5dMk2 flies on a RC helicopter - Video

[Aerialpan]

Check it out here, make sure to watch in high quality:

YouTube - First 5Dmk2 Aerial Test on RC helicopter (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVOqmbOdN0E)


More info on the blog at


aerialpan.blogspot.com (http://aerialpan.blogspot.com/)

I am pretty impressed so far. This is a pretty vibration rich environment and the 5D handled it pretty well.

Cheers,

Tabb

[Loren Simons]

man thats a bonus of having the 5d i never really thought of, good stuff.

[CharlieG]

I'd love to have that RC Copter too.....

Didn't like the fisheye too much

[ESTEBEVERDE]

Yes indeed!

Arial Shots are very very nice.

But $$$$$

[Pepster]

This clip is my favourite 5D2 RC chopper clip;
http://www.vimeo.com/4332971
This clip would not have been possible with a full size chopper.

Methinks - not possible with the Red R1.

There is also a German music vid one making use of a 5D2 RC chopper (classic Guns n Roses Slash type shot) (sorry on my other PC). Apparently is cost about half to hire the two guys (pilot + camera controller) + RC chopper, as compared to a full size chopper.

[ESTEBEVERDE]

Chopper-Cams are awesome!

but:

1. Expensive
2. Dangerous
3 Dangerously Expensive! :beer:

There is still a place for them if one considers these absolute facts.

[Isaac_Brody]

http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=26973&highlight=Helicopters

Saw this on Red a few months ago. It is pretty friggin' cool. I'd love to get some Copter shots.

[Buck Forester]

Very cool... does anyone have any idea what make/model of helicopter he's using (Piton Productions)?

[tackleqb]

WOW!!!!!! That video was absolutely JAW DROPPING AMAZING!

No offense but I was kind of scared for your camera the whole time I was watching. I would definitely get insurance on that thing if I was doing this on a regular basis. One bad crash in the water and the camera goes bye bye. But I am sure you are professional at flying that thing. Nice footage! VERY NICE. I look forward to seeing more heli footage and I continue to pray for you and your camera's saftey!

[ESTEBEVERDE]

Guys.... you do realize that the chopper is way way way more expensive than the 5D MK II right!??!?!?! :grin:

[tackleqb]

Guys.... you do realize that the chopper is way way way more expensive than the 5D MK II right!??!?!?! :grin:

yeah but my 5D means way way way way more to me! ;) jk jk

[Buck Forester]

I've tried Googling rc helicopters and haven't had much luck finding ones used for video cameras. Anyone know anything about these things and can point me in the right direction? I'm interested in investing in one for my company.

[ESTEBEVERDE]

Yes... I have some links... I will have to dig them up.

But be forewarned the Ante for the basic ass Buy In is $5-$10K Easy Breezy!

[Jackson Miller]

I've tried Googling rc helicopters and haven't had much luck finding ones used for video cameras. Anyone know anything about these things and can point me in the right direction? I'm interested in investing in one for my company.

They are also extremely dangerous and hard to fly, especially in such a controlled way. People have died by getting chopped by the blades before. If you were gonna do something like this, I think hiring a specialist with his own is the only way to go. Unless you already know how to fly. You could also start to learn how to fly, but you wouldn't be ready to mount a camera for a long while.

[Buck Forester]

Gracias for the advice... I do have the resources and the desire to learn this stuff. The footage fits in well with my overall production plans. Everyone's gotta start somewhere.

[Pepster]

I will shamelessly pharaphase an email a mate of mine sent me in response to a VIMEO clip I sent him. This guy has been a RC chopper builder and flyer for years.

Some of the gear they are using is a little 'Old School' though. You can now get flight stabilisation systems (basically 3 axis gyros + some fancy software) to fully stabilise the heli so that there is a lot less load on the pilot.

You can now fly hands off with a system that will hold the heli still in strong gusty winds - you just tell it where you want it to go - the stabilisation does the rest. Not any good for aerobatics but good for camera type work etc.

and some tripping autonomous helicopter control system links he sent me;
http://helicommand.captron.domainfactory-kunde.de/home_en.html
http://storybank.stanford.edu/category/tags/helicopter
http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,24356582-5014239,00.html
http://robots.stanford.edu/heli/
http://heli.stanford.edu/

Seem like the sky is the limit (sorry for this lame pun).

[Buck Forester]

Great stuff, thanks for the links Pepster!

[PhilD]

Guys, just get the Olympus EP-1 with a pancake lens when it's available. 720p video. Who knows, maybe even a Walmart mini-copter will work with that.

[Jackson Miller]

Guys, just get the Olympus EP-1 with a pancake lens when it's available. 720p video. Who knows, maybe even a Walmart mini-copter will work with that.

Dang, didn't know about that cam. There are a lot of these suckers coming out. Hopefully someone will get it right soon.

[ESTEBEVERDE]

Still trying to dig out my links to the RC Chopper forums. Here is a good starter page:


Using RC Helicopters For Aerial Photography & Videography (http://www.rchelisite.com/using_rc_helicopters_for_aerial_photography_and_vi deography.php)

[ESTEBEVERDE]

HPN SAVS Draganfly video demonstration (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjjmN8AjFwA&fmt=18)

[ESTEBEVERDE]

Bergen R/C Helicopters Observer (http://www.bergenrc.com/Observer.php)

[ESTEBEVERDE]

Aerial Video and Photography (http://www.crackroll.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=75)

[ESTEBEVERDE]

3 Axis Copterworks camera mount test
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl_oY9DTvyk&fmt=18)

[ESTEBEVERDE]

http://www.rcgroups.com/aerial-photography-128/

http://www.rcgroups.com/aerial-photography-for-scientific-and-historical-discovery-484/