GY-HM100 camcorders selected for mini helicopter duty.

Copter Studios, a specialty production company based in Santa Rosa, Calif., has outfitted two Halo remote-controlled helicopters with JVC GY-HM100 ProHD camcorders for close-range aerial cinematography. The rigs have since captured HD footage for cable programs, movies and TV commercials, as well as promo footage for Sonoma and Napa Valley wineries, real estate properties and golf courses.

Owner Darin Huard founded Copter Studios five years ago because he recognized the valuable and incomparable cinematic perspective these mini-helicopter camera systems could provide. With the ability to hover or fly with precision, the Halo can get unique shots 50 to 100 feet off the ground, which would be too difficult or expensive to get from a full-size helicopter, camera boom, or crane.

Built by PhotoShip One in Mesa, Ariz., the Halo helicopters were designed and built specifically for close-range aerial cinematography. “Once we took delivery of the helicopters, it was up to us to outfit them with our cameras and wireless transmission systems,” said Huard. “We chose the JVC GY-HM100 because it offers features that are mission-critical to this application.”

Besides delivering high-quality HD picture quality, Huard said the GY-HM100s are ideal because they are lightweight, compact, and include a built-in Fujinon 10x lens. Plus, the camcorders can shoot both HD and SD and NTSC or PAL at various frame rates, and feature 3-CCD image capture and built-in image stabilization.

“The 3-CCD chips in the JVC GY-HM100s also play a critical role. CCD imaging tolerates the vibrations of the helicopter better than CMOS sensors can,” Huard explained. “Also, when the helicopter moves abruptly, CMOS imagers can leave an unacceptable waviness in the picture, whereas CCDs don’t seem to have that problem.”

Copter Studios maintains a five-man crew for each production: a pilot for the helicopter; a camera operator, who uses an IR remote control to adjust camera functions; two safety assistants, who warn the pilot of obstacles in the flight path; and a set coordinator, who helps plan the shots. “While remote-controlled helicopter camera systems may seem like very sophisticated toys,” Huard added, “it takes technical skill and knowledge to operate them.”

Usually, the helicopter is airborne and shooting between three and 10 minutes. A live SD video feed is transmitted from the camera via microwave downlink to a directional patch antenna, and then a reference monitor on set.

Copter Studios also takes advantage of the GY-HM100’s use of SDHC solid-state media and native Final Cut Pro format recording. Huard explained, “After we bring the cameras down, we simply transfer the QuickTime files from the cards directly into an Apple MacBook Pro laptop and Final Cut Pro to review our footage.”