Camera question

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DaytonaLynn

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Here's what I need help with.
My wife and I teach the motorcycle course for license endorsement.
One of things we would like to do is use an RC helicopter and camera to take some pictures of the students as they ride.
I don't have any clue what I'm getting into and wonder if any one here can suggest a helicopter and camera.
Thank you.
 
DaytonaLynn said:
Here's what I need help with.
My wife and I teach the motorcycle course for license endorsement.
One of things we would like to do is use an RC helicopter and camera to take some pictures of the students as they ride.
I don't have any clue what I'm getting into and wonder if any one here can suggest a helicopter and camera.
Thank you.
Click to expand...

Please tell us more. What is the purpose of the aerial photography? Is it a nice to have, or are you incorporating this into the training? Exactly how is this supposed to help the student?

Defining these goals will help select the equipment.

-Skip
 
I would recommend a nice quad or hexacopter over a traditional rc heli. Get a nice dji stabization system with gps and you are set. I am very heavily involved with rc helis and most of my friends are top level pilots or designers.
 
merlin3 said:
I would recommend a nice quad or hexacopter over a traditional rc heli. Get a nice dji stabization system with gps and you are set. I am very heavily involved with rc helis and most of my friends are top level pilots or designers.
Click to expand...

That would be the way to get the best shots. Just remember that current faa laws prohibit the use of drones (or any rc aircraft) for use of commercial applications.
 
Skip Miller said:
Please tell us more. What is the purpose of the aerial photography? Is it a nice to have, or are you incorporating this into the training? Exactly how is this supposed to help the student?

Defining these goals will help select the equipment.

-Skip
Click to expand...

What this will be for is to send them a little video of thier riding during the class. I currently do still shots and use Animoto.
My altitude for taking these photos is 10-15 feet.

Does that help?
 
merlin3 said:
I would recommend a nice quad or hexacopter over a traditional rc heli. Get a nice dji stabization system with gps and you are set. I am very heavily involved with rc helis and most of my friends are top level pilots or designers.
Click to expand...

Quadcopter with a GoPro camera results:

http://youtu.be/DEEEUUWgq0k

He controls it via RC and guesses at the camera angle.
 
DaytonaLynn said:
Here's what I need help with.
My wife and I teach the motorcycle course for license endorsement.
One of things we would like to do is use an RC helicopter and camera to take some pictures of the students as they ride.
I don't have any clue what I'm getting into and wonder if any one here can suggest a helicopter and camera.
Thank you.
Click to expand...

Mount a camera to a tall pole or stick it out of a window of a nearby building?
 
Move your training to a collegiate or pro football stadium and ask to borrow the skycam ;)

I know that doesn't help, but it cam to mind.
 
Bob Noel said:
Mount a camera to a tall pole or stick it out of a window of a nearby building?
Click to expand...

Part of the idea is to show them deficencies, ie not looking where they are going or looking down to help them see what they ALWAYS say they are not doing. Lol

And of course, I'm hoping to use as a marketing tool. All schools teach the same course, no matter where it is taught. Whether Harley's riders edge or state sponsors like me. So if I can give them something no one else is tha they can show all their friends, why not!
 
From that height I would think tall pole or maybe two with a cable stretched between them might be better and then a remote (perhaps Radio Control, or just wire control) to move and point the camera where you want it to go would provide a more stable platform.

Brian
 
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DaytonaLynn said:
Part of the idea is to show them deficencies, ie not looking where they are going or looking down to help them see what they ALWAYS say they are not doing. Lol

And of course, I'm hoping to use as a marketing tool. All schools teach the same course, no matter where it is taught. Whether Harley's riders edge or state sponsors like me. So if I can give them something no one else is tha they can show all their friends, why not!
Click to expand...

helmet-mounted cameras, time synced with a camera from above.
 
DaytonaLynn said:
This is exactly the type of setup I'm looking for. Thank you so much
Click to expand...

Buy the WiFi backpack for the GoPro and you can download an app for the iOS that will allow you to view what the camera is seeing on your iPad or iPhone. Takes the guess work out of what the camera is actually filming.
 
I should add -- from a distance. It is a WiFi connection to the GoPro and I forget exactly how many feet it works to, but should be enough to do what you are trying to do.

Here is the site: http://gopro.com/software-app/gopro-app for the app.

Looks like they have an Android version of the app now. The camera can be controlled and viewed from 600' from their claims. I have never used it over 100 feet away.
 
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Are you doing this at a controlled field. If so one thought is to use tripod mounted regular videocam at regular intervals around the track, with a GoPro mounted foward and backwards on the handlebar. The problem with a with a helmet mount is it is going to point where ever the helmet is pointed which may or may not be helpful. If you time stamp the videos it should be fairly easy to sync them with a video processing program and use a divided screen.
 
DaytonaLynn said:
Part of the idea is to show them deficencies, ie not looking where they are going or looking down to help them see what they ALWAYS say they are not doing. Lol
Click to expand...

How about a helmet cam on the student, like one of those GoPro things?

That would be a lot more interesting and useful, as long as the focal length of the camera was something like the view of the student. Plus it would tell you if they are looking down, or if they aren't looking into turns like they should.

On the other hand, if you're an instructor, you should know what your students are doing without camera/video assistance.

And of course, I'm hoping to use as a marketing tool. All schools teach the same course, no matter where it is taught. Whether Harley's riders edge or state sponsors like me. So if I can give them something no one else is tha they can show all their friends, why not!
Click to expand...
Is this an MSF course, or something else?
 
These are all good suggestions. Here is why I can't do the wire or trip etc. the area the riders are working in measures 100' x 300' nothing can be in that area nor with in 20 feet all around that area.
That's how I came up with the helicopter or plane with the camera. Even if somehow they bumped into it, they wouldn't be laying the bike down swearing they are going to own my school when they get through with me. Lol
We can not have a light pole with in 30' of riding surface or a curb. And forget having a runoff water drain.
So I'm kind of limited in how I can actually do it. Unless I spend beg money for one of the lenses they use to take pictures at sporting events.
I'd rather have the helio and camera and have a toy to play with too.
 
DaytonaLynn said:
These are all good suggestions. Here is why I can't do the wire or trip etc. the area the riders are working in measures 100' x 300' nothing can be in that area nor with in 20 feet all around that area.
That's how I came up with the helicopter or plane with the camera. Even if somehow they bumped into it, they wouldn't be laying the bike down swearing they are going to own my school when they get through with me. Lol
We can not have a light pole with in 30' of riding surface or a curb. And forget having a runoff water drain.
So I'm kind of limited in how I can actually do it. Unless I spend beg money for one of the lenses they use to take pictures at sporting events.
I'd rather have the helio and camera and have a toy to play with too.
Click to expand...

That's your answer, you want a toy to play with. And it might be useful to so go for. I agree with the recommendations to us a Quad Rotor, I have not used them, but have played with some electric RC helicopters. The Quad rotors are becoming affordable and seem to be very stable, which is ideal for a camera platform.

Brian
 
brcase said:
That's your answer, you want a toy to play with. And it might be useful to so go for. I agree with the recommendations to us a Quad Rotor, I have not used them, but have played with some electric RC helicopters. The Quad rotors are becoming affordable and seem to be very stable, which is ideal for a camera platform.

Brian
Click to expand...

They are very stable and your best bet for achieving high quality aerial video. I have used them for a bunch of aplications. It all depends on how much you are willing to spend.
 
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