Filming/flying tips
2So as we learn to fly and film with our quads, we pick up little things that help with technique. Lets collect and share our wisdom here.
I'll start: it took me a few flights to realize that if you descend straight down like an elevator, you're coming down through your own prop wash and that makes for shaky video. Especially if you don't have a gimbal. Instead, fly your descents, forward or any other direction, and you'll get much more stable footage.
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I've been really looking forward to camera + gimbal + fpv system, but I'm forcing myself to get good at control and movement before even buying those other parts.
It sucks that I can't immediately get a first person view of what's going on up there as I crash on to my mother in law's roof (again) but the less attached to the thing the more flying time per charge. And therefore the more learnding.
And learnding is good.
Human Scale Tip: If you start your flight path (or edited video) with some low altitude footage that gives the viewer a sense of the immediate space as they might normally see it, then the climb up above the trees or buildings makes the aerial footage even more inspiring. Everyone wants to be a super hero that can fly.
Each flight I try to make a few swoops down in/out of low altitude for similar "as a bird flies" clips. I notice on people's faces that it's as they crest the trees or descend back to a human scale place that they think it's most cool.
@snapster A good example of this in practice is @djslack's video (at 02:40) where he travels across a foot bridge then increases his altitude as he approaches the monument on the other side.
@ruouttaurmind thanks. That was completely unintentional, but now that @snapster pointed it out that's a great shot to go for.
The only shot in that video I remember thinking about beforehand was my attempt at circling the eagle statue while keeping it at center frame. I didn't execute it so well but it was a first try. I do think that is a neat shot with enough practice to do it smoothly.
@djslack On my APM based FC's I have a cheat method for that shot. I can set a POI (point of interest) in the Mission Planner software and actiavate a auto-circle mode based on the circumference I set in the APM. The Tali takes that a step further, allowing me to set POI and circumference on the fly from the TX. Adding the BT module to the Phantom will also give this capability with live telem and mission updates from a laptop, tablet or phone..
I usually turn my camera up to max pitch (facing up rather than down) when I'm landing to avoid potentially scratching or chipping the lens if I bounce or tip, or blow up dirt and sand in the wash.
After watching the Tali fall from the sky last week I was sure glad I had the camera pointed up. The right side landing gear snapped and smashed the gimbal into the dirt. If the camera had been pointing down I surely would have done some lens damage. Also a good reason to use lens protectors and filters if your camera can accommodate them.