American Cinematographer - May 2008 - (Page 88)

New Products & Services SnakeHead is Airborne SpaceCam Systems, Inc. has unveiled the SnakeHead periscope lens system. Offering new capabilities in aviation cinematography, the SnakeHead is a horizontally oriented, fully articulated, gyroscopically stabilized, computer-controlled periscope that protrudes from the nose and tail of fixedwing aircraft, providing unparalleled visual flexibility while shooting at high speeds. With nearly full spherical coverage, the SnakeHead permits almost total freedom while filming. The fully stabilized optical system utilizes solid-state flight attitude sensors and a digital signal processor, enabling the camera aircraft to perform maneuvers up to its structural limits while capturing the action in front of or behind it. The entire optical system includes heaters to avoid condensation fogging. The SnakeHead system allows for a 3x-plus zoom capability in two ranges, corresponding to either an 1860mm or a 28-90mm zoom on a 35mm film camera or an Arri D-20, Panavision Genesis or Red One HD camera. The 2890mm optics can also accommodate the 8-perf 35mm format, and adaptors will allow the use of the Imax 65mm format. SpaceCam’s first installations of the SnakeHead have been on the nose and tail of an Aero 700 aircraft, with a top speed of 230 mph, and on the nose of a Lockheed T-33 jet trainer, with a top 88 May 2008 speed of 450 mph. The company is also planning to install the SnakeHead on a Lear 35 business jet and other private and military jets. So far, the SnakeHead has been used on the forthcoming James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, with a number of other productions on the slate. For more information, visit www.spacecam.com. Scoping Out 2⁄3" Cameras Wolfgang Roessel of Cine Photo Tech has teamed with Abel Cine Tech to introduce the HD Scope, a borescope/snorkel-lens system designed specifically for 2⁄3", B4-mount HD cameras. Manufactured in Munich, Germany, and designed by the same team as the Cinec award-winning T-Rex lens system, the HD Scope offers cinematographers the benefits of the 35mm T-Rex in a lens optimized for 2⁄3" CCD imagers. “As 2⁄3" HD-camera technology improves, we’re seeing more and more commercial and feature production shift from 35mm to HD,” observes Pete Abel, Abel Cine Tech’s president. “The HD Scope gives [cinematographers] the creative lensing possibilities they have long enjoyed on 35mm shoots.” With a fast T4 stop and full 360degree panning, the HD Scope is perfectly suited to capturing unusual angles in tight spaces, making it a perfect fit for tabletop work and other effects shots. Additionally, the image itself can be internally rotated 360 degrees within the frame. The system also features .32-pitch gear rings for maintaining complete remote control over the lens, focus, image rotation, pan and iris functions, all of which have large, easy-to-read scales. “My work on the T-Rex lens system quite naturally led to the design of HD Scope,” notes Roessel, who focused on image quality and operational efficiency for the new 2⁄3" system, employing the highest quality optical components for the main snorkel unit and the accompanying lenses, which range from 4-13mm. As a result, HD Scope images cut seamlessly with footage shot with other available 2⁄3" optics, including Zeiss DigiPrimes and Canon HD-EC primes. The HD Scope is distributed in North America by Abel Cine Tech; the system is currently available for rent or purchase. For more information, visit www.abelcine.com. Fletcher Focuses on Rentals Fletcher Chicago, a leading camera-equipment vendor for the Midwest, has announced that it is shifting the focus of its business exclusively to production rental, including equipment and production-office space. Following an investment of $1.5 million to expand its rental division and redesign http://www.spacecam.com/ http://www.abelcine.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - May 2008

American Cinematographer - May 2008 Contents Editor’s Note Global Village: The Fall Short Takes: ASC Laszlo Kovacs Short Takes: Heritage Award Winners Production Slate: Anamorph Production Slate: Fugitive Pieces Heavy-Metal Hero A Need for Speed Kink and the City Beautiful Minds A Hollywood Homecoming Post Focus: Paramount Restores The Godfather Filmmakers’ Forum: Levie Isaacks, ASC Teaches Marines to Shoot Movies New Products & Services International Marketplace Classified Ads Ad Index Clubhouse News ASC Close-Up: Antonio Calvache

American Cinematographer - May 2008

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