After watching Chad's video I ordered the mount from Etfett.net.

After a couple of weeks I emailed about the delivery date. It appears that these aren't really manufactured but are a hobby with the fellow and he gets to them when he gets to them....so I canceled my order and Chad just went down two notches in credibility.

Interesting. I ordered one at the end of November but haven't gotten communication since, no clue when I might get it. Do you know if there are any other sources for these types of mounts?

Not that I know of Keith.
I just made one myself for my Replay. Other than a battery mount, I have no idea how to mount a GoPro.

The Replay was simple.

If you haven't seen these extensive forums yet, check the whole site out starting with the Aerial Photography section:

Aerial Photography - RC Groups (http://www.rcgroups.com/aerial-photography-128/)

Amazingly given all the other add-ons available for the GoPro & the AR.Drone there is apparently no other source of mounts that position the GoPro under the drone & give a clear shot without the rotors. I mailed Daniel (Etfett.net (http://www.etfett.com)) & suggested that he upload his designs & set up a shop on Shapeways (http://www.shapeways.com) so that they do the manufacture & ship the mounts to customers for him. Their prices are very reasonable. There is already a really ingenious 3-way gimbal mount for a GoPro available for larger flying machines Shapeways | blog: 3D Printed 3-axis Camera Gimbal for GoPro (http://www.shapeways.com/blog/archives/794-3D-Printed-3-axis-Camera-Gimbal-for-GoPro.html)

Here's what an under camera view looks like after you crack one of the cross arms.

Untitled on Vimeo

Don, check this guy out has the most advanced mounts i know of.
PhotoShip One - Aerial Photography - Aerial Video Products - Mikrokopter - Law Enforecement Drones - SUAS - Gimbal - RC Camera Mount (http://www.photoshipone.com)

Thanks Ian!

I could have sworn you were based in Hawaii.
Goes to show, never assume.

Nah ''stralia mate.

Hi Guys

There seems to be many, many irate buyers worldwide who are waiting for orders ffrom 'ETFETT' and some forums are actually urging people NOT to order any more as the guy seems totally unreliable!!

Seriously the mount doesn't look that complicated to make anyway.

What about using foam board?? That's the stuff with foam core and paper either side..I use it for my stedicam LCD hood and it's feather light.... I'm sure you could make a simple mount as well as the essential front piece so the camera doesn't hit the ground first when you land.

Now it seems like you can use almost any mount...this guy in the link below has carved out a chunk of packing foam and got the camera top mounted BUT high enough so the rotors are not in the picture....despite it's size he does fly it too!!!!

Worth a look!!!

AR.Drone with GoPro HD Hero and custom GoPro mount for a "rotor free" movie experience - YouTube

Chris

Sorry to butt in as a newb, but after messing around with cable cams, a quadkopter (expensive!) or ARdrone seems infinitely preferable. But is the ARdrone powerful enough to lift an Hero2 and housing? Any ideas on the range? Taking a mikrokopter (even the smallest one) trekking seems a bit excessive..and the ARdrone has? built in PFV function as far as I can tell..Is it possible to take several batteries/switch batteries?

thanks ;) - don't even think the ARdrone is available here in Norway..(mikrokopter 4 blade yes for around 3000 bucks..!).

Sorry to butt in as a newb, but after messing around with cable cams, a quadkopter (expensive!) or ARdrone seems infinitely preferable. But is the ARdrone powerful enough to lift an Hero2 and housing? Any ideas on the range? Taking a mikrokopter (even the smallest one) trekking seems a bit excessive..and the ARdrone has? built in PFV function as far as I can tell..Is it possible to take several batteries/switch batteries?

thanks ;) - don't even think the ARdrone is available here in Norway..(mikrokopter 4 blade yes for around 3000 bucks..!).The AR.Drone is available worldwide from Apple (even in Norway:-) Parrot AR.Drone - Apple Store (Norge) (http://store.apple.com/no/product/H8030ZM/A/Parrot_AR_Drone)

The AR.Drone can lift a GoPro without the housing but it's struggling a little. I suspect that adding the housing would be just too much weight.

A fully charged battery gives about 10-15 minutes of flight time.

Hi Guys
Now it seems like you can use almost any mount...this guy in the link below has carved out a chunk of packing foam and got the camera top mounted BUT high enough so the rotors are not in the picture....despite it's size he does fly it too!!!!

Worth a look!!!

AR.Drone with GoPro HD Hero and custom GoPro mount for a "rotor free" movie experience - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFtxnSqpSAE)

Chris

@ Chris
I tried making it and it worked for a while (Primitive But Effective: Notes on Gopro Hero HD with a Parrot AR Drone (http://www.primitivebuteffective.com/2012/01/notes-on-gopro-hero-hd-with-parrot-ar.html)). You have to make sure it mounts level and have a good way to fasten the mount. I tried using sticky-backed velcro, but found that adhesives didn't work too well with the foam core (came off). When that happened the mount may not sit right thus causing the drone to list in flight. Mine was listing right after some foam core camee off from the velcro, it hit a wall and the drone fell. Drone needed a replacement gear. The GoPro survived the drop but the footage was partially corrupted when the battery fell out. In hindsight, perhaps some rigid straws and rubber bands may have worked better.

Pardon my newbie-ness with this area, but I find I have an upcoming need for a shot from something like this. While I'm totally familiar with the GoPros, I don't know much at all about the AR Drone. Reading through the threads here, I was wondering why the GoPro couldn't be mounted upside-down on the underside of the drone directly to the housing with a slight downward pitch? It should be relatively easy to center the balance this way. I know it would interfere with the 'feet' of the drone, but maybe a launch pad of sorts could be devised (a cardboard box?) that would allow the GoPro to stick out below. landings would be a problem, but by then I'd have the shot. I need a shot over a group of people, not super-high, but approaching from behind and flying over head looking slightly down. Is there any way to make this work with the Drone? My shoot is overseas and the idea of trying to pack (and learn to fly) the more complex RC options while appealing for the smoother result and better camera options is just too expensive and logistically complex for where we're headed. If this could work rather simply and easily, it would be ideal.... it's just one shot after all. Has anyone tried this?

Hi Derek

I gave up with the drone and sold mine...parts seem to fail quite often and with disasterous results...I did make an under-mount from foam board ..just two wings with slots and the GoPro slides in !! You must make sure it clears the Ultrasonic sensors in the nav board.

I didn't like using the Gopro naked either..one bad landing in foliage and the lens on the GoPro is a goner!!

I get the same effect now putting my Hero on top of an extended lighting stand..at least 20' up and it gives you a really nice semi-aerial effect and requires no pilot!!!

Chris

Thanks, Chris
I kind of figured that was going to be the case, since these have been around a while and no one has successfully pulled it off yet. Your light stand approach sounds good for a static shot, but I was hoping for a trucking shot. I know the right equipment is out there to do it, but the cost of that stuff plus trying to lug it halfway across Africa for what will really be just one shot is a bit much.

I've been too busy to play err I mean operate my Drone. A tall lighting stand could be a good alternative. The Manfrotto 269HDBU that we have can be lifted to 7.3m which is just under 24 feet. We also have a cheapish pan & tilt head that uses AA batteries. Hague Modified Remote Pan & Tilt Power Head MPH (http://www.b-hague.co.uk/hague_modifield_pan_and_tilt_powerhead_mph.htm) I have used this combo with a DSLR rather than a GoPro but the principle is the same.

If you really want to get a shot flying over group of people then you could consider stretching a wire over them & running the GoPro in a carriage on that like a miniature version of an aerial runway that we used to rig up when I was in the Scouts Aerial-Runway :: The Zip Wire Ride Specialists (http://www.aerial-runway.co.uk/)

I like that Nigel...!!

At our motor races here they use a "pitcam" and that has a cable slung (and self powered) camera that runs the entire length of the pit lane. I couldn't see any issues with sectionized poles with guy ropes that would pack down into almost nothing and could be assembled on site over a fair distance with the "tightrope wire" between the poles and a simple carriage that runs on the wire with the camera underslung....gosh, at worst a piece of string tied to the carriage would make it slide left and right along the wire and there you have your aerial trucking shot and the gear would fold right down and fit into a small tripod soft case too!!!

Sadly my opinion of the Drone was also that it's a toy to play with and it really is fun (when it works) but keep it for the kids on the weekends and look at something a little more reliable

Chris

Running a camera on a cable is only going to work where you have time to set up so can be ruled out for weddings. As Chris says they do use this same principle commercially at sporting events. Skycam is the trademarked brand name Skycam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skycam)

I would rather a GoPro dropping on my head than one of these No one hurt after camera falls at Insight Bowl - Houston Chronicle (http://www.chron.com/sports/article/No-one-hurt-after-camera-falls-at-Insight-Bowl-2434267.php)