Epic on a Helicopter ride -27C

[Martin Weiss]

You really make me work for that beer

Try this one for a DIY solution that you can apply to some proper gloves.

(Source)

 

[Joachim Hoge]

The best solution I found are some Dynafit mittens intended for randonee skiing.
They have a triangular hole in the middle so you can get your fingers out and in quickly. Then I have very thin wool gloves that have fingers that work with touch screens

 

[Vesa Rönty]

I'll buy you a beer for sure if we end up in same bar some day

 

[Nick Pujic]

Just an update on this thread....was out last weekend shooting aerials with the Epic from a chopper. Went for the Steadicam setup with the 5" LCD for focus assist, with a battery belt clip and an AB 140 battery. Both the LCD and battery lasted at least the 2 hours we were in the air with no issues. No ghosting on the LCD (which wasn't the case using the OLED Bomb EVF).

The footage is spectacular. Thanks to all those who provided insight into how to do this in such extremes.
Cheers,

Nick

 

[Neil Dearman]

Man I have filmed in helicopters for aerial shots but the coldest time for us was fall and that even was rough for me. Brave man for doing that!!!

 

[Dustin Wilson]

Just an update on this thread....was out last weekend shooting aerials with the Epic from a chopper. Went for the Steadicam setup with the 5" LCD for focus assist, with a battery belt clip and an AB 140 battery. Both the LCD and battery lasted at least the 2 hours we were in the air with no issues. No ghosting on the LCD (which wasn't the case using the OLED Bomb EVF).

The footage is spectacular. Thanks to all those who provided insight into how to do this in such extremes.
Cheers,

Nick

Thanks for sharing Nick. Do you have any more photos of your setup? Just curious how you have the steadicam mounted. Is it mounted to you or the helicopter?

 

[Christopher Futcher]

Looks fun and not fun at the same time.

 

[Paramon Ivanovich]

Brave man for doing that!!!

Double brave for using Pilot gimbal !

 

[Nick Pujic]

Dustin, I'm wearing the steadicam. Then I'm harnessed to the chopper. When it's time to shoot I jump on the ski of the chopper and guide the camera in the desired direction. The results are superb! Check out the demo reel. All of it was shot without a gyro / cineflex type system. Cameras used include the Epic and Sony FS700

https://vimeo.com/60023121

Looks sketchy for sure but works like a charm!

 

[Nick Pujic]

Paramon, thanks The pilot gimbal is the only way to roll. #oldschool

 

[Brad Crawford]

How are you focusing with that thing strapped to you like that? Pretty small aperture and close to infinity and just leave it or are you tweaking focus before each 'shot' ?

 

[Lauri Kettunen]

Vesa, looks great! Red One has the nice feature that the camera body remains warm even when its terrible cold. In this respect, the best winter camera I've ever used. ;-) Epic is already more efficient and does not waste as much energy into heat.

When shooting in cold tend to use fleece gloves made for ice fishing --they do not have the fingertips-- and put these small hand warmer packages on both sides of my hands. This works out pretty well. Have found it important to warm both sides of hands as otherwise the veins transport the cold "under the jacket".

 

[Michael Brennan]

Went for the Steadicam setup

Nic I admire your can-do attitude.
Steadycam has been tried in choppers for thirty years and is regularly discounted as a technique primarily due to safety and poor quality results.
http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?showtopic=14331&hl=helicopter&page=2

The international director of sales says don't wear steadycam on a chopper.

http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?showtopic=13242&hl=helicopter

We always say in the workshops - for 25 years now - do not do this.

Garrett does think it's stupid to use Steadicam in a helicopter.

Nothing has changed, the results in my opinion are not worth the flight time and risk.
The idea of attaching the camera to a mobile articulated mass balanced platform then exposing it to slipstream and downdraft to try to achieve steady pictures is flawed.

The results are superb!

I'm sorry but I disagree, horizons are out most of the time and mid frequency wobble is disguised by high frame rate, which is a limitation.

In the interests of safety I urge others not to try this technique.

Also operating a large camera on the shoulder from the front seat of any helicopter and especially the Robinson, introduces a few more ways to get yourself killed in what is already a statistically hazardous task for cameramen.
Also in many countries the use of a non approved harness is illegal. (Carabiners are very difficult to self release when under load i.e. if you end up suspended)

Flying over water without a life vest and with a steadycam attached and without a quick release harness is to be avoided.

Lateral C of G is also affected when you stand on the skid and then exacerbated by hanging the camera out a few more feet.
If the pilot has to make a sharp turn you can easily have the skid twist from underneath you, happened to me, that was the 2nd last time I stood on a skid, the last time was when we had to make a precautionary landing as my weight on the skid induced a vibration. That was in a helicopter weighting a lot more than a R44.

with respect


Mike Brennan