Hexacopter Aerial Videography.

Just bought a small RC helicopter to start getting the feel of these machines. This things take shots that are impossible with helicopters and ultralights. Imagine following a bear with one of these things.
SEE THIS VIDEO: Imagine 3D shots flying through the branches of trees. The guy is using LCD screen goggles connected to a wireless receiver to see the flight path of the hexacopter.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-pz39a6_q0

That's brilliant, thanks for posting! Are you confident you can manage the same kind of navigation/steering?!

This must be like learning how to ride a motorcycle. You start with a Vespa scooter and work your way up until you can ride a Hardley. I see a lot of income potential here. Some of these hexacopters have autopilots connected to a GPS and some of the new ones are weatherproof meaning that they can fly under the rain. They even come with gyroscope mounts for a camera and can handle cameras as heavy as the Canon 5D MkII.

Hexacopter with GoPro Hero


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL_62mo65TA

Where to buy:
http://www.quadrocopter.us/

The use of a RC helicopter has great stock potential but also tremendous commercial photo / video applications. Best of luck.

I've been looking into one of these for a while but so far have held off mostly because of cost. The pilot in the Cameroon vid has some serious skills.

It will definitely take a bit of practice! What would a good quality, already assembled, model cost? I saw a price of 400 euros at the maker's website but that was only for the parts.

I'de buy one in a heart beat for 400 EU. Almost all of the multi motor ones start at $7000 for a small basic model and one that will carry a Canon 7D is more in the $12,000 and up range.

And you will crash several of them before you have the guts to install a real 7D or 5DII on them. Trust me.

I have several hundred hours flying RC aircraft and gliders, never got into helicopters. Indeed don't do it unless you are willing to crash and destroy it on the first flight.

Unlike RC Helicopters, From what I have read and seen, I think that the GPS hexacopter models are so sophisticated that if you get into trouble by pressing a button they will just hover at the altitude and location you specified and then you can pick them up with your hands. I am more concerned about how they handle wind. But it seem that they are pretty stable in fairly high winds.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCHSxDw02dQ

I have had more request of aerial shots from small hotels than 360 all-around photography. Helicopters are too expensive and cannot fly close to the hotels without creating havoc with all the wind.