Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Motion & Video => Topic started by: vortexaerial on January 23, 2011, 12:28:28 am

Title: DSLR video from a Radio Control Helicopter
Post by: vortexaerial on January 23, 2011, 12:28:28 am
New here and wanted to share this.

We shot this reel from our R/C Helicopters useing Canon 5DMKII, T2i, 7D, and panasonic HPX170.

Both at full raster and 720P.

http://www.vimeo.com/14708309
Title: Re: DSLR video from a Radio Control Helicopter
Post by: bradleygibson on January 23, 2011, 11:17:23 am
Amazing control of both the helicopter and the framing!  Please tell me you are doing that with two people!  :)

What helicopter are you using?

Very nice!
Title: Re: DSLR video from a Radio Control Helicopter
Post by: Dennis Carbo on January 24, 2011, 08:34:32 am
That is fantastic work for sure !
Title: Re: DSLR video from a Radio Control Helicopter
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on January 24, 2011, 09:47:35 am
That is fantastic work for sure !
+10!

Amazing!

Eric
Title: Re: DSLR video from a Radio Control Helicopter
Post by: Peter McLennan on January 24, 2011, 11:59:37 am
I have spent many hours at the controls of various Tyler mounts shooting 35mm film from helicopters.  Although the results of this remote-controlled system are very encouraging, somebody has to say this: 

I have serious safety concerns with this system.

It's one thing to photograph cars on a remote dry lake bed, quite another to operate in close proximity to crowds of spectators at a sporting venue.
Title: Re: DSLR video from a Radio Control Helicopter
Post by: Craig Murphy on January 24, 2011, 01:49:50 pm
Yeah.  You would not want a miniature   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vic_Morrow
Title: Re: DSLR video from a Radio Control Helicopter
Post by: feppe on January 24, 2011, 03:07:58 pm
That definitely looks like a very nasty accident waiting to happen. It's not only the crowds, but there are several shots where the chopper is just a few meters away from the models. There's no way in hell I'd get under or even close to such a big chopper - an inadvertent flick of a thumb and blades maim you for life in a split second.

Cool video, though :)
Title: Re: DSLR video from a Radio Control Helicopter
Post by: vortexaerial on February 02, 2011, 12:11:00 am
Thanks for all the response.
R/C Helicopter imagery on a professional level is a totally different animal than performing it as an amateur. It must be understood that the equipment, piloting, and peripheral personnel are that of the highest caliber. Along with millions of dollars in insurance coverage specially tailored for the activity and medical personnel standing by, this isn’t something one does out of his back yard. All participants are highly trained individuals, and the equipment is all industrial grade. It is true this type of thing does come with certain risks but liken it more to a day of stunt shooting on a feature film.
Title: Re: DSLR video from a Radio Control Helicopter
Post by: HarryHoffman on February 16, 2011, 05:01:02 pm
Is that a Bergen Heli?

No way I would fly that over a crowd of people no matter what insurance I had.

Got into RC helis a while ago for the purpose of video too, but gave up for safety concerns. Now I'm just hooked on flying them and doing mild 3D
Title: Re: DSLR video from a Radio Control Helicopter
Post by: feppe on February 16, 2011, 05:06:27 pm
Thanks for all the response.
R/C Helicopter imagery on a professional level is a totally different animal than performing it as an amateur. It must be understood that the equipment, piloting, and peripheral personnel are that of the highest caliber. Along with millions of dollars in insurance coverage specially tailored for the activity and medical personnel standing by, this isn’t something one does out of his back yard. All participants are highly trained individuals, and the equipment is all industrial grade. It is true this type of thing does come with certain risks but liken it more to a day of stunt shooting on a feature film.


Millions of dollars of insurance or any medical personnel can't cover or patch up the damage done to human flesh by metal (?) blades spinning at 10,000+ rpm (?).
Title: Re: DSLR video from a Radio Control Helicopter
Post by: HarryHoffman on February 16, 2011, 06:03:25 pm
Millions of dollars of insurance or any medical personnel can't cover or patch up the damage done to human flesh by metal (?) blades spinning at 10,000+ rpm (?).

The carbon blades are probably spinning around 1600 rpm with a 5-6ft diameter. Definitely lethal. Makes cool video's though
Title: Re: DSLR video from a Radio Control Helicopter
Post by: Dennis Carbo on February 16, 2011, 07:53:28 pm
Just an FYI  - It is against FAA regulations to use RC copters for Commercial photography, I belonged to PAPA (Professional Aerial Photographers Association) and it was always discussed ...bottom line...people do it but FAA says its illegal.  Too bad ....some really cool applications for it !

Title: Re: DSLR video from a Radio Control Helicopter
Post by: Bart_van_der_Wolf on February 17, 2011, 08:39:06 am
Just an FYI  - It is against FAA regulations to use RC copters for Commercial photography

http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/uas/media/UAS_FACT_Sheet.pdf (http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/uas/media/UAS_FACT_Sheet.pdf)


Cheers,
Bart