DSLR video from a Radio Control Helicopter

Wow, any specs on the helli set up? I've got a few friends with these things and I have always wanted these kind of shots!

Great work!
 
HOLY COW THAT WAS AWESOME!

Ok, you NEED to share more details as to how this was done... I've been thinking about ways to get dynamic camera angles on R/C equipment, but I immediately dismissed the idea because I figured the vibration would be unusable, plus I wouldn't be able to see what I'm shooting or adjust focus.

How did you mange to get around those things? Set the aperture high enough to not worry about focus, I guess? What about seeing what you are shooting? It looks like you rotate the angle of the camera, so I assume you have some kind of a remote monitor or something? DO TELL!!
 
Thanks for the nice comments guys. Its great to see feedback like this.

The heli we shot this with is a 23-28Lb machine(depending on camera load) with a 5.5-6.0ft rotor span (also according to load) and uses a 3 phase custom built electric motor that runs on 50volts @ about 1300 watts of power. Its built entirely from composites, aluminum and stainless steel and has a 3 axis articulating camera head with a microwave video downlink to a mobile ground monitor worn by the camera operator who runs the head and camera functions. Im the pilot and heli engineer. Ive been flying model aircraft for over 30 years, 17 of which has been with helicopters and professionally for the last 4. The learning curve required to get these kind of results is extremely steep. It took many tens of thousands of dollars in R&D and over 4 years to get to where we are now.

Thanks again for watching. We will be posting more in the near future.
 
DAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMN!
I just watched the aerial one with the MOTOcross! UNBELIEVABLE!
from 39seconds to about 45 seconds...How does the chopper get those shots....You have to be really gifted to drive the RC chopper like that. SWEET!
 
Thanks JoeJitsu, glad you liked it.

The first of those two shots was with the heli in a stationary hover about 25feet up. The camera operator then turns the camera head as the rider flys by. The second shot is pretty much done the same way by the camera operator but this this time the heli is in a rapid ascent.
 
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