Is it time to use physical R/C flying models?
- Thread starter newtontomato539
- Start date
This same tech, flying cameras, would work great for live action ground shots. I'd love to see a fan film looking DOWN on a field where our heros beam...then go to ground shot to hear what they say...
Gosh flipping darn! I second that motion. 
I emailed the local RC flying club this weekend, and it turns out the gentleman they put me in contact with is the husband of a former co-worker of my wife. He's delighted to offer us any help he can, and I'm looking forward to seeing what we come up with in terms of a camera to mount on his 'copter or plane.
Sounds like it's going make some VERY interesting camera angles! SUPER!!
Just an update: we secured our RC helicopter pilot this evening, and we'll be testing the first shot in a couple of weeks. He showed me some awesome footage, and we're both excited by the prospect of bringing this technology and its applications to our fan film productions.
Helicams are really cool. But like anything else, you get what you pay for. The real pro rigs are expensive to rent and very hard to purchase.
Personally, I wouldn't trust putting anything more expensive than a flip cam on a regular old RC 'copter. And if you were willing to risk it with your nice DSLR, cheap 'copter or not, don't forget you'll need a wireless monitor system as well as remote follow-focus. Which will run you several thousand dollars at least.
You can rent a jib for a few hundred bucks (or build one for much cheaper if you're handy) and get a lot of the same nice effects/high POV shots mentioned here.
Personally, I wouldn't trust putting anything more expensive than a flip cam on a regular old RC 'copter. And if you were willing to risk it with your nice DSLR, cheap 'copter or not, don't forget you'll need a wireless monitor system as well as remote follow-focus. Which will run you several thousand dollars at least.
You can rent a jib for a few hundred bucks (or build one for much cheaper if you're handy) and get a lot of the same nice effects/high POV shots mentioned here.
It could also be used to make very interesting 'landing' video for a shuttlecraft. I'm excited about this, although as usual, I admit immediately to KNOWING NOTHING about any of this, I just watch and index this stuff!
Not renting anything. Our pilot's willing to pilot his RC copter for free; his friend has a light-weight cam that's featured on GoPro. We're going to practice in a couple of weeks, and then film a shot or two a few weeks later. I expect a bit of a learning curve, but it's only for a ten second shot, and it'll be interesting to see it in play. And if it doesn't work, well, we gave it our best shot.
Awesome. I hope the test goes well. 
Just be sure you get that thing SECURE.
Post the footage when you're done? I'd love to see how it works out.
Just be sure you get that thing SECURE. Post the footage when you're done? I'd love to see how it works out.
You don't even need a jet for that ... although the more room, the better. I was in a Cessna this past summer and the pilot demonstrated this to entertain my little boy and me.
Well ... to entertain my little boy.
ProTip: If you're in a plane being flown by an ex-Marine pilot and he asks if you want to see a magic trick, the correct answer is, "No."