RunRyder - It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

rrTV-PHOTO

New HD TV

HOME rrTV-PHOTO GALLERIES MY GALLERY HELP-FAQ

myHOME PM pmRR MEMBERS 388 ONLINE 42 EVENTS SEARCH REGISTER START HERE

304 pages [ << < ( 1 ) 2 3 NEXT >> ]

323258 views

POST REPLY

Ace Hobby	.	Esprit Model	.	Thunder Power RC
	.		.

Aerial Photography and Video > It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

flyboy
Elite Veteran
Location: California

I thought that I might start a thread for those of us interested in elevated photography. A place where others can post pictures of what they are doing, with out driving the rest of you crazy with pictures plastered everywhere.

We could post our pictures here and live vicariously through others adventures, when we aren't/can't be out there flying our self.
Or just follow the progression of the latest developments on a system.
I hope you enjoy the pictures nearly as much as we enjoyed taking them!

A little R&D outside the MadLab.

01-08-2003 Over year old.

Reidar Otto
Senior Heliman
Location: Oslo Norway

Hi Flyboy!
I have been admiring your pictures, can you please take tje time to explain how you connect the camera to the RC electronics, in other words , which switch do you press on the xmitter, and how is it connected to the reciever so it takes the picture?
I am also curious of how you connect videocameras.
Thanks a lot
Reidar Otto
in freezing Oslo Norway

01-08-2003 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

FlightPower
Veteran
Location: Herts UK

Flyboy,

I just want to say you are an asset to this forum

Julian.

Julian

01-08-2003 Over year old.

jeffscholl

Key Veteran - Location: Whitefish, MT -

Great thread idea...

I went back to the Flathead River on a blue bird day...

I'm off to Glacier Park with a handfull of flashcards as soon as the valley sees the sun again.

Cheers..Jeff

01-08-2003 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

flyboy
Elite Veteran
Location: California

Jeff another great picture, Thank you!
I enjoy sharing my interests with others, and have gleaned a lot off others who have been willing to do the same.

As for the camera set up and so forth, here goes……..
I have two different platforms a small Caliber 30 with a 4.0 Minolta point and shoot camera. It has the video down linked to the ground and you can view the image of what the camera sees while you are flying. The camera I am using on this smaller platform does not have an external plug for electronic shutter release, So I have a servo hooked to a spare channel and it manually triggers the shutter(another reaseon I like Fujunka I can choose the switch I want for activation,Toggle by my pinky). Of course I would never suggest trying or attempting to do so, but it is possible to take off and land with just the image from the camera. It is also possible to "fly the image into frame." But of course I would not suggest doing so or even attempting to do so. Very dangerous and by no means easy, I imagine.

The other platform is a Bergen Observer; it is a gasser and shoots amazing pictures and video as well. I have been spending a lot of time experimenting with the smaller platform lately. Every shot that you have seen that I have posted on the forum up until the two at the top of this thread were shot with my 30.

These two pictures above were shot from the Observer, it can carry a much larger payload and has an extra Rx for a 2nd person, the camera operator, to control the pan and tilt of the camera platform. They view the down link from the camera and can focus on keeping the picture in frame The cameraman can also communicate with the pilot about the changes in positioning to help obtain the perfect shot/sequence. I have a Minolta Dimage 7 digital camera it’s a 5.24 Meg camera and it is activated by an electronic shutter release. As for hooking the camera electroncs up, every camera is different. Usually you hook the AV out of the camera up to the RCA jacks or plugs on your TX, this can usually be done with the cord that you would connect to your digital camera to view pictures on your TV. Camera out to RCA connector cord.

I am just getting the Observer dialed and broken in. I had the Hanson modified G-23 in it and it flew well with the heavy burden I was carrying on it (21 1/2 Lbs. Sony VX series 3CCD video camera) but it lacked a little power under any thing less than ideal conditions. I have just recently upgraded to a velocity stack and Bergen muffler and the G-26. I have yet to even fire it up. I will keep you all posted, as well as keep an eye out for tips and advice from some of those with experience with this engine.

Thanks for Sharing, Support the good guys, Fly safely and keep it fun!

01-08-2003 Over year old.

Reidar Otto
Senior Heliman
Location: Oslo Norway

Flyboy,
again thanks a lot! When you have got time for it, can you shoot a few pictures of your different setups, it would make it more easy to see what I hace to do to copy your mechanical setup of camera, servo etc.
I too fly a caliber30, I never dreamed of it being able to carry a camera!
I am going to buy a cameraship like the Bergen Observer or a Variobased gasser with a camera-rig, but I am not yet sure witch one to choose. Have you guys seen the whirly bird? Have a look at http://www.rcwhirlybird.com/rcwhirlybird/site.html
its a truly amazing heli, but it comes with a hefty pricetag of $15000 . I guess it is worth it to a pro cameraman.

Reidar Otto

01-08-2003 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

flyboy
Elite Veteran
Location: California

Yea it is a nice bird, Boy the third axis sure would be nice.I am sure that Craig's system is well worth the money, but I unfortunately don't have it.

I will take a picture of the mount in a few and add it to this post.
I am curently working on a gyro stabilized third axis(roll) mount, for you guessed it a 30. More to follow.

I wonder, how much interest would there be for a comercial unit like this?

Can you work on getting some pictures of those bueatiful Norski women that we love so dearly. "Yi elsker Norskis!"

These were taken a while ago and were the KISS tech. (keep it simple stupid) I have made numerous improvements over this version. I don't believe I have perfected the mount and don't want to "pull the curtain on it yet." Here is what I started with, 99% of the fun is the development process. You would be surprised at the quality you can obtain from a properly tuned platform, regardless the size.

01-08-2003 Over year old.

Reidar Otto
Senior Heliman
Location: Oslo Norway

Go Flyboy go go go!

My gut feeling is that it would be a commercial marked for a "relative" lowcost rig for 30-50 helis, cause half the world do own such a camera, and about 5% of them ows a RC heli!

So go ahead and make it! And with the very nice pictures you take tou could make one hell of a marketing package!

Reidar Otto

hobby: helis film and music
work : TV director/producer and used to be cameraman

01-08-2003 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

jamthomas
Senior Heliman
Location: Newberg, Oregon

my heli

I'm just getting going with this and having a great time.

That Flathead river shot is incredible, wow!

My camera man is fishing so I'm stuck today. I don't think I have another channel to run solo but I could but the other tx on my belt and try it. It might be a little to soon for me as I consider my flying skills novice to intermediate.

01-08-2003 Over year old.

flyboy
Elite Veteran
Location: California

Nice looking set up there. I don't know if you are running 900 or 2.4 but be careful with how close you put the video TX to your Rx or antenna. I/we have had some problems with interference.

Looks like a really nice set up. Your shots look great!

01-08-2003 Over year old.

FlightPower
Veteran
Location: Herts UK

Hi guys,

Re> follow[ing] the progression of the latest developments on a system<

I'm nearly done producing a true 3-axis (pan,tilt,roll) gyro-stabilized front-mounted professional RPV camera system with fully ball-raced CNC components and multi stage fluid damping and vibration isolation that can be fitted as a camera-ship upgrade to just about any 60-sized heli or gasser. The primary goal has been to create a sensibly priced aerial "steadycam" module for high-quality video work i.e. way beyond the minimum design requirements for stills use - meaning that the stills user will have more scope to use filters, higher f stops, lower shutter speeds and slower less grainy films to get the best creative use out of their camera equipment. The new system utilises technology that can be easily scaled down to fit a smaller heli (50, 30 etc) so long as the user is sensible with camera weights - i.e. most compact 35mm, small digi cams and palm-corders would be fine on a smaller platform. One reason why the approach will adapt well to smaller helis is that the system actually strengthens the heli main-frame and simply converts an existing heli into an integrated "whirlybird-style" camera ship. I don't have an exact fix on pricing yet - much of that depends on the level of interest (i.e. the volume deal I can get with my CNC contractor). One thing is for certain though, it will definitley be possible produce and ship the 60-size compatible systems at a fraction of the cost of the Whirlybird. I'll get the ball rolling (i.e. take the Pepsi challenge) with some videos here soon.

Julian

P.S. Flyboy, re your single horizontal axis gyro (horizontal=pan??) stabilised rig for a .30 I have a gut feeling that you could take a feed from the existing tail gyro sensor on a "Y" cable and either (ideally) pass it through a second control amp or alternatively "Y" cable the gyro's servo output and select appropriate gear or belt-pulley ratios on a second servo connected to it in order to stabilise the camera pan axis - this should achieve the de-coupling that's required to remove oscillation as well as reduce cost and weight in your design - Good Luck! - JC

Julian

01-08-2003 Over year old.

jamthomas
Senior Heliman
Location: Newberg, Oregon

interference

My servos chatter like crazy for the camera mount, that reciever is ppm.
When the 2.4 gig tx is on it makes no diff. they chatter on or off.
I have tried moving the ant. to different locations but doesn't seem to help. That chatter comes and goes. From the video we have captured, it appears that the interference goes away in the air, almost. It could be ground propagation or something (I'm not sure} It also happens at different locations in the valley so I'm really not sure. I originally had the reciever outside the black box and moved that inside the box but it didn't help.

Maybe the aluminum is acting as a sort of ground plane and ppm modulation doesn't work well with that?? The interference is significantly less when reciever is off the mount.

My spcm reciever for the heli is fine no interference at all, with 2.4 tx on or off.

01-08-2003 Over year old.

flyboy
Elite Veteran
Location: California

Go PCM RX on camera platform as well!

I am no expert in the field, but I suspect that if you replaced that Rx with a PCM version your problems would go away.
Pal rotor, I follow your posts with great interest and appreciate the suggestion.

01-08-2003 Over year old.

FlightPower
Veteran
Location: Herts UK

Thanks Flyboy,

By the way - I love your double-isolator sandwich idea on your 30 - simple and elegant - don't you just know you've hit the nail on the head when something plain looks right.

Julian.

Julian

01-09-2003 Over year old.

FlightPower
Veteran
Location: Herts UK

Hi JamThomas,

Sorry to hear about the trouble your having with that rig. Just a thought before you go spending $100+++ on a PCM camera RX (+TX?) it's just possible that some of the ali-rod components are tuned to a close harmonic of the chanel you are using - enough to cause interference - it's a possible (though not guarantreed) cheap work around to try using a pair of crystals at the opposite end of the scale - like 85 if you are using 60 or vice-versa owing to the small frequency difference - it may be sufficient to move out of the problem zone. Also check that any metal-on-metal joints are secure and not able to vibrate aginst each other.

Good luck!

Julian.

Julian

01-09-2003 Over year old.

jamthomas
Senior Heliman
Location: Newberg, Oregon

freq change

Thanks PAL-rotor and John for suggestions.

I believe that changing that frequency would be more cost efficient. From the little experience i have with radio waves, changing a frequency can make a huge difference when it comes to interference.

I know you said that Dean's antenna would be a good choice John, I'm checking on that one too. Is there a way to test signal strength at the reciever?

Jim

01-09-2003 Over year old.

FlightPower
Veteran
Location: Herts UK

freq change

Range check is the normal rule of thumb for signal strength - you know, 150ft or something with the TX antenna collapsed, still works=cool - but of course this won't tell you much about interference, in any case, it sounds like your problems get worse the stronger (closer) the signal. Seems to me that you could take this to your local friendly hobby outlet who should let you try a few crystals before you buy. Also, check some other basics - like spark plug/ignition system supression (get it to jitter as normal then test immediately after with the engine off) jitter will be more noticeable at tick-over RPM e.g. on the ground if this is the cause - also check possible damage to the RX antenna like severe kinks or cracks or a bad solder joint at the base (possibly pick the latter up on a range check).

Perseverence should pay.

Cheers,

Julian

Julian

01-09-2003 Over year old.

flyboy
Elite Veteran
Location: California

jamthomas,
I suspect that if you swapped your heli Rx and the camera RX (don't fly ground/bench check) the heli would now exhibit the jumpy servo problem that you were describing. Have you checked to see if you get the interference w/ the helicopter TX off?

01-09-2003 Over year old.

Smithprod
Veteran
Location: Oklahoma

Jim, go to the Dean's antenna. I use John's mount with a PPM RX and had the same problem, the Dean's cured it for me.

Brad

01-09-2003 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

jamthomas
Senior Heliman
Location: Newberg, Oregon

Thanks Brad, I'll try the Deans

01-09-2003 Over year old.

304 pages [ << < ( 1 ) 2 3 NEXT >> ]

323258 views

POST REPLY

Real Raptors	.	Mikado Modellhubschrauber	.	GrandRC
	.		.

Aerial Photography and Video > It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

UPDATE SCREEN PRINT TOPIC

Advertisers

Subscribe to This Topic