Which camera to use? < $1k

[Dkorick]

I'm building an AP ship based on a rex 800e and currently have a GoPro II as I learn the EZUHF, Lawmate video, diversity, tacking, osd etc... but the GoPro has excessive jello and am thinking of getting another camera but would like to keep it < $1k at this time. After I get more experience with the rest of the setup I plan to get a good gimbal and camera.

So my question is, is there a significantly better camera than the GoPro II for under $1k?

I only need video at this time, doesn't have to be HD but that would be nice. GoPro II is handling my stills for now. I also have small camera for FPV / staging the shot. I have a Align APS on pre-order to help with holding position while recording.

PS: I am working on reducing vibes and understand that is a large part of jello effect.

[Goldenhour]

Quality lenses make a huge difference, to a point.

[Dkorick]

Do you mean quality lens for the GoPro II? I saw a number of them with diferent angles or view. They were about $100 each and I wasn't sure if that was a good road to go down or for a different camera. If I understand the other lens will reduce the distoration (fish bowl / eye) that comes with the standard lens? Will it help with the jello?

I also noticed that on my 800e, the jello was a lot worse at lower HS than at max HS. I expected the reverse. I also noticed at max HS the blades appeared almost still. I was woundering if I just hit a good HS for the fps.

[Goldenhour]

First, I am a beginner. A two year in beginner. What I meant by lense was some cameras have good quality lenses and some not so good. I've heard the GoPro fish eye lense are not glass but acrylic and the image quality at the fringes is not so good. Lenses are the most expensive part of the camera and for the best lenses you pay. Many pros use a $700 T2i for its video and megapixels.
I bought my camera for taking stills and I am more than impressed with the results. However the video is not the best. It's a still camera basically. The GoPro is a movie camera.
About the Jello. There are two basic types of image sensors. CMOS and CCD. The CMOS sensor takes a picture like we read a book. Line by line, left to right, down a line and left to right and so on to the end.All 18 or whatever megapixels. CCD sensors take a picture like turn on a light. The whole image gets taken at once. With CCD you get a blur rather than a jello.
So if your subject is moving while the CMOS sensor is writing things seem to move because it takes a while for it to make the picture, line by line, left to right. I've heard CMOS is the best for video. We need a vibration free copter and a subject that doesn't move to fast.
If I had known how much is involved in doing AP I may not have started. But I love it. Like a hunter feels looking for the elusive game.

[chris24g]

Originally Posted by Dkorick

PS: I am working on reducing vibes and understand that is a large part of jello effect.

vibes are the only cause of the jello effect

a better camera will not solve your problems.

speaking from experience, you don't need an 800 size heli unless you are lifting some serious camera or will be shooting very fast or very high. but if you're set on that, be prepared to put in many hours smoothing the heli out. i built an 800mm 12s heli and the day i saw footage from a gaui 330x lifting a t2i, i put the heli in the closet.

i'm doing stuff with my multicopters that i dreamed of when i was into single rotors

not trying to discourage you in any way, big helis have their place. i just can do 99% of the stuff i want to do without one.

this was with a gopro

YouTube

YouTube

[Goldenhour]

[QUOTE=chris24g;4029413]vibes are the only cause of the jello effect

a better camera will not solve your problems.

speaking from experience, you don't need an 800 size heli unless you are lifting some serious camera or will be shooting very fast or very high. but if you're set on that, be prepared to put in many hours smoothing the heli out. i built an 800mm 12s heli and the day i saw footage from a gaui 330x lifting a t2i, i put the heli in the closet.

i'm doing stuff with my multicopters that i dreamed of when i was into single rotors

not trying to discourage you in any way, big helis have their place. i just can do 99% of the stuff i want to do without one.

this was with a gopro

Blaam!! Ouch

[Dkorick]

I appeciate the comments. I am using the 800e because I have it already and saw many 700e/800e AP ships. I have suspected that vibes are my real problem and I will focus on that for a while. Also was thinking the extra load capabilty with 3 way gimbal, on board transmitter, etc might be pusing a multicopters payload limit. I suspect that by the time I'm done, I'll have both. I have been window shopping and the DJI F550 with the WK-M looked like a good system to start with. I'm also practicing the video and FPV side with fixed wings to gain experience.



Chris24g, the video is fantastic and of a quality I am after. Did you use stabilization software? What camera? Do you have a live video downlink for framing the shot?

I've been flying helis for a while, but the whole video / photography is new for me and will take a while. HF is a big help! Thanks!