Video recording advice
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 9
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From: London
Video recording advice
Hello, I am looking for best advice on how to record my flights from inside the plane. I have looked at GoPros and also dash cams and wondering if anyone has had any good use out of dashcams as I could use one in the car as well. What are your thoughts and experience?
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 59
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From: UK
You could try this one too
4K Action Camera 16MP Sport DV Cam WIFI HD1080P Helmet Video Camcorder as Gopro | eBay
4K Action Camera 16MP Sport DV Cam WIFI HD1080P Helmet Video Camcorder as Gopro | eBay
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 0
From: Amsterdam
The first thing to ask: What are you going to do with the video?
If it's for yourself, to record your performance, and not intended for public consumption, the best location would be somewhere over your shoulder with a view of the dashboard and possibly through the windscreen - although the difference in light levels normally makes it hard to capture both in one shot. Add an audio feed (intercom splitter cable) and you're done.
If you intend to edit the video for public consumption (YouTube?) then you really have a project on your hands. Watch a bunch of flying videos that are on YouTube already. First, from an "experience" angle. Did you enjoy the video?
Then, for the ones you enjoyed, from a technical angle: How did the author make the video enjoyable? You'll find that the most interesting ones are shot from a whole bunch of different angles, both inside and outside the plane, and consist of mostly short clips of about 4 seconds. Longer if you are able to incorporate some sort of running commentary or if something interesting is going on in the shot itself. You'll also find that the audio is a clever mix of commentary, ATC traffic, engine noise and/or background music so some audio mixing is also required. And the video tells a story from beginning to end.
Don't underestimate this editing process. It's not uncommon to spend a few days editing, with the result being a 10-minute clip. And you may need several hours worth of footage to extract just 10 minutes of worthwhile material.
Only when you know what kind of story you will want to tell, will you be able to decide questions on equipment. The question "what type of camera to use" is only one of them. You also need to worry about splitter cables and maybe an ND filter of some sort. And don't forget a variety of suction cups, tethers, clamps, brackets, ball mounts and stuff so you can mount the equipment exactly where you want it.
If it's for yourself, to record your performance, and not intended for public consumption, the best location would be somewhere over your shoulder with a view of the dashboard and possibly through the windscreen - although the difference in light levels normally makes it hard to capture both in one shot. Add an audio feed (intercom splitter cable) and you're done.
If you intend to edit the video for public consumption (YouTube?) then you really have a project on your hands. Watch a bunch of flying videos that are on YouTube already. First, from an "experience" angle. Did you enjoy the video?
Then, for the ones you enjoyed, from a technical angle: How did the author make the video enjoyable? You'll find that the most interesting ones are shot from a whole bunch of different angles, both inside and outside the plane, and consist of mostly short clips of about 4 seconds. Longer if you are able to incorporate some sort of running commentary or if something interesting is going on in the shot itself. You'll also find that the audio is a clever mix of commentary, ATC traffic, engine noise and/or background music so some audio mixing is also required. And the video tells a story from beginning to end.
Don't underestimate this editing process. It's not uncommon to spend a few days editing, with the result being a 10-minute clip. And you may need several hours worth of footage to extract just 10 minutes of worthwhile material.
Only when you know what kind of story you will want to tell, will you be able to decide questions on equipment. The question "what type of camera to use" is only one of them. You also need to worry about splitter cables and maybe an ND filter of some sort. And don't forget a variety of suction cups, tethers, clamps, brackets, ball mounts and stuff so you can mount the equipment exactly where you want it.
Joined: Dec 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,760
Likes: 424
From: GA, USA
You could try this one too
4K Action Camera 16MP Sport DV Cam WIFI HD1080P Helmet Video Camcorder as Gopro | eBay
4K Action Camera 16MP Sport DV Cam WIFI HD1080P Helmet Video Camcorder as Gopro | eBay
Either that or GoPro has a 500% profit margin
Joined: Apr 2004
Aviation Qualifications: Military
Posts: 2,374
Likes: 195
From: Richard Burtonville, South Wales.
I think the sd card cost more!
CG
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,831
Likes: 16
From: Moray,Scotland,U.K.
I bought a Canon HG10 some years ago. It saved to a hard disc. This would shut down due to vibration. There was a weird effect occasionally when the picture went into a wobble. I think the image stabilization was locking onto the propeller at that particular speed. The camera was OK when not in the Jodel. The available formats were also hard to edit.
For short clips I use a compact digital on movie mode.(Panasonic Lumix FT2, which can work in the low temperature in the cockpit in winter. Easily edited for YT. I don't want the very wide-angle GoPro effect.
For short clips I use a compact digital on movie mode.(Panasonic Lumix FT2, which can work in the low temperature in the cockpit in winter. Easily edited for YT. I don't want the very wide-angle GoPro effect.
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: Glasgow
Second that, I made some videos and have found people much prefer aircraft noise, chatter etc than cheesy music plus the royalty free music is some of the worst out there.
Btw I use a Go Pro 4 black edition and I can't fault it, also has an audio input port (although it does need an official Go Pro cable to be used).
Btw I use a Go Pro 4 black edition and I can't fault it, also has an audio input port (although it does need an official Go Pro cable to be used).
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,555
Likes: 0
From: Banished (twice) to the pointless forest
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,288
Likes: 1
From: Enzed
You also need to ask who might see your video. There have been cases on this side of the globe where someone in the LAA has seen the video and decided the flight broke some rule. The pilot has spent time in front of the beak and or had their licence suspended even though expert advice has shown the shots in the video do not prove the pilot did anything wrong. The perspective shown by the video may look "bad" when in fact it wasn't.
The same applies to videos shot by passengers.
A salutary lesson to us all. Beware!!!!!!
The same applies to videos shot by passengers.
A salutary lesson to us all. Beware!!!!!!
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 86
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From: Bulgaria
subject
Just to add something to post #5 by BackPacker, have a quick look at some of the videos put up by this guy...he uses cameras in various positions, has pretty darn good audio and generally makes the whole trip very interesting. He seems to be very approachable and I'm sure he would give you some very helpful advice, based on his experiences.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEF4C25UI6Q
Hope this helps you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEF4C25UI6Q
Hope this helps you.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,555
Likes: 0
From: Banished (twice) to the pointless forest
https://www.youtube.com/user/huntj86
The Flying Reporter is a good source of lessons in making, and editing, cockpit video.
The Flying Reporter is a good source of lessons in making, and editing, cockpit video.
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,288
Likes: 1
From: Enzed
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,288
Likes: 1
From: Enzed