-
HVX 200 and Helicopter shooting
I recently purchased a HVX 200. I plan to do extensive shooting in a helicopter. I am wondering if there is anybody out there who has shot in a copter with this camera. Is some sort of gyro stabilization absolutely necessary to achieve smooth shots? If so, what do you recommend (with a budget in mind)?
-
9 Replies
-
Although I do not own this particular camera, I have shot from helicopters for over 20 years. Tyler nose and door mounts, not to mention the rental cost of the helicopter, itself, are big budget items along with rental gyro lens units. A decent optical image stabilizer on smaller cams using a small 2 seat Robinson chopper has worked fairly well on many occasions. I have found that the larger Bell and Hughes craft to have a larger amplitude vibration factor. The Robinson is a buzzy little thing, but DV units from Sony and Canon with optical stabelizers worked well. There are many little tricks that you must learn to help come away with decent footage. In addition, having an experienced, savvy pilot who will work with you is vital. You can get decent footage on a low budget. Do a short test and see for yourself.
-
Thanks for the reply. The helicopter is part of a project I will be documenting, so there is no cost there. The pilot fllies tv choppers for a living and seems to really know his stuff. He will have to keep up with 6- 8 airplanes crossing the midwest and doesn’t want to attach anything on the copter (gas usage goes way up). The camera has some internal stabilization, but I don’t know how much it will help. We will be able to go up and test it before hand. I was wondering if you thought if any type of steadycam would help at all.
-
I shot some footage from a tiny, wobbly, two-seat helicopter (with the entire door off) with my HVX 200, as a very novice shooter. It is possible to get decent footage. I got several clips from my 30 min of shooting that I think I can use (lots was too shaky). Having used the camera a bit more, I could probably do better now.
Depending on the subject, try shooting at 60 FPS overcrank and edit at 24 frames. This 2+ slow motion should make the shake much less, if you don’t have action that will be obviously slowed. I tried, but didn’t know the camera enough at the time (2nd or 3rd day shooting) and only succeeded in filming at 720/60p. I think that would have helped. If you are interested, I can try to send or post a couple of clips from my Helicopter shoot.
The HVX 200 image stabilization will help, but others have said it is not as effective as some. I can’t comment, as this camera is my only exposure to HD shooting. I have no experience with stabilization rigs.
For others who might know-Does the Stedicam Merlin work with the HVX200? Would it help in these conditions?
Rob Ikenberry
-
Most of my aerial shoots are not through the bubble or a window. That big bubble gets very dirty very quickly, even way up there! Usually no door. Depends on what you are shooting and if you are tracking, following, etc. Getting into clean air (no bubble) means wind blast, something that will try to snatch the camera away from you if/when the lens hood catches the stream. Without it you may record lens flare. Larger cams (Betacam units, for example), can be a real handful. By the way, in Adam Wilt’s recent ‘Texas Shootout’ camera comparison, testers stated that they felt the performance of the optical image stabilization system on the HVX200 was inferior to those tested on the Sony and Canon cameras what were also present. But test for yourself. The HVX200 may work just fine. Another thing to consider is workflow while shooting from the copter – changing P2 cards, batteries, cleaning lens, etc. How well will these things happen with this camera in that situation?
-
Sounds like you are shooting air to air. The wider the lens focal length the more you can get away with. If you zoom in too much you will get too much shake. If you are trying to keep up with fixed wing aircraft you probably won’t be taking the door off. Often there is a tiny slider you can open in the door to avoid shooting through glass but you can get a lot of wind turbulence if you poke the lens too close to the outside. The k-6 gyro from ken lab is about right for the camera. It will cost a few bucks and you will need to worry about charging batteries and the extra weight and cables but it will be a great help. You can use 2 of em on oposite axisis and those cheapo steadycam vests ($2000.00) could be rigged to hold everything but that is bulky and would suite shooting out the back door where you have room for it. I think one k6 would be best in your situation as it keeps it small(er) if you are in the front seat. Here’s the link: https://www.ken-lab.com/
kenyon k6.“everything is broken”
-
There is a small stabilizing rig available on a rental I believe that would fit in a small chopper. It is available from AerialExposures.com. He also sells them but I do believe he will rent.
Let him know I sent you,
Jan
Jan Crittenden Livingston
Product Manager, DVCPRO, DVCPRO50, AG-DVX100
Panasonic Broadcast & TV Systems -
Arnie at Aerial Exposures has an agent in California http://www.blueskyaerials.com Thomas Miller. Give him a call. I have just bought Arnie’s rig, awaiting delivery.
Roddy Jamieson
-
The Steadicam Merlin does with with the HVX200, I do most of my shooting with one. The only problem your going to have in a chopper is wind. I went up a few weeks back and found I couldn’t use the Merlin because of wind, I needed to have at least half the camera out of the door (what door…aaaaahhh). I shoot normal DV that was very shaky, only used two seconds, then also shot some 1080 30P stuff, which looked somewhat better. But I still think it was a waste of the clients money for the chopper, you really need to rent some sort of stabilizer.
Tim
Tim Langston
Cryin’ Out Loud Productions
Fort Wayne, IN
http://www.colproductions.com -
I know Arnie’s rig because I shoot with it already. It is very steady and I would definitely give him a call at Aerial Exposures.
Mariusz
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up