Best HD Video Camera for Flight Videos

I have no idea how it would be done but better video of instrument panels would be welcome. Most videos, most of the time, have the panel in shadow so the instruments are not readable.

On Monday, December 31, 2012 11:11:25 AM UTC-7, KiloKilo wrote:
I'm getting interested in taking some hd videos on XC missions ... is the GoPro Hero 3 considered the best camera for this type of project.



I've also been fooling with a new Video Editor called Power Director ... great app... much better then then older software I had before.



I re-reprocessed a file Evan Ludeman provided ... and I put a re-edited version on you tube. I don't think the base video is HD quality - and I used a stock audio track - but you can see how nice the transitions and other features work.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMUGr...ature=youtu.be



KK

On Friday, January 4, 2013 10:42:15 AM UTC-5, Bill D wrote:
I have no idea how it would be done but better video of instrument panels would be welcome. Most videos, most of the time, have the panel in shadow so the instruments are not readable.



On Monday, December 31, 2012 11:11:25 AM UTC-7, KiloKilo wrote:

I'm getting interested in taking some hd videos on XC missions ... is the GoPro Hero 3 considered the best camera for this type of project.







I've also been fooling with a new Video Editor called Power Director .... great app... much better then then older software I had before.







I re-reprocessed a file Evan Ludeman provided ... and I put a re-edited version on you tube. I don't think the base video is HD quality - and I used a stock audio track - but you can see how nice the transitions and other features work.







http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMUGr...ature=youtu.be







KK

The problem with panels is that they tend to be much darker than the surrounding scene. I've battled with this and find that shooting overcast or low light helps a lot as it reduces the brightness range so everything is more likely to fit into the (every) cameras limited capture range. Also with direct sun, if the sun is lighting the panel directly the shot looks good. When I edit, I often cut the scenes with backlight panel. I've also experimented in the past with graduated filters that darken the top of the image only, but it's difficult to do well. Also made a mask to brighten the panel in my video editor which works but is time consuming. A video camera that could shoot HDR would be the trick. Or video HDR in editing. It will come to the masses eventually.

I think my GoPro2 has really excellent image quality. It's too bad it doesn't have a tripod thread in the bottom like most cameras do. I do not use the GoPro housing for cockpit shots. You can see my suction cup mount in this video. The mount works well because it also holds my bluetooth GPS for XCSoar. The mount is an open box I made out of aluminum with velcro for friction. I can pull the GoPro out quickly in flight and point it out the window for a shot, then quickly slide it back in place in the mount. (I rent gliders only so no permanent mounts)

One nice thing about the wide lens on the GoPro is that when you hold it out the window and point it back at the glider, it looks like it's 6 feet away from the glider and you get a very dramatic shot. (when in reality, it's only arms length) The original GoPro had a horrible menu system. The 2 is not too bad.

This video below was shot with GoPro2. Notice the cockpit cup mount with ball head and BT GPS that you can see when I hold the GoPro out the window and point it back at the glider. BTW: When viewing in youtube, if you don't hit the little gear icon and set the resolution to 1080, it won't look sharp.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHSXN...assCENqV2vyryg

Below are some still images. All the shots in the air were shot as stills with the GoPro2 in still shot mode. Pretty impressive quality I think.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/05jfyu7rgfaxec9/kVjWE6L2VG

.... Aaron

Very nice video ... what app did you use to capture the google earth sequence ... kk

I have a Canon DSLR (5D) that I used to just shot my computer monitor. (I was in a hurry) There are screen video capture apps that would have been much better. ... Aaron

On 1/4/2013 7:05 PM, akiley wrote:



I think my GoPro2 has really excellent image quality. It's too bad
it doesn't have a tripod thread in the bottom like most cameras do.
I do not use the GoPro housing for cockpit shots. You can see my
suction cup mount in this video. The mount works well because it
also holds my bluetooth GPS for XCSoar. The mount is an open box I
made out of aluminum with velcro for friction. I can pull the GoPro
out quickly in flight and point it out the window for a shot, then
quickly slide it back in place in the mount. (I rent gliders only so
no permanent mounts)

One nice thing about the wide lens on the GoPro is that when you hold
it out the window and point it back at the glider, it looks like it's
6 feet away from the glider and you get a very dramatic shot. (when
in reality, it's only arms length) The original GoPro had a horrible
menu system. The 2 is not too bad.

This video below was shot with GoPro2. Notice the cockpit cup mount
with ball head and BT GPS that you can see when I hold the GoPro out
the window and point it back at the glider. BTW: When viewing in
youtube, if you don't hit the little gear icon and set the resolution
to 1080, it won't look sharp.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHSXN...assCENqV2vyryg

Below are some still images. All the shots in the air were shot as
stills with the GoPro2 in still shot mode. Pretty impressive quality
I think.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/05jfyu7rgfaxec9/kVjWE6L2VG

Your GoPro video seems noticeably sharper than Sean's Replay video, and
I definitely prefer the wider angle of the GoPro. That's a bit
disappointing to me, as the Replay shape and size seems better.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)

I haven't used the Replay, but I think it would be very difficult to look at two different videos, shot in different lighting and uploaded to youtube no less.... And be able to determine the sharpness differences. I'm a pro still photographer, and I would guess the Replay is probably as sharp. These little cameras interpret the raw data. It could be as simple as the Replay doesn't sharpen the image as much (digitally) in camera, so that the last bit of sharpening can be done in editing which gives the photographer more control. It's said that lighting can have a profound effect on perceived sharpness. I would look for side by side test results before making a discision.

My feeling about the wide lens is this. When you are watching a full HD video that is not panning right and left, up and down, the wide view lets the viewer look around, giving less tunnel vision. The down side is you can get some shots that look pretty goofy. In that case you can crop to 720p in your editor and it's less wide. Just my 2. ... Aaron

On Saturday, January 5, 2013 11:33:25 AM UTC-6, akiley wrote:
I haven't used the Replay, but I think it would be very difficult to look at two different videos, shot in different lighting and uploaded to youtube no less.... And be able to determine the sharpness differences. I'm a pro still photographer, and I would guess the Replay is probably as sharp. These little cameras interpret the raw data. It could be as simple as the Replay doesn't sharpen the image as much (digitally) in camera, so that the last bit of sharpening can be done in editing which gives the photographer more control. It's said that lighting can have a profound effect on perceived sharpness. I would look for side by side test results before making a discision.



Side by side video, GoPro vs Replay at 1080 30fps. I think the image quality of the GoPro is better, but the Replay has less distortion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGxYJuSCKJc

My feeling about the wide lens is this. When you are watching a full HD video that is not panning right and left, up and down, the wide view lets the viewer look around, giving less tunnel vision. The down side is you can get some shots that look pretty goofy. In that case you can crop to 720p in your editor and it's less wide. Just my 2. ... Aaron

I actually think the Replay is better in this video...but keep in mind this is the GoPro 2. The GoPro 3 is definitely better than the GoPro 2.

I am aware of this, but still think the size advantages of the Replay outweigh the image quality differences. Also the replay's 6+ hour extended battery pack solution is FAR superior to GoPro and KEY to capturing long flights and not missing the key moments.

I am halfway to posting a complete video of a task in this Falls 2012 R4N in Fairfield PA on Youtube for the fun of it. The entire flying day was captured on both camera's and each camera still had 2-3 hours of battery life remaining. The best a GoPro has ever done for me even with an extended pack is 2.2 hours.

This is all just my opinion of course...I don't really think there are wrong answers here...its all about having fun and sharing our experiences with friends. Enjoy!

Video links he https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMaTY1JtKEo

On Wednesday, January 9, 2013 5:10:19 PM UTC-5, wrote:

Side by side video, GoPro vs Replay at 1080 30fps. I think the image quality of the GoPro is better

I don't have a horse in this race. When I look at this video, I see that the GoPro has higher contrast than the Replay. Look at the color of the SUV on the curb. It's black for the GoPro and blue-grey for the Replay. Higher contrast will make the same data look sharper. Someone said earlier that contrast could be increased with post-processing (editing). I'm pretty sure that a skillful editor could make the side by side comparison look identical to the neckid eye.

My guess is that it's easier to add contrast than it is to remove contrast in post-processing (editing), so maybe the editor has more latitude if she is working from the Replay source.

I'd think that the view angle and form factor would be my deciding factor if I were in the market for a camera.

Nice videos Sean! That was fun.

Mike

On Wednesday, January 9, 2013 4:01:18 PM UTC-7, son_of_flubber wrote:
On Wednesday, January 9, 2013 5:10:19 PM UTC-5, wrote:



Side by side video, GoPro vs Replay at 1080 30fps. I think the image quality of the GoPro is better



I don't have a horse in this race. When I look at this video, I see that the GoPro has higher contrast than the Replay. Look at the color of the SUV on the curb. It's black for the GoPro and blue-grey for the Replay. Higher contrast will make the same data look sharper. Someone said earlier that contrast could be increased with post-processing (editing). I'm pretty sure that a skillful editor could make the side by side comparison look identical to the neckid eye.



My guess is that it's easier to add contrast than it is to remove contrast in post-processing (editing), so maybe the editor has more latitude if she is working from the Replay source.



I'd think that the view angle and form factor would be my deciding factor if I were in the market for a camera.