| The Top and Bottom Line of Equipment & Tools | | | | capability in FPV and provides HD level recording of |
| Remote Aerial Photography Equipment & Tools | | | | images both video, and stills. FPV camera prices range |
| will explore equipment needs for aerial photographs | | | | from $75 - 150 depending on quality with a camera tilt |
| and video. The discussion will extend from Professional | | | | pan mechanism another $50-70. |
| level equipment to Recreational levels. Our goal is to | | | | OSD: On Screen Display |
| bring this subject into a clearer, sharper focus. | | | | An OSD (On Screen Display) provides information |
| Regardless which level you choose to enter the field, | | | | about the aircraft to the pilot. Not limited to but including |
| skills and equipment used for taking unbelievable | | | | altitude, heading, distance from take off point, some |
| beautiful remote aerial images will save a lot of money | | | | provide GPS location. The purpose is to aid controlling |
| over conventional Aerial Photography methods. | | | | the aircraft when flying FPV. When flying in unfamiliar |
| Additionally, you will find a sense of accomplishment, | | | | terrain losing orientation is easy with resultant loss of |
| and you will obtain a skill that you can use at your | | | | location to where the plane started the flight. The |
| discretion, at your pleasure. | | | | major advantage of the OSD is it can help you |
| A key decision on any pursuit is the money | | | | recover direction and return to take off point. There is |
| component. That component exists in Remote Aerial | | | | always an indicator pointing toward where you are so |
| Photography as well. First, we will touch briefly on the | | | | just follow the arrow and it comes home. |
| high-end tools with specificity on two such products | | | | One example of a commercial OSD is available from |
| before entering a discussion of recreational level | | | | Eagle Tree Systems providing some of the following |
| budget equipment. | | | | assist when flying your craft. |
| The High End | | | | 1. Voice announcements and voice alarms so that you |
| The first of two examples of high end of Remote | | | | don't have to stare at gauges (less distracting |
| Aerial Photography is SkyCamUsa Company | | | | 2. Waypoints on a virtual map -AP pilots can just fly |
| specializing in remote aerial photography using a | | | | from waypoint to waypoint easily, and take photos |
| special design helicopter. This flyer is capable to lifting | | | | 3. All the status information about the plane and RX, |
| quality photographic equipment of both film and digital | | | | which can be hidden until something goes wrong, so it's |
| formats. Examples of the cameras used include | | | | only a distraction when it needs to be |
| 35mm SL Cine SL35 Mark III, Panasonic HVX 200, and | | | | 4. An available audible variometer can assist in holding |
| Nikon D2X 12.4 Mega Pixels. The camera equipment | | | | altitude. The price point of a complete Eagle Tree |
| alone is valued in thousands of dollars. | | | | System is between $300-400 depending on specific |
| DraganFly is a company producing a high-end dual | | | | sensors chosen. |
| rotor tri-copter flyer capable of carrying high-end | | | | Video Transmitter/Receiver for Remote Aerial |
| camera equipment for High Definition in either still | | | | Photography |
| photo's or video. The DraganFlyer X6's design handles | | | | If you want to fly FPV while recording media on the |
| all photographic needs ranging from still, video, thermal | | | | ground, choose a video downlink system on a |
| infrared, low light. The purchase price of a base X6 | | | | non-conflicting frequency bandwidth from your chosen |
| starts at $14,995 up to specialty-equipped level flyers | | | | flight receiver and transmitter. Popular choices are 2.4 |
| with price available by quote. | | | | GHz and 900 MHz. There are multiple choices for this |
| Both approaches produce high-level professional | | | | equipment in the market. A generic package would |
| photographic results. If financial resources are available, | | | | include both transmitter and receiver. Cost ranges |
| multiple choices exist in this price level. | | | | from $100-300 for both a transmitter and receiver. |
| Aerial Photographic for Most of Us | | | | Recording Device or Recording Camera |
| A question that surfaces most often is, "How can I | | | | There are many choices for camera equipment as |
| take that type aerial picture?" To provide a concise | | | | well. This bottom line is how much do you want to |
| answer requires we narrow the scope of the answer. | | | | spend? Can your flyer lift the chosen camera? |
| For this discussion, we will select an Easy Star by | | | | Choices range for a simple DVD player to view a |
| Multiplex as our base craft. This choice provides a | | | | FPV input w/o recording to a recording camera. One |
| very stable basic trainer airplane excellent for Aerial | | | | of the most popular choices for those who want to |
| Photography. It also has been subject of much | | | | downlink their video is a camera that serves as a |
| development efforts in FPV (First Person View), AP | | | | recorder of events while also allowing a real time |
| (Aerial Photography), and using OSD (On Screen | | | | visual of the input being recorded. Serving as both FPV |
| Display) to provide flight data to the pilot. | | | | and media recorder. |
| Projected cost for this aircraft including RC (Radio | | | | One such camera is the Aiptek H/D with personal |
| Control)equipment to fly the plane is less than $190. | | | | recorder. The viewing screen is small but does provide |
| That price does not include the other photographic | | | | both viewing and recording functions. The limitation of |
| required equipment. | | | | using the camera as a downlink remote recording |
| The discussion will follow this segment order. | | | | device is the video recording is not H/D. Choosing this |
| 1. FPV Camera | | | | camera to record media on board the plane provides |
| 2. On Screen Display (OSD) | | | | high definition filming while also serving as the FPV |
| 3. Video transmitter/Video Receiver | | | | camera to fly the craft. The price of a full HD Aiptek |
| 4. Recorder or Recording camera | | | | ranges from $140-180. |
| FPV in Remote Aerial Photography | | | | Remote Aerial Photographic Summary |
| FPV Camera | | | | The bottom line for high-end equipment will run from |
| A variety of cameras allow the pilot to fly First Person | | | | $15,000 - $20,000+ determined by specific equipment |
| View (FPV) as if sitting in the airplane. This view is the | | | | choices including camera equipment. |
| same as seen by pilots of full size aircraft. In FPV flight, | | | | The bottom line for recreational equipment will run from |
| it is easy to know the direction of the four axis. Most | | | | $855 - $1,290 depending on equipment choices. These |
| FPV uses small cameras providing a resolution of 380 | | | | prices include the Easy Star flyer. This cost develops |
| - 520 lines. | | | | over time as you progress in your photographic |
| Other Remote pilots prefer to use a small FPV | | | | efforts. Careful shopping can minimizes these |
| camera as mentioned above to fly the craft and have | | | | projections. Obviously cost totals increase by moving |
| a second on board camera to record the pictures | | | | to higher end equipment. |
| video. This is a combination of the most accepted | | | | Regardless of the approach taken the result will be the |
| approaches. Sometime the pilot triggers the camera | | | | ability to produce quality, high-level photographs of |
| other times it just records until reaching storage | | | | scenes, areas, and wildlife not available to most |
| capacity. This approach usually supports full pan | | | | photographers. |