Camera is designed for aviation cinematography.
Press Release Summary:
Horizontally oriented and fully articulated, SnakeHead® protrudes from nose and/or tail cone of aircraft for optimal visual clarity. Computer-controlled, gyroscopically stabilized periscope offers full spherical 360° pan and tilt coverage. Along with solid-state flight attitude sensors and DSP, optical system includes zoom capabilities and components to avoid condensation. SnakeHead allows for a 3x-plus zoom capability in 18-60 or 28-90 mm ranges for 35 mm film and HD video use.
Original Press Release:
SpaceCam Systems® Unveils Revolutionary SnakeHead® Camera for Aviation Cinematography
-Provides 'Never-Before-Seen' Film Quality-
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 18 -- SpaceCam Systems, Inc., the world leader in high-end gyro-stabilized cinematography, today announced that the company has created an unprecedented periscope lens system called SnakeHead, which represents a unique new level of capability in aviation cinematography. SnakeHead, a horizontally-oriented, fully-articulated, computer-controlled, gyroscopically-stabilized periscope that protrudes from the nose and tail cone of aircraft to provide unparalleled visual clarity, will allow shooting at much higher speed and under incredible conditions.
"With SnakeHead, we provide a totally unique and exclusive technology for aviation cinematography to bring never-before-seen screen quality," said Ron Goodman, founder and president of SpaceCam Systems, and recipient of the 1996 Academy Award for Scientific and Engineering Achievement. SpaceCam is used on 80% of the major films made in Hollywood today.
With nearly full spherical coverage (360 degrees pan and tilt), SnakeHead permits almost total freedom to the aerial cameraman. It is the first fully stabilized optical system utilizing solid state flight attitude sensors and a digital signal processor. This capability enables the camera aircraft to perform maneuvers up to its structural limits when following or pursuing the aircraft being filmed. The entire optical system includes electrical heaters and a continuous nitrogen purge system that circulates the inert gas through the lens system in order to avoid condensation with the optics.
Initial installation of SnakeHead is on the nose and tail of an Aero star 700 aircraft, with a top speed of 230 knots (370km/hour), and on the nose of a Lockheed T-33 'T-Bird' two place jet trainer, with a top speed of 546 mph (879 kph). Planning is also underway for installation on a Lear 35 business jet and other private jets.
SnakeHead allows for a 3Xplus zoom capability in two ranges for 35mm film and HD video use. This corresponds to either an 18 to 60mm or a 28-90mm zoom on a 35mm film or a Panavision Genesis HD camera. It also accommodates 35mm 8Perf format with the 28-90mm optics. Adaptors accommodate the small format HD cameras and the super large IMAX 65mm cameras. Computer modeling suggests a resolution capability of 180 to 200 line pairs per millimeter equating to some of the best lenses available-in stark contrast to older periscope systems now in use.
For more information, visit http://www.spacecam.com/.
