SpaceCam Systems, Inc. has joined the arena of high definition television by modifying its gyro-stabilized camera platforms to accommodate HDTV cameras. Working closely with Plus 8 Video, SpaceCam President and System Designer Ron Goodman and his engineering staff have successfully adapted Plus 8′s Sony HDW-700 HDCAM to the SpaceCam system. Since its inception in 1989, SpaceCam has provided a wide variety of applications and specialized camera options for film, but not video. “Historically, aerial video has been used for news gathering and sports and our interest has always been in making films,” explains Goodman. “Because HDTV will in most instances be shot like film and because more film makers will be employing HDTV, we felt it was something important for us to get involved in.”
After several weeks of conversion time, a flight test over Los Angeles was conducted and the results were as impressive as anything SpaceCam has done with film. Mounted to the nose of an Astar model helicopter flown by film pilot Craig Hosking and operated by Goodman, the newly designed system captured perfectly steady images.
“The initial evaluation test was very successful,” said Goodman. “The stability we get with the HDTV camera is actually better than we get with our film systems because there are no mechanisms in motion that can cause instability.”
The lightweight camera and built-in recorder, both of which are stabilized inside the SpaceCam ball, also free up the helicopter cabin which facilities flying.
“I remember ten years ago trying to bolt an HDTV camera onto a Jet Ranger, says Hosking. “We had so much bulky equipment crammed inside the helicopter that I could barely get off the ground. We’ve come a long way since then. This is a huge leap for film makers and for film pilots. With the camcorder and SpaceCam’s nose mount we’re now able to provide full, aggressive, SpaceCam type filming for HDTV.”
Christian Nightingale, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for plus 8 Video, is equally pleased about the collaboration with SpaceCam. “It’s a perfect marriage for us because their attention to detail and perfection mentality is in the line with ours. SpaceCam is a proven system and together we look forward to providing the best possible results in HDTV.”