First Time shooting from a Helicopter

E

etrust

Well-known member
Hi Guys,

I have to shoot following scenes from a helicopter. A guy from the company will set up a stabilisator, head etc..

Which Tipps would you give me in meaning of lens, filter, general tipps. I'm using a 7D

- Panorama. Something like this: http://www.google.ch/imgres?imgurl=http://www.twyggy.net/wp-content/uploads/monaco.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.twyggy.net/news/7434&usg=__i9jjIHRc5O18OCg2M8MzWKugHHc=&h=600&w=800&sz=166&hl=de&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=AcvD4lGYdvXkRM:&tbnh=138&tbnw=176&ei=lRLATdrpBdT34Aak8ensBA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmonaco%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dde%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1259%26bih%3D615%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=234&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&tx=102&ty=113

- Yacht. Something like this: http://www.google.ch/imgres?imgurl=...=168&ty=122&page=1&ndsp=17&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:0

Thank you.
 
wide for the landscape. perhaps a grad ND, depending on the shot for the landscape as well?

a little longer for the other, but I wouldn't go too long cause of Jello and such.

I would also bring along a couple of general ND filters if the shots are going to be during the day.
 
Well, don't use a 7D at all but a normal camcorder. The short DOF that's the sweet selling point of HDSLR don't come into play at all when shooting wide to distant subjects from a helicopter. A HD camcorder will quite simply render a much sharper and better detailed image with less aliasing/moire artifacts in this situation.
 
Martti Ekstrand said:
Well, don't use a 7D at all but a normal camcorder. The short DOF that's the sweet selling point of HDSLR don't come into play at all when shooting wide to distant subjects from a helicopter. A HD camcorder will quite simply render a much sharper and better detailed image with less aliasing/moire artifacts in this situation.
Click to expand...

alot better advice than in my answer, IMO
 
Martti Ekstrand said:
Well, don't use a 7D at all but a normal camcorder. The short DOF that's the sweet selling point of HDSLR don't come into play at all when shooting wide to distant subjects from a helicopter. A HD camcorder will quite simply render a much sharper and better detailed image with less aliasing/moire artifacts in this situation.
Click to expand...

Could be the best way to use another cam, but If the distance is constant and I shot at F4 it should works fine. And if I take another cam I have to rent it and the color will be not the same..

What you think?
 
Heli shoots typically look so fundamentally different to anything else you shoot anyway so be prepared to put some effort into colour correction either way.
And... if you are spending the buck to go up in a heli wouldn't you rather have a true HD camera just to avoid the risk of having the fine detailing in say a cityscape marred by aliasing?
 
Hi Marti. I have a HD-XR500. Would this cam do the job better?

Update: And why not to use both and I could choose after the best shot????
 
Just shot out of a small very shaky helicopter with my 5d handheld (out the open side door)... yes use wide lenses... weighting the camera down might help... important don't fly to slow (shaky)... use high F stop... no grad filters as the horizon will be all over the place... polarizing filter might be a good idea (especially at sea)... use Final cut's "smooth cam" -- wear a neck strap -- dress warm... try to use bigger helicopter as they are more stable... be aware of sun position... don't shoot at high noon... don't shoot in major wind...
 
Hi guys,

wow good tips there. About the stabilisation: A technician will setup this:
Steadi_Mount.jpg



"no grad filters as the horizon will be all over the place... ". What you mean here exactly?

"be aware of sun position... don't shoot at high noon". What you mean here exactly?
 
etrust said:
Hi guys,

wow good tips there. About the stabilisation: A technician will setup this:
View attachment 33778



"no grad filters as the horizon will be all over the place... ". What you mean here exactly?

"be aware of sun position... don't shoot at high noon". What you mean here exactly?
Click to expand...

It will be hard to keep the horizon level so the gradient filter will be useless.

At high noon the sun everything is top lit and flat and reflections in the water... also if you need a particular backdrop in the shot (beach, sunset...) you need to obviously keep sun position in mind for the particular time of day you are shooting... helicopter time expensive...
 
Ah ok..

Here the heli: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurocopter_AS_350

I will not use a gradiant filter. I will use only the pol filter. And no ND Filter to be able to use a High F-Stop and have a big range of sharpness. The sun is for sure a good topic. I'll have to check out the sun position and time..

I think I will mount 2 cams on the mount. The HD XR500 and the 7D.
 
Hi Guys,

I'm back. It was a amazing experience for me. Here some information if you are interested:

location: Monte Carlo
Flying time: 20 minutes
Equipments: 7d, 17-55 2.8, Shoulder Rig, Ikan Monitor.
Footage: This Footage was manipulated (General Stabilization with Sony Vegas, color correction, no slow motion)
Mode: 1080p
Filter: Pol

Problems: We could not install our heli mount, long story..

I am very happy with the result in meaning of aliasing and vibration.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBor5ZQ4k8E

I will update the complete video soon.
 
looks pretty nice for only being shoulder mounted, seems to be only slight jiggles in the first two slower shots. the third shot at the faster speed and lower altitude looks great, I'd be interested in seeing more. what was the difference in shakiness before you stabilized the footage in vegas?
 
those are mighty nice shots señor. general image stabilization looks like it helped, as well :)

out of curiosity, which ikan monitor were you using?

--ryan
 
Hi Guys,

when I have more time I will post the Original Footage vs. the stabilized one.

Ikan VH7 from BHPhotovideo
 
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