Good digital camera for a T-Rex 450?

[Razor_Racer]

I want to get started into real aerial photography with my little T-Rex 450 SA. I already have one of those cheap 2.4ghz mini spy cams, but quality isnt the best, and recording the videos is a pain. I'm thinking about getting a small digital camera (My mom wants a new one, too... our 3.2 megapixel camera just doesnt cut it).

Is it a good idea to get a high-megapixel, small digital camera for aerials?

And what camera should I get, and what megapixel range? (I'm only 14, and getting the Rex alone spent a lot of my money... I would prefer something less than $200)

Thanks!

[bat1]

I got my start in AP with a trex a little over a year ago. I have a build thread with a lot of useful info on the subject including camera options.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=479046

let me know if you need any more info
bat

[Razor_Racer]

Thanks! I'm still at a loss about what camera to choose, though. Is anything 8 megapixels and above good, or can I go lower and still make it look great?

Also, can I make my own camera mount that doesnt pan or tilt? I have a DX7 anyways, so I wouldnt have the ability to control that. I was planning to just get a decent camera, make some taller landing skids, and simply mount the camera so that its fixed.

[bullaculla]

You are using a 2.4ghz camera on a 450 being controled with a spektrum? doesn't sound safe to me...
Askman makes nice APLG for the 450.
http://www.askmanap.com/trex.html
some good tips on setting up your heli also.

[bat1]

I am using the optio 5sz camera which is 5 mega pixels. The nice thing is that hexpert makes an ir prism switch to control the camera. I also am using the Askman camera mount.

There are newer cameras out that may also be useful but I can only recomend what I am using. I have photos on my page that I have taken with the camera. Rule of Thumb final flying weight should be no greater than 1100 grams. 4-5 oz cameras are prefered.

[Razor_Racer]

Thanks, I'll ask askman!

I think controlling it is fine, I always turn on the camera on first, so the camera can operate on one 2.4ghz frequency, and the spektrum can find others that arent in use... so far its been working flawlessly.

[Tonystott]

Thanks, I'll ask askman!

I think controlling it is fine, I always turn on the camera on first, so the camera can operate on one 2.4ghz frequency, and the spektrum can find others that arent in use... so far its been working flawlessly.

You are taking a major risk trying to run a 2.4Ghz Tx plus 2.4Ghz Rx in the same heli! There have been plenty of tests which all showed poor outcomes. (search on RCGroups for the most definitive tests). I certainly wouldn't risk it... can you afford the possible consequences? (sorry to be negative, but I would hate to be proven right)

[aramsdell]

Anyone with the XPS system in their radios, don't even bother to try making two 2.4 ghz systems play. I had to go to 900 mhz downlink. My antenna removed range with the 100 mw downlink Tx operating at 8" away from XPS Rx was a full 12 inches !. I had spotty control to 300 feet with the antenna on. With 900 mhz I'm in heaven.
My cam choices 7 MP and 9 MP. 9 MP Fuji E900. With a light mount it's about all you want to fly. Cam is 9.2 OZ with 2 AA cells.
You may find this to be helpful. I have flown my Trex cam on a 6 channel radio no probs. I set my gyro channel up with a 'y' harness and the shutter servo worked off the gain channel. I took off at about 65% HH mode. shutter servo fired it around 90% HH mode. All your setting for idleups must be the same so the heli doesn't jump when you switch though.

[Razor_Racer]

Whoa... thats a lot of confusing stuff there. But for now, I took the cam off my Rex.

About the shutter servo, how do you activate it? Can I use the "Gear" switch on my DX7 that normally turns heading hold on and off?

[bullaculla]

How about aux2 for shutter? unless you are using a 6 channel Rx.
I am also using 900mhz 500mw for my setup, very clear as high as I can fly with my 600! rangevideo.com has some nice stuff.

[Razor_Racer]

Cant, I'm using the AR6100 6 channel reciever...

[Razor_Racer]

Hey guys, again I'm looking for a good digital camera for the 450. I dont need an infrared switch or anything, a servo will work fine for me. I just want to know what would be the best camera $150 or less that has the best outdoor photos? I searched through all the Pentax cameras and the M40 seemed the most appealing, but I havent looked at any other brands yet.

[iflynething]

Well I work at Wolf Camera (also known as Ritz up north) and get to play around with alot of them. Well, personally for that price range, I would highly recommend the Olymput FE-230 or FE-240. We sell the 230 for $199 so of course with tax it would be more than your $200 budget but it's VERY lightweight and has some good resolution at 7.2 mp

Hope this helps

~Michael~

[skywalker73]

I have been experimenting with several cameras, but bang for the buck I like the Nikon L11 on the 450. I am using a T-Rex 450sev2, dx-7,ar7000, blip switch, and Nikon L11. The camera is pretty light and about $119. These are a couple pics from today. The images were slightly adjusted with the Canon Zoom browser(contrast), and also condensed so they would upload to the site.

[skywalker73]

Bye the way, I was trying to figure out how to use my 6100 rec, but found I really did need that 7th channel, so I broke down and got the 7000. Best move I have made yet!

[jascamera]

So far, I love my L-12. It allow me to take about 2 minutes, 200 shot continuous at about 1.2 frame per sec, then it will stop. Image stabilizer. Bad thing is no manual setting what so ever. But if you put it in sport mode and use a rubber band hold down the shutter, most photos are clear. You must get a camera that does continuous shooting, unless you have another person control the shutter. I just fly up and hover and come down with beautiful photos, don;t have to worry about trying to click shutter. Trex 450 is too hard to try to fly and click shutter at the same time, eventually, you will loose the heli.

[Deron Douglas]

I have been experimenting with several cameras, but bang for the buck I like the Nikon L11 on the 450. I am using a T-Rex 450sev2, dx-7,ar7000, blip switch, and Nikon L11. The camera is pretty light and about $119. These are a couple pics from today. The images were slightly adjusted with the Canon Zoom browser(contrast), and also condensed so they would upload to the site.

Hi,
wound you mind showing some pictures of the setup. I'm still not clear on how to get the shutter to release with these cameras. Thanks.:thumbup:

[skywalker73]

ddragon, Here are some pics of my 450 set-up. It is very basic. Askman mount with the angle fixed and a Nikon L11 with a blip switch. The switch plugs into the a/v out plug of the camera, and the usb side into the switch(The cable comes with the camera, but I cut about 1.5 feet off and re-spliced it to save weight). I have the blip switch plugged into the aux2 channel of the ar7000.
To activate the shutter, you simply flip the aux2 switch on the transmitter and the camera will take a pic. The cool thing about the blip switch is it that it can be programmed to take multiple shots.
I have tried taking pictures with the timer but I have had the best, least fuzzy results with the blip switch.

[tiranno]

the answer to your question is depending on how large do you want to print your pictures.
3MP will do an A4
8MP will do an A3 at very good quality.
what you have to remember at that level you are well into the professional pictures and printers will also cost you a few dollars
if you just want 4" X 6" photos you can get a good 8 gb camera switch it back to about 4 or 5 and shoot long sequences or videos

I have a Sony w100 8 GB camera not on the heli!
I use it for a combination of all the above and with a 4GB memory car I can shoot some 2000 pictures at 5 GB or 3/4 hour of video.
all in a small parcel.

Ps the new version is even smaller
happy snapping

[Razor_Racer]

Those Nikon L series run a AA battery... I dont really like that part, I have a Cannon A400 that eats up the little AAs like theres no tommorow.

The Sony w100 looks better.. rechargeable battery, and it seems to have a ton of good reviews. I'll add that to my list of possibilities!

Thanks for all the help!

[skywalker73]

Those Nikon L series run a AA battery... I dont really like that part, I have a Cannon A400 that eats up the little AAs like theres no tommorow.

The Sony w100 looks better.. rechargeable battery, and it seems to have a ton of good reviews. I'll add that to my list of possibilities!

Thanks for all the help!

I used to have a 4mp Kodak that loved eating up those AA batts, but the Nikon L11 is very good with battery usage. I have lost count of the number of pics I have taken with just regular alkalines. You could use rechargeables, or those new lithium batts last forever!
It looks like a lot of people are using the A640, and I'm wondering what they do about the batts.

[Razor_Racer]

Thanks for all the help guys!

But what I just realized... do you think I could use any old camera and still have decent photos? I suppose as long as I set up my Canon PowerShot A400 (3.2mp) right, I can get some decent photos... right?

Oh yeah, might as well ask a question about the ap2000i. I heard that it can use the FMA infrared sensor, or two gyros. Would cheap-o gyros designed for micro heli tails work? I dont like the idea of infrared as the settings can change due to different temperatures, but buying two GY240s isnt very appealing either... how about cheap gyros like these? (http://www.hobbycity.com/UNITEDHOBBIES/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=4320)

[aramsdell]

I wouldn't bother but you might want to talk to Mark Webber of webberaerialimaging.com . Spartan AP2000i distributor. Got mine from him. He know it best.

[skywalker73]

Razor-My first ap rig was a blade-cp and a 4mp Kodak with a 10 second timer. I'm not a pro by any means, but some of the pics I took with that set-up are as good as a lot of pics I am taking with 4 times the $$$$.
Don't get sucked in by the MP marketing wars. In my opinion, if your picture looks really good when you print it, who cares how many MP the camera was.

[Tonystott]

I don't run batteries in my Optio A10 (in the Trex340) or the Canon A640 (mast and hot air balloon). I use a Dimension Enginering adjstable voltage regulator and feed power slpit from a LiPo to power up the cameras through the DC port. On the heli, in order to minimise weight, I use a 2S 300mAh LiPo, and swap it out every second flight battery. It also powers a 10mW downlink

With the A640, I use a 3S2Ah LiPo to power the downlink, radio and the camera, feeding 12v to the downlink and 5v to the Rx and camera