Aerial Video/RC Video

What's a most reasonable way to get some good aerial shots with a DSLR?

I've skimmed a handful of sites specializing in aerial rigs for $2K. Any DIY solutions for under a grand?

While rigs are coming down in price all the time (they use to be £10K+) you only have to consider the number of separate elements to conclude building a rig you would trust to carry a DSLR for $1000 is unlikely - the LiPo alone is going to be $100.

If you stick with a GoPro rig there are a good number of options which would come in around your budget.

A DSLR is a heavy load for an aerial drone and all the options I have seen are $2-5K+. A GoPro offers similar image quality in a lighter package and has quad drone kits for $700 + the GoPro.

http://www.amazon.com …-Quadcopter/dp/B00AGOSQ​I8

Thanks for the info.

That DJI drone looks promising.

A Go-Pro is probably my best option, especially considering with a DSLR I'd be filming with a wide angle and with a very deep DOF. Given these settings, the GoPro footage is probably comparable to a DSLR.

Kylemorgan88 wrote in post #16122121
Given these settings, the GoPro footage is probably comparable to a DSLR.

If you've not used a GoPro, I strongly encourage you to do so. They are incredibly versatile and the quality of the video can be very high. Their only real downside is low light performance is not great. There are a number of stabilized gimbals arriving on the market now that can really smooth out your capture from a drone like the DJI Phantom. If you're a real geek, you can build one yourself using a $35 Martinez board available on Ebay. Just be careful; this is a whole 'nuther hobby to consume your time and financial resources.

Bob

Hot Bob wrote in post #16124946
Just be careful; this is a whole 'nuther hobby to consume your time and financial resources.

Bob

This is my biggest concern. I'll be using this for live event filming like wedding. We don't really need to get these shots, and I'm wondering if the time/energy/money will be worth the increased production value.

This type of filming seems like a whole separate and unfamiliar arena.

Where are you? If you intend to use it for commercial purposes you best learn the potential legal requirements/issues before you start spending money.

Iowa. Are there strict rules about flying RC devices? We have a $2MM liability policy.

I saw a guy flying a tri-chopper in the baseball field the other day. He had just built it and was planning on attaching a gopro. He said it only cost him 150 dollars to build and got the design from a website called.......i don't remember..... ooppps

it looked like a crude version of this.
http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=-Kr7SVzooEY

Right now it is illegal to shoot still or video from a drone as a commercial enterprise in the US. There is a huge industry waiting (and some not waiting) for the FAA to rewrite the rules on this. The President has mandated that the FAA figure this out and come up with a workable option by 2016. There are ways of working within gray areas to provide the service but you run the risk of receiving a cease and desist from the FAA.

Bob

might help if i spell it right. the website was simplecopter.com

Read the fine print on your policy and see if you are covered if injuries result from illegal activity. Also you get into what I believe is referred to as administrative law and you'll be buying some pretty expensive aviation legal representation. If you go ahead and do it anyway you'll probably end up getting a cease and desist letter from FAA with a threat of $10k/day fine or something of that nature.

All the legal stuff aside, since this is going to be such a big market it's still not a bad idea to start learning to fly and be ready for your flight test and develop the skills to produce nice looking footage.

Everything I've read indicates the FAA is leaning on local law enforcement to police UAV activity. I'm guessing a well dressed white male flying a UAV is more likely to attract a bit of fascination than hostility from the local PD.

I live in a mid sized market in Iowa. I probably have a better chance at winning the power ball than receiving a cease and desist letter from the FAA for flying a toy heli.

My only real concern is making sure I do it safely and greatly reduce or eliminate the chances of hurting someone.

Well, there is an article on Yahoo News today about a town in Colorado that wants to let people shoot them down!

http://news.yahoo.com …g-colorado-172357477.html

Not sure how strong it'll be but a GoPro also allows your to view from your iPhone or iPad, so you can see what your recording, 5 second delay but useful if your in wifi range.