DVX100(a) from a helicopter at DVinfo.net

Josh Bass · April 26th, 2004, 11:13 AM

Working on a project where the producers have decided they want some aerial shots, and I need to find out if there's any special settings I should use when shooting from a helicopter. It doesn't seem like there ought to be, since all you're doing is going really high up. . .but what do I know?

Nick Medrano · April 26th, 2004, 12:24 PM

I say enable OIS and a normal shutter speed should be fine.

Myself, I'll be shooting an aerial video soon in the week or so. My first...so I'll be learning as well.

Good luck!

Josh Bass · April 26th, 2004, 04:34 PM

Well, if I don't die, I guess mine'll be fun too.

Preston Herrick · April 27th, 2004, 06:16 PM

I've shot from a helicopter with a full size camera - sitting in the doorway tethered, with my feet on the strut no less. There is a lot of vibration in a chopper that will tax the OIS. Pros shoot with a Tyler mount or a gyroscopically stabilized remote mounted on the nose.

Good luck, and don't forget the Dramamine.

Josh Bass · April 27th, 2004, 07:06 PM

Ok, that's the second dramamine joke. . .

I'm pushing for the nose-mount, mostly 'cause hanging out the side of a helicopter seems extremely dangerous. . .maybe that's just me (not that I don't admire those who've done it, but I don't particularly want to be one them).

It's also been suggested that I shoot in either 60i or 30p, as the slowdown that'll result from converting back to 24p will take the "edge" off the footage, from the jolting ride.

Joe Kras · April 28th, 2004, 06:38 AM

Never shot from a helicopter, but I'd think you'd want a safety strap for the camera, as well as yourself.

Come to think of it, if the strap was tethered from above with a "bungee" cord, it might help with the stabilization.

Dan Brown · April 28th, 2004, 06:49 AM

You definitely need a camera mounting plate gyro. It can be rented here:

The smooth footage will be well worth the cost.

Josh Bass · May 1st, 2004, 09:23 AM

I meant to respond to this earlier. No gyro, no side mount. Me shooting out the open door or the windshield (do they call it that on a heli?) is the best these people will pay for.

On another note, I'd like to go back to what I mentioned earlier about shooting in 30p or 60i for this stuff. I have a friend who's a pro DP, who does a lot of HD work, and he said when he shoots aerially, he shoots at 30p or 60i, even though the project is 24p, because the slightly slower frame rate, when time corrected, gives you a slight slow motion that takes the edge off all the vibrations. . .

So what I'd like to know is: which is better? 30p or 60i? 60i converts to 24p more easily, correct? And any jaggies incurred from the interlaced video are removed when it's deinterlaced, no?

Josh Bass · May 1st, 2004, 09:44 AM

I meant to respond to this earlier. No gyro, no side mount. Me shooting out the open door or the windshield (do they call it that on a heli?) is the best these people will pay for.

On another note, I'd like to go back to what I mentioned earlier about shooting in 30p or 60i for this stuff. I have a friend who's a pro DP, who does a lot of HD work, and he said when he shoots aerially, he shoots at 30p or 60i, even though the project is 24p, because the slightly slower frame rate, when time corrected, gives you a slight slow motion that takes the edge off all the vibrations. . .

So what I'd like to know is: which is better? 30p or 60i? 60i converts to 24p more easily, correct? And any jaggies incurred from the interlaced video are removed when it's deinterlaced, no?

Sorry, didn't mean to post this twice.

Nick Medrano · May 1st, 2004, 09:48 AM

JOsh,
I'd be curious to hear your responses. I will be shooting with the DVX and now am not sure what file scene to use....24p...60i...etc?

Ken Plotin · May 1st, 2004, 10:50 AM

Take the door off if you can. Two bungee cords, each attached diagonally across the open port, will form an X where you can rest the camera to reduce vibration. I'd leave the OIS off for this.
Secure yourself to a floor D ring with a safety line (in addition to your seat belt) and also secure your camera. In this type of shoot, the pilot is doing the real work. Communicate what you need BEFORE take off to save time, money and frustration.
Hope this helps.
Ken

Nick Medrano · May 1st, 2004, 10:59 AM

Josh,
If you have Premiere Pro, you can use the awesome Steadymove plugin.

Josh Bass · May 1st, 2004, 11:31 AM

Thanks.

Why would you want the OIS off? I won't be shooting from a tripod or anything.

Ken Plotin · May 2nd, 2004, 01:08 PM

Josh,
I'd leave the OIS off because this feature on the 100/100a has a tendency to "skip" and play catch up more than others I've used. It probably won't play nicely with the kind of vibration you're likely to find in the aircraft. Just my .02.
Ken

Josh Bass · May 2nd, 2004, 07:16 PM

alright. . .I'll take y'all's word for it.

April 26th, 2004, 11:13 AM	#1
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	DVX100(a) from a helicopter Working on a project where the producers have decided they want some aerial shots, and I need to find out if there's any special settings I should use when shooting from a helicopter. It doesn't seem like there ought to be, since all you're doing is going really high up. . .but what do I know? __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

April 26th, 2004, 04:34 PM	#3
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Well, if I don't die, I guess mine'll be fun too. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

April 27th, 2004, 07:06 PM	#5
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Ok, that's the second dramamine joke. . . I'm pushing for the nose-mount, mostly 'cause hanging out the side of a helicopter seems extremely dangerous. . .maybe that's just me (not that I don't admire those who've done it, but I don't particularly want to be one them). It's also been suggested that I shoot in either 60i or 30p, as the slowdown that'll result from converting back to 24p will take the "edge" off the footage, from the jolting ride. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

April 28th, 2004, 06:49 AM	#7
Dan Brown Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 235	You definitely need a camera mounting plate gyro. It can be rented here: The smooth footage will be well worth the cost. __________________ dB

May 1st, 2004, 09:23 AM	#8
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	I meant to respond to this earlier. No gyro, no side mount. Me shooting out the open door or the windshield (do they call it that on a heli?) is the best these people will pay for. On another note, I'd like to go back to what I mentioned earlier about shooting in 30p or 60i for this stuff. I have a friend who's a pro DP, who does a lot of HD work, and he said when he shoots aerially, he shoots at 30p or 60i, even though the project is 24p, because the slightly slower frame rate, when time corrected, gives you a slight slow motion that takes the edge off all the vibrations. . . So what I'd like to know is: which is better? 30p or 60i? 60i converts to 24p more easily, correct? And any jaggies incurred from the interlaced video are removed when it's deinterlaced, no? __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

April 26th, 2004, 12:24 PM	#2
Nick Medrano Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 331	I say enable OIS and a normal shutter speed should be fine. Myself, I'll be shooting an aerial video soon in the week or so. My first...so I'll be learning as well. Good luck!

April 27th, 2004, 06:16 PM	#4
Preston Herrick Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 44	I've shot from a helicopter with a full size camera - sitting in the doorway tethered, with my feet on the strut no less. There is a lot of vibration in a chopper that will tax the OIS. Pros shoot with a Tyler mount or a gyroscopically stabilized remote mounted on the nose. Good luck, and don't forget the Dramamine.

April 28th, 2004, 06:38 AM	#6
Joe Kras Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 54	Never shot from a helicopter, but I'd think you'd want a safety strap for the camera, as well as yourself. Come to think of it, if the strap was tethered from above with a "bungee" cord, it might help with the stabilization.

May 1st, 2004, 09:44 AM	#9
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	I meant to respond to this earlier. No gyro, no side mount. Me shooting out the open door or the windshield (do they call it that on a heli?) is the best these people will pay for. On another note, I'd like to go back to what I mentioned earlier about shooting in 30p or 60i for this stuff. I have a friend who's a pro DP, who does a lot of HD work, and he said when he shoots aerially, he shoots at 30p or 60i, even though the project is 24p, because the slightly slower frame rate, when time corrected, gives you a slight slow motion that takes the edge off all the vibrations. . . So what I'd like to know is: which is better? 30p or 60i? 60i converts to 24p more easily, correct? And any jaggies incurred from the interlaced video are removed when it's deinterlaced, no? Sorry, didn't mean to post this twice. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

May 1st, 2004, 09:48 AM	#10
Nick Medrano Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 331	JOsh, I'd be curious to hear your responses. I will be shooting with the DVX and now am not sure what file scene to use....24p...60i...etc?

May 1st, 2004, 10:50 AM	#11
Ken Plotin Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 254	Take the door off if you can. Two bungee cords, each attached diagonally across the open port, will form an X where you can rest the camera to reduce vibration. I'd leave the OIS off for this. Secure yourself to a floor D ring with a safety line (in addition to your seat belt) and also secure your camera. In this type of shoot, the pilot is doing the real work. Communicate what you need BEFORE take off to save time, money and frustration. Hope this helps. Ken

May 1st, 2004, 10:59 AM	#12
Nick Medrano Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 331	Josh, If you have Premiere Pro, you can use the awesome Steadymove plugin.

May 1st, 2004, 11:31 AM	#13
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Thanks. Why would you want the OIS off? I won't be shooting from a tripod or anything. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

May 2nd, 2004, 01:08 PM	#14
Ken Plotin Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 254	Josh, I'd leave the OIS off because this feature on the 100/100a has a tendency to "skip" and play catch up more than others I've used. It probably won't play nicely with the kind of vibration you're likely to find in the aircraft. Just my .02. Ken

May 2nd, 2004, 07:16 PM	#15
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	alright. . .I'll take y'all's word for it. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB