HELICOPTER AERIAL CINEMATOGRAPHY
CINEFLEX OPERATOR & CUSTOM CAMERA RIGS FOR FILM PRODUCTIONS
HELICOPTER SHOTS
FOR FILM, COMMERCIAL AND CORPORATE VIDEO PRODUCTIONS
Some shots can only be made from a helicopter. Higher altitudes, greater distances, a 300mm zoom lens tracking a subject across open water — these are situations where a drone simply cannot go. Kiwi Aerial Shots operates as a helicopter aerial cinematography company based in the Netherlands, working with productions across Europe and beyond.
We handle helicopter productions end to end, from the first location recce through to the final aerial shots. Working alongside our experienced Cineflex operators and cinematographic pilots, we advise on the right camera setup for your brief and budget. Our primary setup is a Cineflex gyro-stabilised camera system with a RED Komodo-X. For productions that need something different, we build custom camera rigs in our Amsterdam workshop, including a three-camera array delivering 22K resolution in a 310-degree field of view.
Whether you need an aerial camera operator for a single filming day or a full technical team embedded in your production, get in touch, and we will find the right solution.
"CINEFLEX SHOTS ABOVE CITIES, AIR-2-AIR, AND OFFSHORE AERIAL SHOTS"
CINEFLEX SHOOTS
Heli Photography
GIMBAL SETUP
MULTI CAMERA ARRAY
CINEFLEX OPERATOR OR CUSTOM RIG
A SOLUTION FOR EVERY PRODUCTION AND BUDGET
Choosing the right camera setup depends on the shots you need, the location and the production budget. A gimbal or handheld setup mounted in the open door is a flexible and cost-effective option for many productions. The limitation is that filming straight down is not possible from this position due to propwash from the rotor blades.
The Cineflex gyro-stabilised camera system does not have this limitation. Mounted externally beneath the helicopter, it offers full 360-degree rotation and can point straight down at high speed without any interference. For aerial cinematography that demands complete freedom of movement, the Cineflex is the right tool.
We discuss the options with your DOP or production coordinator during the technical recce, so the setup matches your shot list from day one.
"CINEFLEX OR CUSTOM BUILD CAMERA SETUP FOR UNIQUE FILM PRODUCTIONS "
WHEN TO USE A HELICOPTER?
HIGHER ALTITUDE | GREATER DISTANCES | ZOOM LENS | OFFSHORE
Drones and helicopters are not interchangeable. Each has its place, and knowing which to use comes down to the specific demands of the shot. In the Netherlands, drones are restricted to a maximum altitude of 120 metres. A helicopter operates well above that ceiling, opening up wide establishing shots and high-altitude perspectives that are simply not possible with a drone. Where a drone team working within line-of-sight might cover a kilometre or two, a helicopter can follow a subject for hours across open landscape, coastline or offshore infrastructure.
The zoom lens is another factor. Our Cineflex carries a 70-300mm lens, which allows us to stay at a safe distance from a subject while still filling the frame. That kind of reach is not achievable on a drone due to payload weight. For offshore productions, coastal surveys, air-to-air filming or any shoot that takes you beyond the reach of a drone, a helicopter gives you the range, altitude and optical capability to get the shot.
If you are unsure whether your project needs a drone, a helicopter or a combination of both, we are happy to advise during a technical recce or pre-production call.
MULTI CAMERA ARRAY
22K RESOLUTION | 310-DEGREE FIELD OF VIEW
In 2019 we designed and built a custom helicopter camera rig housing three RED Monstro cameras, delivering 22K resolution across a 310-degree field of view. The rig was developed for a large-scale amusement park production and remains one of the most technically ambitious aerial camera systems built in the Netherlands.
Our workshop in Amsterdam is where these kinds of projects take shape. If your production requires a camera setup that does not exist yet, we build it. Get in touch to discuss what you have in mind.
"WE'VE BEEN FILMING FOR DISCOVERY CHANNEL BIG, MYSTERYLAND AND MCDONALDS TVC"
MULTI CAMERA ARRAY
22K resolutie in 310 GRADEN BEELdhoek
In 2019 we designed and built a custom helicopter camera rig housing three RED Monstro cameras, delivering 22K resolution across a 310-degree field of view. The rig was developed for a large-scale amusement park production and remains one of the most technically ambitious aerial camera systems built in the Netherlands.
Our workshop in Amsterdam is where these kinds of projects take shape. If your production requires a camera setup that does not exist yet, we build it. Get in touch to discuss what you have in mind.