Helicopter Cam @ the Players

[nevets88]

If you look at my past posts, I've talked about flying cameras.

Here is a crude version of what I was imagining being used for spectator shots this year. Eventually, probably not in my lifetime though, flying cameras will be good enough to track drives and iron shots -> cranes will be a thing of the past -> golf broadcasts get cheaper -> fewer commercials, ha ha. But seriously, maybe flying cameras will allow us to see ball flights like we never have before.

[Chas]

I'm quite sure you're right.  The DoD may have them already, but of course each one would cost $5M.

Come to think of it, if the DoD has them, the Iranians prolly have one as well ....

[dhanson]

Originally Posted by Chas

I'm quite sure you're right.  The DoD may have them already, but of course each one would cost $5M.

Come to think of it, if the DoD has them, the Iranians prolly have one as well ....

they do - they're called UAV's.

[iacas]

I love how due to the framerate the blades look like they're bowing and barely spinning. :)

[mchepp]

Cool idea. I think it would be better if were mounted on a blimp like device rather than a helicopter. The motor for the blades is too loud. A blimp like device could be quieter.

[nevets88]

Originally Posted by iacas

I love how due to the framerate the blades look like they're bowing and barely spinning. :)

I was wondering why it looked that way. Aren't movies 30fps? How come blades don't look that way in movies?

[brocks]

I was wondering why it looked that way. Aren't movies 30fps? How come blades don't look that way in movies?

They do, in a lot of movies. If you watch old movies with prop planes, or spoked wheels on stagecoaches, you'll see the same stroboscopic effects.

[mchepp]

I was wondering why it looked that way. Aren't movies 30fps? How come blades don't look that way in movies?

This is totally dependent on the camera taking the movie. Some will run at 24fps, some at 60fps, just depends on the camera. There are 2 affects that are taking place in this video.

One is rolling shutter which is the same affect as when guys post on here that their shaft is too whippy. That is responsible for the bowing affect. The second is sampling rate. The frequency of the blades are at just the right frequency for the camera to catch them only a few times as they go around. It is the same affect that you can see sometimes in movies when the tires of a car look like they are going backwards.