FAA approved RAMS system offers a number of advantages over any hard mount nose systems:
· Creativity – Enables much more aggressive flying for filming, which translates to more dynamic material, with full 360 degree continuous pan and +40, -90 degree tilt while the helicopter rolls +/-120 degrees.
· Versatility – Ensures that the camera enclosure always remains vertical and unaffected by the helicopter angle, even when the camera is pointed 90 degrees down and the helicopter is maneuvering aggressively.
· Safety – Enhances all safety aspects of flight in that no roll limits exist for the film pilot and he may react without the subconscious flight constraints associated with old fixed mounts.
SpaceCam Laser Auto Focus
SpaceCam has developed and incorporated into its camera system the industry’s first fully automatic laser focusing system for airborne and specialized gyro-stabilized applications. With the advent of highly stabilized and controllable gyro-stabilized platforms, more and more cinematographers are tempted to use longer lenses. Using longer lenses can, under many circumstances, create focus problems. SpaceCam’s fully tested and operational laser auto focus system virtually guarantees sharp, consistent focus under all lighting conditions with even very long focal lengths. It has been used extensively on a number of major films and has performed flawlessly.
SpaceCam Patented Fiber Optic Taper
Focus is the bane of long focal length lenses, especially under low light conditions when the target is moving. Gyro-stabilized mounts all rely on the quality of video image coming from the film camera’s video tap in order to focus effectively. All taps used today, with the exception of SpaceCam’s, utilize “off the shelf” equipment. SpaceCam developed and patented the fiber optic taper video tap technology that totally eliminates depth of field in the video optical system and provides a crisp, high contrast image under even night time practical lighting conditions. As a result, manual focus errors are dramatically reduced.
Camera Excellence
The actual camera packages useable with the various “ball mounts” vary drastically. For the most common format – 35mm-4 perf. – either the Mitchell Mark II or the Arri 435 are used. SpaceCam’s own camera, built around the Mitchell Mark II movement and mirror drive, incorporates a Panavision hard front and accepts virtually all Panavision optics. It incorporates the ultra steady and proven pin registered Mitchell Mark II movement. In addition, advantages of the SpaceCam package include:
· Camera speeds from intervalometer rates to 120 frames per second, with the same motor and power supply.
· Undermounted 1000′ magazines of a patented SpaceCam design.
· Accepts virtually all prime and zoom lenses from 8mm to 800mm.
· Integrated speed aperture computer which allows programmable camera speed change.
· Motion record capability with built in film marker LED, which allows camera motions to be recorded during shooting to facilitate CGI or optical effects.
· Windowless enclosure which eliminates reflection problems.
· Precision digital lens drive system that has no rival in the film industry.
Camera Versatility
SpaceCam also offers a variety of camera options in addition to 35mm-4 perf. For visual effects, SpaceCam offers its own, in-house 35mm-8 perf. camera with a vast range of Nikkor prime optics. SpaceCam is also compatible with HDTV and the 65mm-15 perf. format, using the IMAX MSM 9801 camera.
Reliability
All the bells and whistles are meaningless if on location they don’t work. Due to the complexities of gyro-stabilized camera systems and the complexities of working with helicopters, reliability is a legitimate concern of production. Rest assured – SpaceCam is hands down, the most reliable system available. Its track record for successful operation is unrivaled by any competing system.
The SpaceCam Difference
The ability to innovate in this specialized area of cinematography can make the difference between average images and images which are truly spectacular. SpaceCam has continually responded to the special needs of production and the spectacular results can be seen in film after film. At SpaceCam, we believe if you understand the differences, you’ll make the best choice of gyro-stabilized camera systems and those spectacular images can be yours.