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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

1st time helicopter use...

R44

R44

I recently shot in an R44 while flying about the Puget Sound (San Juan Island). Rear door off , feet dangling out the side , there is not much space. We used the helicopter in a few shots, so I used the Red on the ground, from a boat, and while in the air 5d. Wider lenses def. Help absorb some of the movement, and keeping the body somewhat in the opening of the aircraft cause the wind can grab matte box, shades etc... Shooting off speed ( slo-mo) 60 frames would help as well. Hope that helps a bit. -Jeff
 
If you are shooting on a helicopter use the RED Ram!
 
Just my opinion, but here it is.

I would refuse to shoot out of a Robinson based on safety. You don't have the tail authority to deal with difficult situations. Shooting out of helicopters is always dangerous. You are always asking the air craft, and the pilot to do things they normally wouldn't do. When I was younger I thought shooting out of Helicopters was great fun. Now it gives me the creeps. I have had some close calls and emergency landings. I fly and build RC helicopters, maybe I know too much about how they work.

All that being said, I have shot with tyler mounts, hand held bungie rig etc. , pretty much what ever you can think of. I think the smoothest Helicopter footage I ever shot was sitting on the floor indian style handheld in a jayhawk with the door open, so if you've got balls and just want to do it give it a shot.

The easy rig will just be a pain in the ass. Use a short handheld zoom, cradle the camera with your body, and have fun.

Nick
 
If you can strip the camera down until you can hold it in your hands with your arms somewhat outstretched in front of you, with the side facing you, lens pointed out the ship and down-- that's the best way to isolate for vibration in the R44.

In the photo, you get to see the size of the Red One in an R44. Matt Steinauer is operating in this picture and sitting to Matt's left is our 1st AC, Nate Lipp. This is the config without a mount. I think the footage is posted on Matt's website: mattsteinauer.com.

Matt was able to get some really good footage from this sortie, but I think it still had to be stabilized a bit in post. As you can see the new Epic form-factor is vastly superior in situations like this-- I can't wait for it to get here. The other R44 is from a shoot where we used a mini gyro. Tight fit.
 

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Shawn Nelson said:
...

First, has anyone tried using an Easyrig? I barely have the "budget" to pay the pilot to get the helo up in the air, so I can't afford to rent a gyro system. I was thinking that my Easyrig 3, along with stabalization in post, should be a good result. Has anyone else done this?

...
Click to expand...

exactly this I have done recently

look here:

http://picasaweb.google.de/multimedia.alex/HELIWA#5495560272557990786
http://www.vimeo.com/13172896 (with short description)

bg
alex
 
I must be missing something, or cost of charter must be very different here in the UK. I've never found it dramatically more expensive to get a 'real' filming heli with external gyro mount etc compared to just booking any old heli with a pilot who's game.

Maybe you're getting a much better deal than I ever have for the flight, but I've only once made the compromise and regretted it in the final outcome as I had much less useable material...
 
John Marchant said:
I must be missing something, or cost of charter must be very different here in the UK. I've never found it dramatically more expensive to get a 'real' filming heli with external gyro mount etc compared to just booking any old heli with a pilot who's game.

Maybe you're getting a much better deal than I ever have for the flight, but I've only once made the compromise and regretted it in the final outcome as I had much less useable material...
Click to expand...

I can get a full hour of flight in a Robinson R44 for $550 USD.

I expect a real filming heli with external to be above $2000, if I could even find one in the area (I dont think any are in the area).
 
Robinson's are piston powered, plentiful (the factory is in Torrance) and priced accordingly here in LA (around $500 per hour).

The turbine powered A-Star, Jet Ranger and EuroCopter Helo's use Jet A and cost thousands per flight hour plus the mounts. $2000 an hour would be a good deal.

For the cost-conscious DP, experience flying in a Robinson can be invaluable.
 
Having been in a helicopter crash 6 years ago while filming (pilot broke his back, I was out of action for 2 weeks), I would not recommend using an easy rig. If the helo gets into trouble, your chances of hurting yourself badly are def increased if wearing something like an easy rig. Safety first when filming in helicopters. Check your insurances..... normal policies will not cover you in helicopters.
 
Hi Roberto. Pilot hasn't flown again, I didn't work for 2 weeks. Badly bruised and twisted up. I flew out of the door on the first impact and was, according to witnesses, bashing around on the outside of the heli as it bounced along the side of a hill "like a puppet on a string". The footage from the camera I was hand holding makes for interesting viewing.....
 
@Shawn
It was very relaxing. After a few minutes I felt very confident with this setup. But beforehand I made some tests at the roof of my Defender to find the optimal adjustments for the hangingpoint on the RED and drag force.
[Disclaimer: I´m doing hangliding since 20 years, I love the air and love the force which pulls on my harness (so in the Heli), I know what I´m doing, at my own risk. And yes, sometimes it scares the sh_t out...]

The only advice I can give is when the Heli is on low speed or stands in the air, do a small pan with your cam so that the heli doesn´t impose its motion to the camera. Otherwise it will introduce some wobbling.
(and don´t forget the foam and gaffa for your seat)

@John Marchant
In our territory one hour flight with an AS350 is around 1000 - 2500 Euro, a cinflexx hour is around 5500 Euro (and than you have to deal with HD-Cam, which adds another cost (400.-) for renting)

bg
alex
 
Tyler makes a portable stabilizer that rents for about $350 a day that works surprisingly well.
Pictures here:http://gallery.me.com/egonstephanjr#100333&bgcolor=black&view=grid

Video: http://gallery.me.com/egonstephanjr#100317
CVT in Miami has this one available for rent.

A Robinson isn't the ideal helicopter but sometimes you have to make do. There are also some options for using the Red Drive as well. Egon at CVT has a pelican case that he custom made for the red drive. It's suspended inside the box in a foam cube and then the pelican case has fans built in it to keep the drive cool. Then you use an extended drive cable included with the box. He rents all this stuff. CVT Miami.
 
There is the option of sitting in front, next to the pilot with the door out. If you sit just behind the front glass you can keep you camera out of the wind and the chopper out of frame. That worked for me when in the R44. I shot with an Sony XDCam and stabilized in post. 80% rubbish, 20% niceness. Result: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MP0fmB8gJ4 (just before pack shot)
 
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