There was a lot of great gear at PhotoPlus Expo this year but it wasn't until the third day of the show that we stumbled onto something really cool. If you're unaware of the term "RC Helicopter" don't be too embarrassed. It's a particularly geeky subset of the world of "radio-controlled" model aircraft with a small but devoted fan base of techies and tinkerers.

Along with being another fun toy to fly around—first check with local authorities to see what permits they might require—photographers are coming up with cool ways to use RC craft to shoot aerial footage. (Sure beats renting an actual helicopter for your next car commercial.)

One of those photographers is Jason Lam, who's been an RC enthusiast since he was a youngster. Lam recently decided to combine his two passions to create the Sky Shutter Aericam, a remote controlled mini-helicopter that's equipped to carry a camcorder or DSLR on board. Lam was showing off his creation at PhotoPlus and we were impressed with the concept and the design.

With a lightweight, aluminum build that looks like it might have come out of an erector set box, the Aericam weighs just 30 pounds but offers a 7-pound payload, which allows it to carry a DSLR as big as the new HD-capable Nikon D3s or Canon 1D Mark IV. (Whether you're comfortable putting your $5,000 in a tin mini-helicopter is, obviously, something you're going to have to ponder if you're considering this product.)

The helicopter is controlled by a remote control pilot who guides the craft along with a camera operator who steers the DSLR via a live feed on a ground station. For photography and video, the Aericam 3-axis camera mount can move in a 360-degree pan, tilt and roll movements.

Cost: $9,000 as a kit; $12,000 assembled

Further information: www.AeriCam.com