Backcountry Pilot

[qmdv offline]

This looks pretty good. Probably for use in the plane only so you end up with the prop in the vids.

http://www.goprocamera.com/products

Anybody out there use one of these. Looks pretty good for under 300 bucks.

Tim

[WingsOverPalawan offline]

This is a video utilizing both a GoPro HD Hero cam (mounted on my forehead) as well as a Contour HD, mounted in front of me, usually pointing off to one side or the other, sometimes facing me. This will give you a good comparison of the two.

[mountainmatt offline]

I looked into all the popular POV cameras and didn't find one that stood out enough for me to buy it (my budget was max $300 for everything). Thinking out of the box, I purchased the Kodak Playsport. I think you can find them as low as $99 now. Not bad for a rugged, full 1080p, waterproof (underwater up to 8ft), cam that has a 5mp camera, a few different modes, and also 720p x 60fps.

http://www.amazon.com/Kodak-PlaySport-W ... B0030MITDK

Overall I've been really happy with it. Low light is 'ok', but that's to be expected. After thinking about it, I'm really glad it has a screen to view videos (edit/delete). I also bought a remote for 10 bucks, something that's great depending on where you mount it. Another 2 pack of batteries was $12 off amazon (they each last a few hours of filming). I used some ND filter paper, and on the 720px60fps, the prop flicker is barely noticeable. I do wish it was wide angle tough.

I bought some ram mount components and made a wing mount and a cockpit mount. Not to shabby for well under $200 bucks IMO.

Here's a sample if anyone is interested. (You have to go to the Vimeo site to get the HD version).

[Sky King offline]

do you have a pic of the mount?
Thanks

[Juan80 offline]

The inlaws gave me one of those,and an epic camera,pop inlaw wants to get some underwater
stuff to make a movie.
Shot some of a abalone dive,but it is to dark,needs a light.
I cant seem to gat the epic to work,but I will give a report when/if I do,
One thing that was pointed out is that you cant view what you have taped until you hook it up to a computer.

Both cameras seem to have a good rep with the dirt bike folks,so they must be tough.

Be safe,and watch the d/a out there,Chuck

[mountainmatt offline]

do you have a pic of the mount?
Thanks

Here's a picture. I like it because you can easily point it in any direction. I also have a ball mount on the inside I can quickly clamp it too. It took some effort to think up but it works well and is rock solid up to 100 mph. It gets some vibes after 120 mph.

[Tadpole offline]

I'm starting to look around for a decent digital camera to take when I go flying or whatever, but I'd like to find one that could maybe double and do decent HD video as well with some kind of mount to the frame in the plane.

Hey Matt, I think that one you have you put a SD card in. How much video can you shoot before you download it to a laptop or something? Can you shoot stills easily?

[Zzz]

T-Pole,

I love my Panasonic Lumix LX3. It's a few years behind the tech curve, even though I just bought it new, but it has features that are geared a little towards the more serious photographer who wants a capable point-and-shoot. It shoots RAW, for example. It has an ultra wide angle lens and all manual controls. It shoots HD 720p @ 24 fps, but it looks damn good though this lens. Hot shoe for external bounce-head flash or rangefinder-style viewfinder.

http://www.vimeo.com/13212758

[Tadpole offline]

Thanks Z, I'll look into that one more. I have a very pricey Digital SLR with all the bells and whistles, but when I go out on over nighters or something I'd rather have something different with the HD video capability...and leave the SLR at home so my wife can still take pics of our daughter or whatever else. Plus, it's sort of big and stuff, and I'd rather not drag it along with me flying.

[qmdv offline]

UPS just dropped off a Drift HD170. Now I have to start at the bottom of the learning curve.

Tim

[courierguy offline]

UPS just dropped off a Drift HD170. Now I have to start at the bottom of the learning curve.

Tim

Tim,
Be sure and let us know how you like it! I sure like the shape of it, nice and low drag, and with the remote I'd just figure a mount out on the jury strut and by pass the prop issure altogether, I like that POV also.

[qmdv offline]

The instructions that come with it suck. They expect me to already be video literate. I am a pipe fitter and welder and darn good navigator.

Sombody told me that when you quit learning then you start drooling.

Tim

[nmflyguy offline]

Matt,

I just bought a Kodak Playsport this past week ... haven't used it in the plane yet (I need to get a mount set up), but I did use it on a train and a raft (???) ... flew to Durango and did the Raft and Rails package on the Durango & Silverton railroad. I learned one thing: the electronic image stabilizer (EIS) on the Kodak sucks .... it tries to compensate for motion in the frame by turning to jello. So I'll just leave the EIS turned off all the time.

I also tried the 1080P/30 fps setting and compared it to the 720P/60 fps setting, and for any kind of movement at all, the 720P/60 is far superior. The 720P/60 setting seems to catch motion very well, and the reduction in video resolution seems tolerable - especially when you're talking about spending only $150 on a videocam1

I don't have a strut to mount the camera externally, but maybe I can figure something out ... maybe I'll go to a suction cup wing mount like Adam Rosenberg ("the Adam") uses.

Duane

[mountainmatt offline]

Glad you picked one up. The EIS does suck (I have it off too), so make sure you make a good mount. I also film in 720x60, it has a wider viewing angle and it better when filming behind a prop.

Post up some of the video to DRO! I need to take the train up to Needleton soon.

[qmdv offline]

Now I have to figure out what SD card to get. On the side of the card is a C with a number in it. I was told to get one that has a 6 or better in the C. Most of the ones I find in town have a 2 or a 4. WTFO

Tim

[TomD offline]

Tim'

Now I have to figure out what SD card to get. On the side of the card is a C with a number in it. I was told to get one that has a 6 or better in the C. Most of the ones I find in town have a 2 or a 4. WTFO

Have a look here: http://www.sdcard.org/developers/tech/speed_class/ Generally the faster the better, and more expensive.

[Zzz]

Class 4 work fine for 1080p. It's just a measure of data transfer rate, basically rating the quality of the memory.

You need a pretty spunky computer though to watch 1080p videos with any kind of smooth playback. I have a Macbook Pro from 2006 and even it struggles on the 1080p @ 30 fps, dropping frames and making it look skittery. The video quality is fine, it's just my machine huffing and puffing. I watched the same video on my dad's brand new Macbook Pro and it's super smooth.

[mountainmatt offline]

Here's the one I have for mine. 8gb, class 4, about 1:30min of 720px60fps or 1080px30fps. Works flawless and the cheapest around.
http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Class-Me ... 384&sr=8-1

[flyer offline]

How do you convert the HD videos onto a DVD?

[Zzz]

How do you convert the HD videos onto a DVD?

You'll need a DVD authoring application. I can be as simple as adding the video you want into the project, inserting a blank DVD, and clicking "burn," but all applications are different. iDVD on the Mac is pretty simple.

DVD does not support true HD, on 480p I think (correct me if I am wrong) so your video will be downsized in the process.