Wildcat brings HD to aerial filming

Wildcat Flying has commissioned the first stabilised camera system to deliver uncompressed 4:4:4 HD images suitable for immediate use in digital intermediate postproduction.
Based around the Gyron 935 gyro stabilised helicopter mount and the Sony F950 HD camera, the system records direct to an S.two DFR. Digibeta viewing copies and safety clones can be created on the ground before the digital film is delivered direct to the producer’s post facility.
The system is designed to replace the often impractical and ageing system of mounting a 35mm camera in a Wescam stabilised mount. Wildcat Flying’s David Baillie, a Bafta nominated aerial cameraman, claims numerous advantages. He said: “There’s no need to keep landing to change the mag, the stabilisation and control are better; and there’s no need for all that wasted time and money processing and scanning. With our system you can walk away from the helicopter with your 2K images in your hand.”
Wildcat Flying are also keen to offer the system for television producers requiring HD images. Since the initial recording is 4:4:4 uncompressed it is easy to down convert it to HDCAM-SR or HD-CAM on the ground depending on the client’s needs, and the Sony F950 offers every combination of interlaced and progressive formats.
“We believe we’ve brought together the best aerial filming facility in Europe. Since nearly every aerial image in a feature or commercial now goes through a DI process this has to be the future of aerial filming”
(GB)