ZipCam Systems, the leader in ultra-lightweight cable camera tracking systems for the production of motion pictures, commercials, and episodic television, has rebranded all its cable cam products and services with the ZipCam name. The evolution of the company’s cable-suspended camera systems (used for tracking shots) can be traced back nearly a decade to the design of the Super Flycam system, by the legendary inventor of Steadicam. SuperFlycam was a wire cam rig designed specifically for 35 mm and 16 mm film production. It was unique because it was ultra-lightweight and able to stabilize itself, even though the movement of film through a film magazine would otherwise destabilize the remote camera head and cable dolly due to a shift in the center of gravity from one core (or spool) to the other.
“SuperFlyCam”, says ZipCam president and founder Ben Semanoff, “was essentially a working prototype. We made some basic improvements to the system in the few years after we acquired rights to the design and to the Super Flycam name in 2005. Then, in 2009, we began working on a complete re-engineering and re-design of the entire cable camera system. We manufactured the new system in our own machine shop, which gave us complete control over every aspect of the process and testing. The results were worth the effort.”
The third generation of ZipCam Systems cable cams was unveiled in October 2011. The new, ultra-lightweight system delivers heavy duty reliability and high performance results in a remarkably compact and budget friendly package. And ZipHead, the system’s new remote camera head, will accept a wide range of film and digital cameras – making ZipCam the perfect choice for many feature films, commercials, and episodic television productions.
The ZipCam system is available for hire exclusively from ZipCam Systems, and the company provides a small, specialized crew for all their cable cam shoots.
The company’s older, Super Flycam website, at www.SuperFlycam.com will remain active, although it has now been rebranded with the ZipCam name, logo, and relevant content. The official ZipCam website is at www.ZipCam.com and features a demo reel and free download of the company’s ZipCalcDP application for planning cable cam shoots.
Copyright 2012 ZipCam Systems. ZipCam is a registered trademark of ZipCam Systems. Steadicam is a trademark of The Tiffen Company. ZipHead, ZipCalc, and ZipCalcDP are trademarks of ZipCam Systems.
