Quick project from a local nordic race.
Broken Binding Nordic Race on Vimeo

Used 5dmk2 with 28, 35, 50, 70-200, Sony HC-9 and our remote helicopters.


Cheers,
Jeff Scholl

Hi Jeff,

I love watching your Helicam clips, great work.

Have you a picture of the rig?

James

In a world of boring static shots, this was cool. I have a Sony HC1 that I haven't touched since it seems so inadequate next to the 5D MKII. Of course the 5D MKII can't do everything. Love to see the rig. Also did you set the focus to manual - infinity or autofocus?

"Have you a picture of the rig?"

Few shots here:
Behind the Scenes (http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/album.php?aid=207510&id=394861326398)

"Also did you set the focus to manual"
I preset focus on something around 100 feet away and tape down the barrel.
For stills I use autofocus/center point unless we have problems focusing. (water/sky/snowy white backgrounds)

Cheers,
Jeff

The shots from the heli were amazing. I do a lot of ski-videography as well, and my friends and I were discussing getting a cheap heli and hooking a go-pro up to it, but after seeing your video, it makes me think I should hook up my 5d. What are the specs on the helicopter? How much did it cost?

Again, I loved the swooping overhead shots - they looked spectacular.

That's no cheap heli...my 90 size XCells were around $3k a copy not including the transmitter which was another $800 and then there's the camera mount. If you want pan/tilt zoom and remote video feed to see what the camera's looking at.....another large chunk of money.

Please don't skimp on the heli! And if you've never done this before, please find someone who knows what they're doing to build, balance and fly the heli. I've been flying planes and heli's for over 20 years and have been an instructor and competitive aerobatic pilot with both RC planes and helis. I have watched dozens of stubborn folks wad up planes and helis of all sizes and costs. Be a shame to destroy a camera too!

(if you are experienced...sorry for the rant but then you will know why I wrote it!)


OH....Jeff...fantastic work! Keep it up!

This was very cool. There is such potential in this, especially with small-form cinematic cameras like the 5DmkII.

Foolishly, I went out and bought a small 6 channel electric chopper yesterday. Might as well give it a try myself contrary to the advice I'm hearing concerning it's difficulty. Went for a smaller, cheaper model I can pile into the ground a few times when I'm learning over the next couple of years, then upgrade to something that can carry a larger payload if I ever become competent...

Perhaps one of those FlipHDs I have sitting around would like to go for a ride? :) Thanks for the inspiration, I've always wanted to learn to fly RC.

Thanks All!

Here are a few more samples from the CAnon T2i at 720 60P.

Helicam Spring Samples Canon T2i/550D on Vimeo

Cheers,
Jeff

Nice video.
I always like to see good steadicam/flycam and heli/gyro footage of different subjects.
The only things that was a little annoying to me were the sloping horizons at the end of some heli clips, plus the inclusion of the helicopter shadow.

"sloping horizons at the end of some heli clips"

Dutch Tilt :-)