Epic + helicopter shooting shutter speeds & frame rates??

[Kelsey W. Smith]

Has anyone done a lot of heli shooting with the Epic? Any recommendations on shutter speeds? frame rates?

Thanks
Kelsey W.

[Michael Notar]

i asked almost the same question, as i am going to hopefully shoot from a helicopter and its my first time... to summarize, people favored slightly over cranking and a slightly faster shutter speed, like a 90 degree shutter angle. it just gives you more options in post. def shoot 5k and a little wider than you think so you can stabilize it in post and crop in if need be.

[Bryan Moore]

I will let you know in 2 weeks. Ill be shooting a ton of heli footage for the first time with epic.

[JanneJansson]

I have done many handheld helicopter shoots with epic and I usually shoot with short shutter time (1/500 about) so I can stabilize afterwards. Important is that the lens is not warping or distorting in the edges. Use really low kompression at least 1:6. I sometimes overcrank, but then my compression ration gets worse, so it's a trade-off. Use safty strap on camera, and remember the shoot always looks cooler in camera in the helicopter then afterwards. Make sure you have the shoot, do it twise or three times, it cost much more to re-shoot the hole day. Have penty of power and easy to get redmags. Test the camera besfore the heli takes off in case you have a problem. Have side handle with redvolt and v-lock power for safety. Shoot without door on heli, and be carful of the airstream when the heli moves fast. It can easily rip the camera from your hand, or remove a cable. Try so stay out of moving air because this causes vibration that is hard to remove aftervwards. And stay on target.. :) Don't move camera arround everywhere. Put some soft electric tape over your seat buckle so you don't accidentally fall out, but also can rip it open if you need to get out in a hurry.

[Shaun Cammack]

Some people use gyros, right? My understanding is those would help with vibration and help keep things more stable?

[Eirik Tyrihjel]

Some people use gyros, right? My understanding is those would help with vibration and help keep things more stable?

Definetly, but they also often more than double the cost of your shoot (depending on how long you shoot), still sometimes it is needed!

If you plan to do only wide shots, you can probably get away without it. If you use a helicopter with a three blade rotor that is newly tracked. The really dirt cheap helicopters also vibrate like crazy. Stay away from a thing like the piston engine Robinson R44, stay with turbofan helicopters - I have had great success onboard Eurocopter 350´s without gyro stabilisation. Also when filming wide, you quite often get the rotors in frame, which is easy to overlook when you are up there.

Higher speeds also naturally generate more winds, if you are shooting without door, or with sliding door in open position, so if great speed is not required then fly slower.

[Jon MIchael Puntervold]

Last heli shot I did were shot with the shutter at 96, it should have been at 120... motion blur should be added in post. The new warp-stabilize function in AE is great btw! No need for gyros.

BTW: It was in an R44 and vibrated like hell, but AE and warp-stabilize saved the day.

[CJ Roy]

I've used Epic countless times with SpaceCam, Pictorvision. Gyron also has an Epic compatible gymbal.

Best way to do your aerials.

[Aaron McLane]

The Cineron is specifically designed for the Epic/Scarlet and is perfect for handheld bungie mount out the side of a full size and is small enough to be used on a RC helicopter. It is amazing footage that does not require any post stabilization. Here is a pic of a early version last time we shot with it.

Here is some footage shot with a early prototype https://vimeo.com/35672071

[KETCH ROSSi]

The Cineron is specifically designed for the Epic/Scarlet and is perfect for handheld bungie mount out the side of a full size and is small enough to be used on a RC helicopter. It is amazing footage that does not require any post stabilization. Here is a pic of a early version last time we shot with it.

Here is some footage shot with a early prototype https://vimeo.com/35672071

Great work Aaron!!

Cost, Availability and... Can it be mounted on anything else then RC Helys?


Like, on the Hood of a Car, hanging off an Easy rig and such or even should I dare say, HAND HELD??


This could be perfect for "RAPEofaBEAUTY" in Rome do to some restrictions.