Side Mounted Systems

Side mounts are often the most affordable way to go. Side mounts are manually operated platforms that usually go on the back seat of the helicopter pointed out the door. There are a variety of mounts with varying nuances that may be more beneficial to your project. Side mounts are manually operated, three axis (Pan, Tilt and Roll), passively gyro stabilized systems. Viewing is direct through the eyepiece, with the perspective of a passenger in a helicopter while looking out a side "window" or door.  Side mounts have a useable focal length range of approximately 17mm to 250mm. (35mm film format) for all film and video formats.

Side mounts may be the perfect  way to go for your project. We have produced great footage for television, film and other uses with a side mounted camera. We only film with HD cameras now, but the edited pieces below illustrate the side mount results. These pieces were filmed in October 2005. They are currently on sfyoutube.com.