Top Gear

"Flexibility and innovation is the key"

Contracted to provide mini cam footage for BBC1's Top Gear, we use our years of experience to find the best solution for each shoot. When each shoot is completely different to the last, flexibility and innovation is the key. We custom design video systems for each shoot providing safe and effective solutions every time.

Solid State SDHC recorders are used when possible to provide high quality break-up free footage in situations where a tape recorder would not hold up. Our Solid State cameras have survived crashes after being launched through the air at 90mph, still rolling and with not a glitch in the recording!

Our technicians are happy to travel wherever they are needed be it Norfolk, Africa or Japan, and all our rushes are transferred either on location or in our office to the required format to be delivered on schedule to post production.

 

Top Gear Polar Expedition

When Top Gear decided to race to the North Pole we were faced with the challenge of designing an onboard video system to withstand some of the most extreme conditions. Due to production limitations we would be unable to send a technical operator on the expedition, it was therefore necessary to be sure that the system would hold out for the entire trip with no maintenance, and that it could be easily controlled by the location crew or presenters. We designed and built High Definition rigs for both the car and the husky sled, each weather proofed and insulated with built in heaters to prevent freezing of equipment and tape stock. Each had it's own custom built control unit with one-push recording making it quick and simple to use.

 

Top Gear Stunts

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Series 11 introduces a new character to the show - the Top Gear Stunt Man. We used solid state recording to produce flawless footage of some pretty incredible stunts, along with some pretty incredible impacts! We will be posting full in-car coverage of the stunts here over the coming weeks, check below for links to footage.

Stunt One: Reverse Jump. Top Gear Stunt Man sets the world record for reversing a car backwards off a ramp at 40mph. Click here to watch.

Stunt Two: Spiral Jump. Top Gear Stunt Man re-creates this classic James Bond stunt. Click here to watch.

 

 

Top Gear Skier vs Audi RS6

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Yet another exciting challenge for the extreme crew, an onboard camera rig for two professional skiers as they race Richard Hammond in a Audi RS6 down a mountain with parachutes attached to their backs!

We opted for the versatile Elmo SUV-Cam system for this shoot, due to it's waterproof and easily mountable camera head, and SDHD solid state recorder (no tape breakup during the bumpy bits!) which is the size of a mobile phone and can be stored safely in the pocket of a ski jacket.

To watch a sample of onboard footage from the race click here

To learn more about the Elmo SUV-Cam video system click here

 

 

Top Gear Fox Hunt

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- or rather, Jeremy Clarkson in a Daihatsu Terios hunt.

Along with our usual in-car cameras, this shoot presented the challenge of obtaining interesting POV footage from within the hunt itself. As well as body-worn cameras, we introduced horse-worn cameras to the mix, using small bullet cams attached to the horse's bridle, with a compact lightweight solid-state recorder in the pocket of the rider.

To watch footage from the horse-cams, please click here