Strapping a Tri-pod into a Cardinal...

wrote in message
oups.com...
The contrast ratio is just too much for a video camera to handle (or even
a
film camera for that matter...) so you won't be able to properly expose
both
the view outside and your panel without some creative filtration. One
alternative (rather than totally covering your windscreen with ND) is to
get
a split ND (Neutral Density) filter and align it with the line formed by
your glareshield. About 4 stops worth ought to be a good starting point.

Luckily I do have a ND filter, so I will use that, and I'm also going
to screw on the $40 polarizing filter I have, that works impeccably
when filming free-hand.


Just be sure you employ it as a split field filter. You only want to knock
down the amount of light coming in the windscreen so the iris can open up
for proper exposure of the cabin/panel. I would not use a polarizer
however. You run the risk of seeng all kinds of rainbows caused by stresses
in the plexi and your exposure will be inconsistent depending on the
location of the sun. The polarizer will have it's greatest effect when the
sun is at your three or nine o'clock and virtually none when the sun is at
your 12 or six.


PS...One suggestion for securing the tripod: See if you can find a way to
exert a strong downward pull. You'll notice serious nature photographers
get this by hanging their camera bags or sandbags on hooks at the bottom
of
the center column of their tripods. Chain it or MilSpec bungee cord it
to
the floor of your cabin if you can.

I was thinking of doing that, also getting a longer bungee cord and running
it under the seat to the two forward cargo loops, that should give it
plenty of tug, and then I think that bungee-ing it somewhere into the side
rails should provide enough pull to keep it from leaning around during
banks.

Or, maybe down and back through the rear seat + down and forward to the very
aft end of the front seat rails? I'm not familiar with what's available in
a Cardinal when the seats are racked forward.


Should be a fun DVD to put together as a general guide to the airport
around here, theres only 16 you can land at... fun huh, you can memorize
all the procedures(not that is would be a smart idea).

More than one professional video production that I've worked on got started
with "What If...?"

Good Luck...

Jay B