I want my Remote Helicopter? But which one?

I want my Remote Helicopter? But which one?

  • Total voters
    30
marinpa

marinpa

Member
Hi there,
I am considering buying an remote helicopter to fly it with my DVX100A. Not the toy (Radio Shack) one, but an specially designed for filming, unmanned air craft .

Similar to this:
helicam.jpg



At this point I do not know too much about this solution (other then that I want to acquire it). Does anyone have any ideas, opinions, hints, links, stories, etc. As well, are any air craft recommendations?

Thank you anticipated for your time and effort.

Marinpa

P.S. By the way, my DVX is making a clunky noise... .. is something broken in my camera? How do I fix it? LOL!!! Just Joking.
 
Cheesesailor77 said:
i think you can asnwer this yourself pretty quickly by just looking into the cost
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This is not a matter of cost. I am willing to spend between $15 and $25.000. For me buying the bird is not a matter of... "IF or MAYBE" but "WHICH and WHEN".


Best regards

M.P.
 
As an RC guy, I highly recommend taking lessons to learn to fly the craft before you take your camera anywhere near it. Helis are harder to fly than RC planes. Much harder. I don't know which model to suggest, but whatever you get, make sure you take plenty of time to get to know how to use it before you bother putting your investment inside it.
 
DammitJanet said:
As an RC guy, I highly recommend taking lessons to learn to fly the craft before you take your camera anywhere near it. Helis are harder to fly than RC planes. Much harder. I don't know which model to suggest, but whatever you get, make sure you take plenty of time to get to know how to use it before you bother putting your investment inside it.
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im guessing if you wreck your $25K chopper you arent going to be worrying about your 3K camera... but I agree..
 
DammitJanet said:
As an RC guy, I highly recommend taking lessons to learn to fly the craft before you take your camera anywhere near it. Helis are harder to fly than RC planes. Much harder. I don't know which model to suggest, but whatever you get, make sure you take plenty of time to get to know how to use it before you bother putting your investment inside it.
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Thanks! That's a vise thing to say! No, I do not intend to fly the air craft. I will most likely hire a (pro) pilot. I would like to stick to the camera/video aspect of the business.

Regards,

M.P.
 
CineMark said:
I totally agree. I've seen some RC helis get wrecked bad. That's a big investment to slam into something. Why don't you get a good RC (non-camera model) heli to practice with and learn how to fly before you crash the $15000 version? http://h1070565.hobbyshopnow.com/products/description.asp?prod=JRP9005

$270 isn't much of an investment on top of what your planning to spend. Just consider it part of your insurance policy...
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You are right too... .. however... .
A small RC heli, doe not compare with a big one in maneuverability. Its like trying to get a driver licence for a 16 wheeler while practicing on a Mini Cooper.

But again.. .. I never said I want to be the one that flies the darn thing... ..
 
if its which and when, then whats the point of the poll?

and when i said look into te cost I was also thinking you'd hire a trained tech just to fly it. Unless you really wanna get into the "renting out my remote heli" biz, i can't imagine its worth it. or you just have $25,000 and dammit you want a heli, in which case, go for it
 
marinpa said:
Thanks! That's a vise thing to say! No, I do not intend to fly the air craft. I will most likely hire a (pro) pilot. I would like to stick to the camera/video aspect of the business.

Regards,

M.P.
Click to expand...

So, if you hire a pro pilot to operate the helicopter then he/she will essentially be in control of the shots. In having done quite a bit of filming from a real helicopter, I've found it hard to relate to the pilot exactly what I want him/her to do. I would guess that you plan on standing next to the rc pro and tell him/her what you want.....still hard to do. No matter what....you're giving up some creative control. So who would get the credit as the cameraman?

Why not just hire a real helicopter and pilot....and do the filming yourself?
 
Cheesesailor77 said:
if its which and when, then whats the point of the poll?

and when i said look into te cost I was also thinking you'd hire a trained tech just to fly it. Unless you really wanna get into the "renting out my remote heli" biz, i can't imagine its worth it. or you just have $25,000 and dammit you want a heli, in which case, go for it
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My dear friend,
If you would read more carefully the question of the poll, you would have observed that had nothing to do with the fact that I am going to buy the air craft or not.
The question is a business oriented one, and can be translated into: Can an air craft become an asset for an already established video production business. And yes, the whole idea of having a heli is to get more business by doing aerial videography/photography.

Regards,

M.P.
 
marlenedegrood said:
So, if you hire a pro pilot to operate the helicopter then he/she will essentially be in control of the shots.
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Not quite. You, as videographer, are in sync with the pilot, and you tell him where to take the camera (fly), how fast and how low/high.


marlenedegrood said:
In having done quite a bit of filming from a real helicopter, I've found it hard to relate to the pilot exactly what I want him/her to do.
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One aspect is worth to mention here... .. The helicopter pilot does not know your shooting style, he is not aware of your shots, etc. You are not a team. Yet, if you have your own RC pilot, you have time to discuss in detail the shots, frames, angles, etc. You can calculate the frame, time, speed, etc


marlenedegrood said:
No matter what....you're giving up some creative control. So who would get the credit as the cameraman?
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I would rather have 5 dull aerial shots of a golf course that an beautiful image of a hole with a flag in it. LOL!!!


marlenedegrood said:
Why not just hire a real helicopter and pilot....and do the filming yourself?
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No real helicopter can get into the spaces that an RC heli will go.
Can you imagine a real helicopter filming inside a hockey arena... how about on the busy streets of LA

Regards,

M.P.
 
i would say if your already an established video production company, you have experience with rc and ariel photgraphy, and you already know the cost, AND you still think it sounds like a good idea... then sure, it very well could be worth it.

if you take away one of those, you should probably save ur cash though
 
what about renting? in whatever context...if you just need this for certain shots obviously it may be cheaper to rent an RC chopper - but i'm sure you've considered this...anyway your main ? was asking if it was a good investment for a production company...well can you forsee getting 15-25k worth of work from having it? is there the chance that you yourself will be able to rent this piece of equipment out at a reasonable rate at which to recoup your investment...i dunno do simple cost/benefit analysis - right?
 
It seems to me that a pro RC heli-cameraman would come with his own RC camera-heli the same way a Steadicam rig would come with the hired operator. Or he would rent the heli (/steadicam) and transfer cost to you. Either way, it seems to me that if you're hiring the guy, the heli wouldn't come at much more of a cost for the shoot.

I say dont buy.

Also, aside from mentioning a golf course, I dont think you mentioned what your videography business is. So I vote double "No" if you are a Barmitzva videographer.

-GageFX
 
Well, to my personal opinion, the RC heli would be some interesting piece of equipment to have but i think we should also consider the size of the machine, how big is it and how versatile would it be in small spaces. Besides, the costs look so massive (already) for an indie filmmaker (including renting it), in this regard therefore, would you require your rental clients to show their expertise first on using it or you'll just rent it out in any case!

Then, if its only too small to enter into industrial (medium) doors and windows to get those shots without crushing, then it would be just as good as jib.
 
Wow, cool topic . . . and a lot of responses.

There are already professional operators that fly mini-helicopters for camera. They are bigger than what you posted in your picture and typically fly something with greater capability than the DVX-100. I can’t remember what they charge but this is what they do so communicating your artistic desires to them will not fall on deaf ears.

No doubt they don’t come cheap but then, there you go . . . you won’t have to learn to fly it or rent something and find someone else who is capable or bear the hassle of transportation, insurance, fuel, FAA NOTAM’s, etc. They’re too big to fly through the window, but someone already suggested a jib or something may have you covered for that particular type shot. Fact is, I am wondering (as is probably everyone else) what your plans are? What I mean is, are you thinking of starting a business or just shooting your indie feature? I’m interested, so that’s why I ask.

Anyhow . . . I am a pilot (fixed wing only). I have many hundreds of hours in helicopters as a passenger, parachuting and rappelling out of them, and shooting (not with a camera though). I can share this: Filming from an aircraft (unless it’s a 747 and you’re securely buckled into your seat and shooting through the glass window of your passanger seat) is risky business. Unless you have a lot of time in and around one I suggest you abandon any idea of the full size version (and yes, I understand that was not the stated purpose of your post – but as it has come up I thought I would throw it in). It’s not that the helicopter is inherently dangerous—it’s not, and careful selection of an ex-military pilot would satisfy the requirement for someone that would probably not only understand your instructions but would kick some serious a** getting it done . . . these guys are literally the best and many of them continue to fly after separation from the military.

One thing that didn’t come up and kind of surprises me (but maybe that’s because we’re still clueless as to what your intentions are) is, would a “sky-cam” type setup give you what you are looking for; aka Garrett Brown/Jerry Holway Monday Nite/Super Bowl shots (or think Santa Anna’s first cannonball shot in the last remake of the Alamo)? Taking safety issues into consideration (and using experienced people/equipment) will not only allow you to get very precise shots, you will also be able to rehearse and replicate them.

I’m really interested in learning what you’re up to – fill me (us) in, will you?
 
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