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Using RC Hellicopter for Filming

rockerrockstar

rockerrockstar

I have been thinking using a RC Helicopter is a good idea for some shots. Here is one I saw. I seen some others that look good. Look on Youtube.

This one used a 7d with the RC Heli.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vIkxXUixdE

here is another rc heli shots

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0QJ063A04w

here is another good one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2u2RnGUHSI

I seen this video that shows one helicopter for filming. It looks cool but it is like 14,000 dollars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TsMSIUXtik
 
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I see this site has different camera mounts for an RC Heli http://www.helicamsolutions.com .

Other option is to rent a Helicam possibly. The mi6 guys are from San Diego so that could be a option for people in Cali.

I am not ready to do this yet. But I like the idea. I think I would love to do this some day.



DangerDigital said:
seems like a good idea until your camera falls to its death.

maybe use a go-pro or something?
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I know what you mean. I would be worried about that too.
 
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This is something I've been looking into as a business opportunity. The problem is that it's currently not legal to sell as a service. It's such a new service that lawmakers haven't really looked into how to make it legal. Fox got into trouble a bit ago over it.
 
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I've done some looking into RC Heli's. It takes a good deal of practice to get good with them, not that that should stop anyone from trying. Soooooo many applications with cameras getting smaller and smaller. Supposedly for dslr sized cams hexa-copters are the way to go.

This is a good place to look for info:

http://www.rcgroups.com/beginner-training-area-heli-electric-599/

Apparently someone there teaches an online course using a simulator program. It basically works with an actual RC controller to learn flight without breaking stuff. Really it's just about the money at this point, as in I don't have enough to invest in it. I would want some solid hours of regular flight time before bringing anything more expensive than a Flip/Vado/etc along for the ride though.
 
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zim9000 said:
How ironic. Last night I just ordered a couple "supposedly" 720p keychain cameras for $10 each. Then I am going to buy a cheap $20 RC helicopter like this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001QEIVI2/ref=s9_simh_gw_p21_d0_g21_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-6&pf_rd_r=1HS12J7CWVQMBNZEH6JG&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938731&pf_rd_i=507846 and attach it to the bottom. Hopefully it makes for some cool shots, if not, hopefully it will be just fun to play around with. :D
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That is such a great idea. I've a couple of cheap cameras that I wouldn't mind experimenting with a small helicopter. They can fall to their deaths. It would probably make better video than whatever it is i plan.
 
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trueindie said:
That is such a great idea. I've a couple of cheap cameras that I wouldn't mind experimenting with a small helicopter. They can fall to their deaths. It would probably make better video than whatever it is i plan.
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Ha, well, from what I understand these helis are very small and at most will support a keychain camera. I dont think they would support anything much bigger in the $20-30 helicopter price range. But it looks like I dont get my cams until two weeks or less. I will let you know my findings when things arrive. ;)
 
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Keychain + cheap copter is probably a good way to get started. Most copters that can hold something larger than that are expensive enough that I don't think I could consider them sacrificial. :)
 
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indietalk said:
Make sure your camera is insured.
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Excellent idea.

I hear they require A LOT of practice before you can take of properly. Then another LOT of practice, before you stop crashing. Followed by A LOT more practice before you stop crash landing. Then even MORE practice, before you can even think about mounting a camera on to those.

But it's all good fun :D
 
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Little update. I went crazy and bought a GoPro HD Hero Motorsports edition for $234 on amazon!
Link: http://www.amazon.com/GoPro-HD-Motorsports-HERO-Camera/dp/B002VA57XC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315993296&sr=8-1

And...I bought a really nice RC Helicopter called the DH 9053 Volitation that should actually be able to carry the GoPro as seen from others videos on youtube! Plus it was only $60!
Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004PBJPN8

Here is a couple of examples of the two together:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kP0GPg1RAU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUE_VefFdgM

Ha, might have to get a squaretrade warranty with accident protection...just in case :)
 
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zim9000 said:
Little update. I went crazy and bought a GoPro HD Hero Motorsports edition for $234 on amazon!
Link: http://www.amazon.com/GoPro-HD-Motorsports-HERO-Camera/dp/B002VA57XC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315993296&sr=8-1

And...I bought a really nice RC Helicopter called the DH 9053 Volitation that should actually be able to carry the GoPro as seen from others videos on youtube! Plus it was only $60!
Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004PBJPN8

Here is a couple of examples of the two together:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kP0GPg1RAU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUE_VefFdgM

Ha, might have to get a squaretrade warranty with accident protection...just in case :)
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That looks awesome, and the image on the go pro looks really good too. If you could get rid of the vibration this would be perfect.
 
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I've been looking at these for a while ever since I saw a friends airplane footage. Apparently they have been hooking up a video sender and using a screen image to fly the plane to create a kind of unmanned drone. They can fly out much further than by flying the plane by sight.
If you have the money there are motorised, stabilising mounts for the camera and some ingenious, uncrashable drones that fly themselves using GPS waypoints, gyros and other sensors or stabilise themselves when flown by remote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4jtguSF0n4
 
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Chrisk said:
I've been looking at these for a while ever since I saw a friends airplane footage. Apparently they have been hooking up a video sender and using a screen image to fly the plane to create a kind of unmanned drone. They can fly out much further than by flying the plane by sight.
If you have the money there are motorised, stabilising mounts for the camera and some ingenious, uncrashable drones that fly themselves using GPS waypoints, gyros and other sensors or stabilise themselves when flown by remote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4jtguSF0n4
Click to expand...

That was a cool video
 
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