cianmcgrath Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 Just been daydreaming there the last few days where I have been thinking of strapping a camera to an RC helicopter to get aerial shots. Been thinking about using camera tracking software as well to add my 3d models into the video footage. Anyone crazy enough here who has tried this before? Cheers. Cian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjornkn Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 A lot of people do this. take a Google search for "rc helicopter photo aerial" and you'll find lots of info to start with. I prefer electrical, to minimize vibrations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandmanNinja Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 I actually got a Raptor V2 remote controlled helicopter and spent a fair bit of $$$ on it and a rig for a good camera. Factor in r/c fuel, training in the flight sim, damages and repairs to the heli... I find Google Earth is a much easier solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ky Lane Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 I just make the client pay for a couple hours for me up in a real heli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjornkn Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 There are a few advantages to RC heli aerials though. First of alll you an fly lower, and shoot with wider lenses and get more "normal" views. You also avoid haze etc. You can fly where a full-size chopper can not, even inside buildings/halls. It's cheaper nad more flexible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianKitts Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 build your own helicopter with camera for $40 http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-turn-your-toy-helicopter-into-a-spy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ky Lane Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 There are a few advantages to RC heli aerials though. First of alll you an fly lower, and shoot with wider lenses and get more "normal" views. You also avoid haze etc. You can fly where a full-size chopper can not, even inside buildings/halls. It's cheaper nad more flexible. Have you ever flown a RC chopper? They're far from easy. You cant see the viewfinder. Makes things a bit hit and miss, although you can just use a motorised shutter if you wanted. Unsure what you mean by more "normal" views. Why you would want to fly inside a building/hall is a bit beyond me, but ok. And its not cheaper by a long shot. ive spent thousands on my RC choppers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjornkn Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 Yes, I have flown RC choppers and planes - electric only though. My big Logo was stolen from my car that same night before I was going to fly with camera/video link for the first time, some years ago, and I never had the money to start over again then. Yes, you can see the viewfinder if you're using a camera with LiveView, either a P&S or a dSLR (quite heavy) and connect a video link (2.4GHz) and a screen on the ground. I use video glasses, mostly for pole photos, which is another way to get "very low altitude aerials" BTW. With "normal" I meant that you can use "normal" focal lengths, including wide angle, instead of the longer teles you'd often need to use if shooting from a real chopper. Flying inside buildings was just an example of the greater flexibility. For shoting inside buildings they usually use helium blimps, which may also be useful for outdoor shoooting. Another option is to use a kite, which is apparently quite common. Do a search for KAP and picavet, and you'll find a lot of info about that. A lot of nice remote shutter solutions can be found at http://www.gentles.ltd.uk/ Regarding expenses I guess that depends on a lot of factors. It is very easy to spend thousands of $ on the equipment, but then it costs a lot less to run. It also depends on where you live. In my town there are choppers, but the next place to find them are at least 200km away. One single trip with a rented chopper could easily cost you $1000 or more here, while charging the LiPoly/NiCd/NiMH batteries for an RC chopper would cost you a couple of $s, at most. No need to drive to the airport and back, no need to fly to the site and back. Just drive to the site and start shooting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Cassil Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 There are proffesional services who will shoot low aerials with an RC chopper. I've also gone up in a real heli for several projects and in every case I've been able to get the angle I want. Usually that is the project site, the horizon and some sky. Sometimes I just have to back up and zoom in if I want something really low angle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ky Lane Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 Totally depends on what you want. I spent 4 years in the RAAF training to be a blackhawk pilot, so theres the lure of getting to hire a jet ranger for the day to shoot 10mins of footage... But, at the end of the day.. what I (we) do is make rich people a shitload richer... so they can fork it out Might try convince them I need a cobra replica with a EOS attachment to get the next penthouse views Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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