Where to mount camera?
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Join Date: Feb 2015
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Where to mount camera?
Hi troops, looking for some tips. When I'm taking videos I normally mount my camera (C152) at the dome light, but this means its very difficult to see out of the window, and it mainly shows pure white presumably down to the light balance.
I'm using a Veho Muvi K2, a great little action camera that provides GoPro quality film, picked the camera up for around £130.
Anyone got any ideas on how to remedy this whether its to do with set up of the camera, mounting etc...
I'm using a Veho Muvi K2, a great little action camera that provides GoPro quality film, picked the camera up for around £130.
Anyone got any ideas on how to remedy this whether its to do with set up of the camera, mounting etc...
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What do you intend to do with the footage you're going to shoot?
If you're just going to look at the video yourself, for instance to review your lesson, you would most likely want to use the position you already found: near the dome light. This, in theory, should capture both the instrument panel and the picture outside. However, in practice, the contrast between those two is so high that no action-cam type camera will ever be able to deal with that. So either the panel will be underexposed or the outside world will be overexposed. The only way around that (additional lighting directed at the panel) is completely unfeasible. So you're going to have to choose what's more important to you.
If you're going to make your video available for public consumption somehow, then please, please, please don't limit yourself to just one mounting position. Even just 30 seconds of video shot from a single viewpoint is extremely boring. In order to make your edited video even remotely interesting it's got to be a mix of at least four different viewpoints. Obviously some of these will be from within the cockpit (forward, backwards, in your face, sideways, passenger view, whatever) but the best videos also incorporate outside views (however check the practicality, safety, security and legality of attaching stuff to the outside of the aircraft) and possibly even footage of your aircraft taken from the ground or from another aircraft.
If you're just going to look at the video yourself, for instance to review your lesson, you would most likely want to use the position you already found: near the dome light. This, in theory, should capture both the instrument panel and the picture outside. However, in practice, the contrast between those two is so high that no action-cam type camera will ever be able to deal with that. So either the panel will be underexposed or the outside world will be overexposed. The only way around that (additional lighting directed at the panel) is completely unfeasible. So you're going to have to choose what's more important to you.
If you're going to make your video available for public consumption somehow, then please, please, please don't limit yourself to just one mounting position. Even just 30 seconds of video shot from a single viewpoint is extremely boring. In order to make your edited video even remotely interesting it's got to be a mix of at least four different viewpoints. Obviously some of these will be from within the cockpit (forward, backwards, in your face, sideways, passenger view, whatever) but the best videos also incorporate outside views (however check the practicality, safety, security and legality of attaching stuff to the outside of the aircraft) and possibly even footage of your aircraft taken from the ground or from another aircraft.
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I have found that a side-on camera from the left-most side of the front window facing slightly forward was a nice shot angle.
Whilst on the topic - has anyone here considered / done any minor mods following the UK CAA guidance on installing a camera outside a light aircraft?
I have been tinkering with the idea of installing a couple of cameras on the bottom of the fuselage to get outside views. The guidance from the CAA seems pretty clear and simple as well as logic, although yes it does need to be signed off by a correctly certified engineer! I think it'd be really nice to get proper outside shots mixed with some inside shots!
Whilst on the topic - has anyone here considered / done any minor mods following the UK CAA guidance on installing a camera outside a light aircraft?
I have been tinkering with the idea of installing a couple of cameras on the bottom of the fuselage to get outside views. The guidance from the CAA seems pretty clear and simple as well as logic, although yes it does need to be signed off by a correctly certified engineer! I think it'd be really nice to get proper outside shots mixed with some inside shots!
Try various positions on the ground, stationary, and shoot short videos. Then look at them. My preference is for the views seen from the cockpit, but you decide what you want. Then make mount. I see a company now offering tso'ed mounts on a UK advertising and news email letter.
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I see a company now offering tso'ed mounts on a UK advertising and news email letter
That said, the fact that a TSO has been issued for a piece of equipment does not convey authority to install, that still requires "data", which may be a type design OEM TCDS, an STC, or other data acceptable for the installation. The very easy way to understand this is to consider the tire: A 6.00 - 6 tire is approved on many GA aircraft, in both main and nose wheel applications (and I speculate probably a tailwheel on larger types). These tires come in different ply ratings, and are TSO'd. But the fact that a 6.00 - 6, 4 ply is a TSO'd tire does not convey approval to install in an application which specifies a 6.00 - 6, 6 ply, That would require an STC, as well as the TSO'd tire.
So before you start attaching cameras to an aircraft, make sure a suitably rated aircraft mechanic is in agreement with the installation.
Should you have a camera (or more) one your aircraft, remember, you're there to fly the plane, not be a movie star. Focus your attention on safe flying, rather than flying for the camera. People have been known to do dumb things when they thought that a camera was recording.
It's not hard to make videos people want to watch
If you're going to make your video available for public consumption somehow, then please, please, please don't limit yourself to just one mounting position. Even just 30 seconds of video shot from a single viewpoint is extremely boring. In order to make your edited video even remotely interesting it's got to be a mix of at least four different viewpoints.
Good audio helps, too. There are adapters that let you record from the radio/intercom directly into the camera. They work well.
If I may share one of my own videos, here's several different views edited together. This was, if I remember right, four total flights on the same day. If I were to redo this one, I'd make it about a minute shorter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPYy1Or8Pz8. There are several flying videos there.
Consider asking someone to film you entering/exiting the airplane. Get a picture of a sign or some other identifying item. Try to make it a story. Here's my first ever effort at telling a story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQRlbfg8i1Q
Should you have a camera (or more) one your aircraft, remember, you're there to fly the plane, not be a movie star. Focus your attention on safe flying, rather than flying for the camera. People have been known to do dumb things when they thought that a camera was recording.
Terry
