Best HD Video Camera for Flight Videos

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.

I have a couple year old ContourHD that I like. It's not without weaknesses, though. I like the fact that it faces in the "streamlined" direction like most of the GoPro's other competitors, but I doubt we go fast enough the the drag is much different.

I use iMovie for my video work.

I've mounted the camera on the top of the tail with just a heavy duty suction cup with great success. I felt comfortable doing so on a non aerobatic flight after it did well on the canopy at 5G's. I also stuck the camera out about four feet from the fuselage on the left wing of an LS-4. I felt a rumble on the tail the whole flight. It was interesting to note that the camera disturbed the airflow enough to feel.

I went to the "local" Army hospital this morning for new shoe inserts and an eye exam. While in the brace shop I remembered the comments above about thermo forming plastic and went to mooch some. I have two pieces to play with. I asked about the correct temperature to use and was told 350-400, so I asked, "in the oven?" The answer, "No just heat the water in a skillet." Uh, I think I'm unlikely to get more than maybe 212...

What would y'all think of mounting a forward-looking camera on the nose for some video?

See videos at http://m.youtube.com/user/ltcterry2006?feature=guide

To avoid thread drift: The LS-4 video shows the camera mount as a shadow. Any video feedback would be nice.

Terry

On Monday, January 14, 2013 6:44:23 AM UTC-5, Terry Pitts wrote:
I have a couple year old ContourHD that I like. It's not without weaknesses, though. I like the fact that it faces in the "streamlined" direction like most of the GoPro's other competitors, but I doubt we go fast enough the the drag is much different.



I use iMovie for my video work.



I've mounted the camera on the top of the tail with just a heavy duty suction cup with great success. I felt comfortable doing so on a non aerobatic flight after it did well on the canopy at 5G's. I also stuck the camera out about four feet from the fuselage on the left wing of an LS-4. I felt a rumble on the tail the whole flight. It was interesting to note that the camera disturbed the airflow enough to feel.



I went to the "local" Army hospital this morning for new shoe inserts and an eye exam. While in the brace shop I remembered the comments above about thermo forming plastic and went to mooch some. I have two pieces to play with. I asked about the correct temperature to use and was told 350-400, so I asked, "in the oven?" The answer, "No just heat the water in a skillet." Uh, I think I'm unlikely to get more than maybe 212...



What would y'all think of mounting a forward-looking camera on the nose for some video?



See videos at http://m.youtube.com/user/ltcterry2006?feature=guide



To avoid thread drift: The LS-4 video shows the camera mount as a shadow. Any video feedback would be nice.



Terry

Hi Terry,

Two days ago I had my GoPro mounted about 3 feet from the fuse on the DG800 and immediately off tow I felt a strange sensation in the elevator...very subtle but it was there for the entire flight. Left me a little spooked so glad to know what it was. Last year I did a flight with the GoPro farther out on the wing perhaps 6 feet or more and there was no noticeable disturbance in the airflow.

As for suction cups I use the standard cup from GoPro which works well but I always put a little strip of duct tape over the front for a little insurance. One other pilot on these posts said he uses a little wing tape.

Interesting to watch the horizon and AS indicator in a winch launch...it does go fast!

Jim-77

I mounted a gopro to my wing several feet from the fuse and also experienced a "shuddering/buffeting" sensation from the tail. Very noticeable. When mounted further out there doesn't seem to be any negative effects.

Have you seen the stuff made by flight Flix cameras? Great flight videos too.

Www.flightflixcameras.com

On Thursday, February 13, 2014 3:32:55 AM UTC-5, wrote:
Have you seen the stuff made by flight Flix cameras? Great flight videos too.



Www.flightflixcameras.com

Wow!With the entry price at $1999.99 I would hope they are good.....seems like at that price their market would be very narrow.

I still love my old GoPro....have had it for several years and done a lot of in flight video...quality is great, camera is small etc

Jim