Best HD Video Camera for Flight Videos

On Tuesday, January 1, 2013 5:11:25 AM UTC+11, 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 battery life according to the manual is 122 minutes, or just over 2 hours.

Great video of Frank! Well done!

Sean

On Saturday, January 5, 2013 4:35:30 PM UTC-8, 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.

I have the Contour GPS camera fitted with a circular polarizer filter that has an effect on the glare from the interior of the canopy. Although reduced brightness and glare, you can still see the reflections inside. I believe it helps with contrast of the exterior view. I have not done much with this camera yet as the mounting in my Discus has not been totally figured out. I will do more recording this season.

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.

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.