Considered the most versatile
mount because of the following:
- Active direct participation by the camera
operator viewing through camera. Some well-known
aerial cinematographers call a door mount
an "active" mount for this reason.
- Camera can be reloaded inflight, although
NOT recommended for the casual or inexperienced
operator.
- Agile. Allows whip pans, snap zooms,
rapid framing adjustments and dutching
on-the-fly for induced urgency. No other
mount type provides these capabilities.
- Near-ball mount quality with gyro assist
on focal lengths up to 250mm, other affecting
conditions considered.
- Solid state reliability with very little
electronics. Mount still usable even during
electronic failure.
- Ability to use standard production camera
packages and lenses. Although the choice
is wide, only a preferred few are considered
optimal due to lens choice, eyepiece placement,
functionality and weight.
- Extensible to non-aerial applications
with land or marine vehicles on a limited
basis.
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Door mounts are generally
not suitable for:
- Focal lengths longer than 250mm for
extended periods.
- Shooting 90° straight-down, other
than during extreme helicopter banking
(tight orbit). However, high skid aircraft
offer greater flexibility with this.
- Imperceptible undercranking when compressing
time, especially critical with long focal
lengths.
- Rock-steady, plate quality images.
However, the larger the door mount used
(more mass), in conjunction with gyros,
the better.
- Straight-ahead aircraft POVs at high
airspeeds. Helicopter will have to fly
with the door into the airstream resulting
in excessive buffeting on the mount.
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Door Mounts
Door mounts, also called
side mounts, are helicopter isolation mounts
which utilize inertial stabilization to reduce
aircraft induced vibration for smooth aerial
cinematography.
The highly unique Tyler Three
Axes mount is the exception in this category.
It is a fixed-wing NON-isolated door or gun
port mount not very suitable for helicopter
work.
Door mounts generally follow
similar design concepts:
- Seatbase with internal spring suspension.
Isolates mount and operator from aircraft
induced movement and vibration. All types
include attached safety restraints for the
arm and operator.
- Camera mount balance arm. Can be thought
of as an articulated arm with a roll axis
for holding horizon. Provides all necessary
controls for pan/tilt, zoom, focus and camera
run with counterweight and/or power supply.
- Gyro assist capability for near-ball mount
stability. Practically standard on all current
door mount packages, albeit for an additional
charge.
- Right- or pilot-side shooting by default
to comply with aircraft rating. However,
all mounts will accommodate left-side filming
with some minimal reworking.
- Lexan windscreen mounted to aft door hinges
to alleviate wind buffeting on lens.
Differing manufacturers have
implemented their own improvements mainly in
the form of gyro assisted stabilization (mentioned
above) and overall strengthening to accommodate
the heavier large format IMAX and Showscan
systems.
Successful door mount filming
is affected by many variables. As such the
following pros & cons are general at best.
It should be noted that certain well-known
aerial cinematographers have pushed the capabilities
of door mounts way beyond the manufacturers'
stated or even expected performance limitations,
achieving footage so incredible as to rival
that of highly stable ball mounts. Success
greatly depends on the operator and his understanding
of the concepts behind the mount. This is what
the seasoned aerial cinematographer brings
to the table on every production.
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