1st Video

[belem]

Got my Kodak Zi6 from ebay this week. Wind died down today and I gave it a try. Couple of minor issues - trouble getting the plane in trim with the camera strapped to the side, wavy video from motor vibration, and the camera mounted sideways makes for an odd crop.
Still, it was fun and I'll improve with the next attempt.

vimeo.com/4348146

[SCC]

Nice job John. Good crisp image from the Kodak.

[belem]

Yeah, I was pleased with the quality of the video. Now I just need to find a better way to mount it. Would be nice to have full screen and level flight. ;D

[clipper453]

Not bad at all. You could probably mount that camera under the battery compartment facing forward and angled down, but I suspect you would need to add clearance by extending the landing gear or putting larger wheels on it. Just be sure to keep the prop out of view, or else you'll get some nasty artifacts in the video due to the camera's CMOS sensor.

I have to wonder if the waviness was caused by vibration or just electrical interference. Try holding the camera as close to the plane as you can (near where you had it mounted, without touching the plane), and then throttle the motor up and down. See if the waves still show up in the video. If so, you know it's electrical interference. If that's the case, you could try to shield the camera.

- Matt

[belem]

Yeah, I looked at mounting it on the bottom last night and will likely give a try at lunch today - stay tuned for the results....

[belem]

Well, back from lunch. Flying was.....interesting. There was a bit of a breeze and I was flying at a new location - next to an small airport/old AFB. Because of this I did not fly more than 100 feet off the ground. First to stay out of the wind, and second - there were planes practicing touch and goes and I tried to get out of the air every time they came by.

Anyway, the video was disappointing. First I forgot to set the camera to 60fps instead of the default 30. Second, with the shallow angle I was able to get mounting it on the bottom I mostly captured video of grass and trees as I flew over. If I could have flown higher it might not have been a problem, but at low altitude it was nearly unwatchable.

I'll try this set up again at my regular field. If it's still too shallow an angle I'll look at maybe cutting a slot for it in the fuse.

On the plus side, it flew just fine with the camera mounted underneath. Didn't have any of the tracking problems I had when I put it on the side.

Will look into waviness tonite with some tests.

[clipper453]

Be careful when flying in the proximity of airports. You don't want to accidentally end up like this guy:

www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=137095

Technically speaking, even with small, general aviation airports, you really shouldn't fly RC airplanes within 4 miles of them.

- Matt

[belem]

Yeah, that video kept going thru my mind when I was flying.

I won't be back over there. It was recommended by another poster, but I think I'll find other lunch spots.

[ginginho]

Apr 30, 2009 1:03:40 GMT 1 clipper453 said:

Be careful when flying in the proximity of airports. You don't want to accidentally end up like this guy:

www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=137095

Technically speaking, even with small, general aviation airports, you really shouldn't fly RC airplanes within 4 miles of them.

- Matt

Ah well done Matt, I saw this a week or so ago but didn't have a link to post. Discussion at work followed and after some looking at maps I've discovered that the field I normal fly at is only about 1.5 miles from an airport, as is the field of a BMFA affiliated club nearby. Both sites are to the side of the runway so it's not likely that the flightpath of the real planes will be compromised.

As for the guy who flew in that video, I hope he get the maximum gaol (olde English spelling of jail sentence for such a stupid and dangerous stunt.

[belem]

Here's my next attempt. Camera mounted on the bottom facing slightly forward. Not quite right yet.

vimeo.com/4658684