How to get started in AP?

[dlmcmichael]

I would like to get into AP in a small way, just snapping pictures of the house and neighborhood, etc. Nothing high quality or too expensive. I have a pretty much stock T-Rex 600. Is there a "beginners guide" or post here that kind of gets you going? I have zero knowledge of how to start (mounts, type camera, how to snap the picture, etc).
Thanks,
David

[bullaculla]

Gregs book is great,
And if you need some business startup advice, www.aerialphotobook.com. I highly recommend it. :)

and check out askmans site for tips and info.
www.askmanap.com

[SeismicCWave]

>>I would like to get into AP in a small way, just snapping pictures of the house and neighborhood, etc.<<

How much room do you have? Are you dead set on using your Trex? Can you fly your helicopter and flip a switch without crashing the heli?

Simplest way to do AP is actually using a relatively inexpensive fixed wing park flyer like the GWS Stick. Hook up a disposable camera with a servo glued or taped on the top of the camera to actuate the shutter. The image quality is amazing good especially if you slow the motor down or shut off the motor while you activate the shutter.

Then of course you can go all out and spend many thousands of dollars to outfit your Trex 600 with all kinds of cameras, mounts, flight stabilizers, downlink video etc. etc.

Of course you will probably settle for something in between base on your budget constrain.

[Wbird]

Do you have a digital camera? What is it?

I started with a Cannon A550 ($150-$200) and had decent results. I built my own mount. (still drooling over Askman's website) If cost is a concern and you are confident with bending and drilling aluminum (manufacturing) I could give you a basic construction that would get decent pics. You may have to take a lot of pictures at first to tweak it but it does work.

I posted pics on a thread a while ago and can't repost. I can email if you like.

whirlybird@sasktel.net

[Tonystott]

David, the cheapest way is to strap a point and shoot digital camera to the heli, with a rubber band holding down the camera trigger. You will waste a lot of shots, but will probably get enough good ones to help you decide if you want to move on to more serious alternatives.