Gyron Systems captures stunning aerial images thanks to Fujinon lenses and RED cameras

The Fujinon 25-300mm Cabrio Zoom lenses coupled to the RED Helium 8K camera allow this production company specialized in aerial photography, one of the most relevant in the world, to capture spectacular images from the air.

Capturing car chases and all kinds of action scenes from buildings, mountains or bridges requires a perfect combination of camera and lens that must offer robustness and resistance while adding flexibility.

For one of the world's leading aerial film shooting companies, Gyron Systems International, a division of Wolfe Air Aviation based in Hawthorne, California, those requirements have led it to rely on the cameras RED Helium 8K and in the Fujinon Cabrio 25-300mm zoom lenses Fujifilm.

Jesse Brunt, director of photography and operator in Gyron, is very clear: “in these jobs there are no second takes or marks for the actors.” "We make adjustments as they occur. Focus whirring, blurry images or poor composition are unacceptable when burning fuel and spinning the rotor blades," he adds.

The rugged design of the 25-300mm Cabrio lenses makes it ideal for aerial cinematography. According to Brunt, “everything that happens in air conditions is subject to extreme conditions: weather, temperature, general stress conditions, additional wear and tear… The 25-300 has been designed to withstand the stress of flying through the ‘sky sets’.”

All Cabrio series lenses incorporate detachable servo units Exclusive for electric zoom, focus and iris. The unit mount allows remote control of zoom, focus and iris adjustment. The 25-300 servo is optional, making it suitable as a standard PL lens or as an ENG type lens.

"Lens making is a discipline and a vocation. Fujifilm has become the leader in this craft. There is no perfect circle in mathematics, and there is no perfect lens in film. However, Fujifilm builds and designs lenses with the intention of creating the perfect circle”Brunt added.

Sharpness and focus

With the conditions surrounding aviation (moving targets, time constraints, physical risk...), zooms tend to be the usual choice in this type of production. The focal length range of the lens and its ability to maintain Sharpness and focus of the Fujinon are a guarantee for Gyron. "We get the maximum focal length range along with incredible sharpness and a constant T-stop [at 273mm]. The Cabrio's optics retain color and sharpness like nothing we've seen before in a zoom. The Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) is the main improvement, with less chromatic aberration and better coatings on the 25-300," says Brunt.

The Cabrio's crystal clear image capture is also an advantage when capturing images for customers such as Boeing, NASA or SpaceX extremely concerned with pixel count, resolution and clarity. “When those are the main duties for a client, RED and Fujinon is the immediate response,” acknowledges the director of photography.

The zoom's ability to maintain sharpness when capturing fast moving objects It also makes it ideal in high-speed car chases from the air.

Brunt reports that the 25-300 has already been used on numerous occasions in the production of programs such as Top Gear (UK and USA); Jay’s Garage (NBC) and, recently, in the production of the film American Dresser with actor Tom Berenger that includes a large number of aerial shots.

Finally, filming on a moonless night in Los Angeles recently showed off the clarity of the 25-300 in a unique way. "Because of its sharpness, we were able to push the ISO much higher with this lens. The look we captured was simply stunning," says Brunt.

https://vimeo.com/257934207