Best HD Video Camera for Flight Videos

On Saturday, January 5, 2013 7:35:30 PM UTC-5, son_of_flubber wrote:
Does anyone have an example of a soaring video taken with a polarizing lens on the camera?



It's interesting how we never see most of those canopy reflections with our eyes. The reflections are there, but our brains filter them out and patch in something from the surrounding texture. I'd guess that something could hide behind a reflection and we would never know it.

The problem with a pola filter in a glider are two. First, the pola only works at specific angles, so you might loose a reflection in a fairly small area of the canopy only. On a big flat surface like a glass skyscraper at just the right angle it makes a very profound effect. Not so inside a glider rounded canopy. Second, the plexiglass canopy causes a rainbow effect with a pola filter that is not pleasant. Best way to reduce reflections is to wear a black shirt, hat, and pants if you can handle the fashion statement. :-) ... Aaron

On Saturday, January 5, 2013 8:31:10 PM UTC-5, wrote:
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. Is this what you are looking for? http://youtu.be/bGyVyBCw_no Shot with a GoPro 2 this past summer in Parowan. It was early evening so with the sun low and shining right in on the panel it comes out nice. Randy

I used two Contour cameras in Parowan looking over my shoulder and out over the wing (works well in a Libelle). Footage is way too long for YouTube. I am surprised that the Contour cameras are hardly mentioned since they are very sleek and far more aerodynamic than a GoPro when facing forward outside of the cockpit.
'GM'

Ya know, it's absolutely wonderful living in the New Mexico mountains only
25 miles from Moriarty.

On the down side is that "high speed" internet means 1 mbps max so I'm lucky
to watch a video at 240p. I've had your video up for about 20 minutes now
and have buffered about 15 seconds of it. They say patience is a virtue...


"Sean F (F2)" wrote in message
...
Here is another video I have been working on...

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

Going to post the full flight...

Part 2 is uploading now...

Sean

On Saturday, January 5, 2013 4:43:29 PM UTC-5, Eric Greenwell wrote:
On 1/5/2013 11:38 AM, akiley wrote:

There are lots of solutions. Reflectors, HDR, supplemental lights to

fill shadows, polarizing filters, graduated filters, waiting for

different daylight, shooting overcast days, changing angle to the

sun. Probably forgot a few. ... Aaron



A modified glare shield that doesn't keep the sun off the instruments.

Works for the camera - pilot, maybe not so much.

--

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

email me)

Hey, Sean,

Get rid of that nasty old string that you use to pull down your canopy and
just reach up with your toe and grab one the canopy lock levers. Clean up
that cockpit a bit...


"Sean F (F2)" wrote in message
...
Here is another video I have been working on...

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

Going to post the full flight...

Part 2 is uploading now...

Sean

On Saturday, January 5, 2013 4:43:29 PM UTC-5, Eric Greenwell wrote:
On 1/5/2013 11:38 AM, akiley wrote:

There are lots of solutions. Reflectors, HDR, supplemental lights to

fill shadows, polarizing filters, graduated filters, waiting for

different daylight, shooting overcast days, changing angle to the

sun. Probably forgot a few. ... Aaron



A modified glare shield that doesn't keep the sun off the instruments.

Works for the camera - pilot, maybe not so much.

--

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

email me)

On Saturday, January 5, 2013 6:31:10 PM UTC-7, wrote:
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.





Is this what you are looking for?

http://youtu.be/bGyVyBCw_no



Shot with a GoPro 2 this past summer in Parowan.

It was early evening so with the sun low and shining right in on the panel it comes out nice.



Randy

GoPro2 video quality is excellent. Others are ok in comparison.

Hello Dan,

On the down side is that "high speed" internet means 1 mbps max so I'm lucky
to watch a video at 240p. I've had your video up for about 20 minutes now
and have buffered about 15 seconds of it. They say patience is a virtue...

download and watch them from hard disk ...

regards
Werner

On Sat, 05 Jan 2013 18:16:11 -0800, ulineumann wrote:

I used two Contour cameras in Parowan looking over my shoulder and out
over the wing (works well in a Libelle).

How do you mount a forward-looking Contour (or other bulletcam) in a
Libelle?

I've been scratching my head over this for a while because it appears
that there's no part of the fuselage behind me that's higher than the top
of the front canopy rim and suitable for mounting the camera inside the
fuslage. Are you attaching it to the canopy?

I clip a semi-circular Glasfaser bag to the spars: with the usual clobber
inside it there's very little clearance between canopy and to bag and, of
course, it stops a camera being mounted on the rear bulkhead.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

Of course, thanks, Werner!


"Werner Schmidt" wrote in message
...
Hello Dan,

On the down side is that "high speed" internet means 1 mbps max so I'm
lucky
to watch a video at 240p. I've had your video up for about 20 minutes
now
and have buffered about 15 seconds of it. They say patience is a
virtue...

download and watch them from hard disk ...

regards
Werner

On Wednesday, January 2, 2013 2:41:44 PM UTC-8, Sean F (F2) wrote:
OK, I must comment. This discussion is missing some important points.

In my experience (about 6 different video camera designs for sailing, gliding and other sports) the Replay XD 1080 is the best choice for sailplane or aircraft video. The main reason for this conclusion are the very tight spaces we must mount the camera within the tiny sailplane cockpits.


Hey Sean,

This looks pretty cool for tight spaces and it's a nice design. The thing I like about the GoPro is the ability to use my iPhone as a remote - complete with preview window. This is especially useful when setting up shots so you know how to frame them and is essential if you want to externally mount the camera such that you can turn it on/off. As I contemplate motorized external mounts for panning shots from the nose, tail or wingtip I really need both remote on/off so I don't have to sort through 5 hours of video after the flight and the WIFi preview so I can remotely set the shot up.

I couldn't see this on the website link you provided, but that doesn't mean it isn't available on the Replay. The six hour battery pack is a big advantage, though I was able to solve this for the GoPro with a 5200mAH USB battery pack that i can strap to the back of the GoPro case so it is secure even when externally mounted.

I may have to add the Replay to my stable of video cameras.

9B

On Sunday, January 6, 2013 7:40:27 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Wednesday, January 2, 2013 2:41:44 PM UTC-8, Sean F (F2) wrote:

OK, I must comment. This discussion is missing some important points.



In my experience (about 6 different video camera designs for sailing, gliding and other sports) the Replay XD 1080 is the best choice for sailplane or aircraft video. The main reason for this conclusion are the very tight spaces we must mount the camera within the tiny sailplane cockpits.





Hey Sean,



This looks pretty cool for tight spaces and it's a nice design. The thing I like about the GoPro is the ability to use my iPhone as a remote - complete with preview window. This is especially useful when setting up shots so you know how to frame them and is essential if you want to externally mount the camera such that you can turn it on/off. As I contemplate motorized external mounts for panning shots from the nose, tail or wingtip I really need both remote on/off so I don't have to sort through 5 hours of video after the flight and the WIFi preview so I can remotely set the shot up.



I couldn't see this on the website link you provided, but that doesn't mean it isn't available on the Replay. The six hour battery pack is a big advantage, though I was able to solve this for the GoPro with a 5200mAH USB battery pack that i can strap to the back of the GoPro case so it is secure even when externally mounted.



I may have to add the Replay to my stable of video cameras.



9B

Cool! I have a bunch of them (GoPro, Replay, Contour, JVC, DriftGhost, sony action) and recently was sent the the new IONair. For the glider the Replay is great. And as with all things the quality of the 1080 is constantly leapfrogging. While size is important, its not the only thing. Just as the best video clarity is not the most important thing if the camera is too large to use in tight spaces.

For me, it comes down to what camera is easiest to "capture the most video" in the easiest manner. Then you have more to edit from.

I am in the process of posting an entire flight from the R4N in October. Part 1 & 2 is up on YouTube. Part 3 uploading now. Part 4-8 in the next few days. Good examples of the flexibility of having two camera angles available to edit from. Check them out on Youtube under Sean Fidler.

Best,

Sean