aerial photography equipment

[paulw1283]

Hi, I'm a newbie to aerial photography. I wonder where you guys get the camera mount. Is it possible to make it yourself?

Do you use a channel on the radio to control the shutter mechanism?

How high (practically) can a Spectra G go without losing sight? What's the highest altitude you guys take pics from?

Thanks.

[MarkWebber]

There are quite a few home made mounts out there.

I use a GentLED ir shutter trigger on my trainer switch to trigger the shutter.

How good is your eyesight? :wink: Cuz the heli will not mind the heights :D

[Tonystott]

Hi, I'm a newbie to aerial photography. I wonder where you guys get the camera mount. Is it possible to make it yourself?

Do you use a channel on the radio to control the shutter mechanism?

How high (practically) can a Spectra G go without losing sight? What's the highest altitude you guys take pics from?

Thanks.
Paul, regarding your height question.. if your heli has an auto levelling stabiliser like the SpartanRC AP2000i, it can go high enough for you to be unable to see its orientation (eg the tail disappears) so at that point you are relying totally on the stabiliser for flying, only inputting control to move the heli around the sky. I read one post where dreslism's heli went up so high he lost the video downlink signal, but he just lowered the collective until the picture returned. (I have copied Scott's pic below. You can read his post back on July 14th 2006 on page 3 of the Daily Picture thread)

I only have a little Trex, and we reckon we could go much higher than it is in the picture below, which is a full frame shot at 3X optical zoom.

But I have to add--- there is a height you can go where any photo you take is not going to be any different than you could get from a full-size aircraft, so it becomes debatable whether you need to go that high anyway.

Hope this helps.

[MarkWebber]

Geez, Tony,

The first pic makes me want to wipe the speck off of my screen :D

[Tonystott]

Er yes, it normally wouldn't be a keeper, but in the next shot in the series it didn't even show up at all! :)

[harrysvr]

Is this a good camera mount?
http://www.servocity.com/html/spt200_pan___tilt_system.html

[Tonystott]

I sussect not Harry, as placing a camera on it is going to put a huge strain on the mount, as the cg is going to be all over the place. I think they would be good for pinhole video cameras though.

[bat1]

I have seen otheres use this style of pan mount. the key that you want to look for is how heavy is your camera and how strong is the servo if the servos are rated 2x or more the weight of your camera it may work. However this style mount has no vibration dampening. which is bad. if you want a pan tilt camera mount only checkout this product. it is shown on an airplane but easily can be used on your heli landing gear. http://www.askmanap.com/apcam.html
if you want a slightly cheaper option e-mail askman and ask if he could make the cameramount out of g-10 instead of carbonfiber. carbon fiber causes glitching if you plan to use a downlink from the cameramount
bat

[harrysvr]

I`ll ask him, my camera(nikon 7900) weights 180 grams. The askman mounts have anti vibration system ?

[bat1]

e-mail him with some photos of your mount and he will suggest how to attach the pan camera mount to reduce vibration. The pan camera mount does have gravity leveling system. the connection method between landing gear and mount is how you reduce vibration.

[harrysvr]

I`m interesting only on tilt, so maybe can make a mount for raptor 60...

[harrysvr]

No reply from askman, so what do you think about that mount?
http://www.superdroidrobots.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=188

[Tonystott]

Harry, don't give up on Askman too soon, it is worth the wait! His stuff is top notch and he is a nice guy to boot.

[askman]

I should have check on this thread. I've been out of town and with minimal email contact for last week or so. :)

I did email someone about their mount. may be it did not get through. the key to vibration start at the heli. you need to do a good job on vibration from the head. balance everything, etc. once you do that, you need to isolate the mount from the heli. it takes quite a bit of trial to find good combo for vibration control. you can also buy commercial isolators. I use simple hang system with rubber dampers. . lots of choices though. mcmaster sells whole selection of them that can be adapted. you can also use gel cushion . (like mouse pad)

[harrysvr]

I should have check on this thread. I've been out of town and with minimal email contact for last week or so. :)

I did email someone about their mount. may be it did not get through. the key to vibration start at the heli. you need to do a good job on vibration from the head. balance everything, etc. once you do that, you need to isolate the mount from the heli. it takes quite a bit of trial to find good combo for vibration control. you can also buy commercial isolators. I use simple hang system with rubber dampers. . lots of choices though. mcmaster sells whole selection of them that can be adapted. you can also use gel cushion . (like mouse pad)

Sorry Askman but I have sent you the message from rcgroups which hasnt any notification on my email, aw, I do use some bungee, but I havent eliminate vibration.
What do you think of replacing my camera mount with the one of yours and what will be the price[without the surrounded base-as I have that one(photo)] ?

http://i12.tinypic.com/4gsry2o.jpg

http://i3.tinypic.com/2ppwi79.jpg

[askman]

best way to isolate the gimbal is to hang off the framework and float it. by hanging it, you limit the area where vibration can travel to the gimbal.

first layer is LG to frame. you go that by using bungee and cushions (pool noodles/insulations, etc)

second control is between the LG and the gimbal. looks like you tied the gimbal to the leg frame using zip tie and bit of foam. you need to add more foam rubber in between the gimbal/frame as well as zip tie so that gimbal literally float on it.

lastly, you can also use bit of foam between camera and the gimbal on the bottom. neoprene rubber works well here.


just about any gimbal can be isolated. if I sell you mine, you will need to mount the mounting plate on the frame and the gimbal will float off that.

[askman]

best way to isolate the gimbal is to hang off the framework and float it. by hanging it, you limit the area where vibration can travel to the gimbal.

first layer is LG to frame. you go that by using bungee and cushions (pool noodles/insulations, etc)

second control is between the LG and the gimbal. looks like you tied the gimbal to the leg frame using zip tie and bit of foam. you need to add more foam rubber in between the gimbal/frame as well as zip tie so that gimbal literally float on it.

lastly, you can also use bit of foam between camera and the gimbal on the bottom. neoprene rubber works well here.


just about any gimbal can be isolated. if I sell you mine, you will need to mount the mounting plate on the frame and the gimbal will float off that.

[harrysvr]

When you say gimbal you mean the camera mount(in the circle) ?
If yes do you sell separately yours?

[askman]

yes. camera mount. I can sell the camera mount by itself. I have several model though. what size camera? it start at 80 bucks for small camera version and up.

[Tom Fiddler]

I make a tilt only mount for $99.95
It's the Average Joe Video Mount.
You have to make the frame but it comes with full color instructions on how to do so.
I use a CNC'd "ball in socket" shock dampened system unique to the industry. It's my design so I like it :D
I made this for people wanting try AP but did'nt want to spend big bucks up front. Just a choice from many out there.
www.statorgator.com