DSLR video from a Radio Control Helicopter

[vortexaerial]

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.

[bradleygibson]

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!

[Dennis Carbo]

That is fantastic work for sure !

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

That is fantastic work for sure !

+10!

Amazing!

Eric

[Peter McLennan]

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.

[Craig Murphy]

Yeah.  You would not want a miniature   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vic_Morrow

[feppe]

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

[vortexaerial]

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.

[HarryHoffman]

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

[feppe]

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 (?).

[HarryHoffman]

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

[Dennis Carbo]

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 !

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

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


Cheers,
Bart