Essentials to flying a Phantom 2 with a GoPro at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Most Recent Additions... > Flying Cameras

Flying Cameras
UAV, Helicam, and all other aerial videography topics.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old December 7th, 2014, 11:34 PM   #1
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Corvallis, OR
Posts: 67
Essentials to flying a Phantom 2 with a GoPro

Yo - there's a lot of options out there for accessories (like an FPV) to flying a Phantom 2/GoPro, so I put together a blog post that summarized what's worked for me for the past year. Might be of help to folks just getting started (or waiting for the DJI Inspire). A Drone for All Seasons: DJI Phantom 2 Tips for Aerial Filmmaking Gold | Alaska Video Shooter

Cheers,
Slavik
Slavik Boyechko is offline   Reply With Quote
Old December 8th, 2014, 01:26 PM   #2
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Horsham / United Kingdom
Posts: 328
Re: Essentials to flying a Phantom 2 with a GoPro

Hi Slavik,

That's great blog post and I'm sure it will be of great help to someone who's trying to get quality results out of a Phantom 2 - GoPro set up.

I'd personally go for a back pack. You can put it on your back whilst the phantom is stabilising itself and then you don't have to worry about leaving it unattended if you have to rush off after your UAV.

Apart from that I'd agree with everything else you've advised and what a shame you didn't publish it 6 months
ago!

Mark
Mark Dobson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old December 9th, 2014, 12:13 AM   #3
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Corvallis, OR
Posts: 67
Re: Essentials to flying a Phantom 2 with a GoPro

Thanks Mark! What backpack do you recommend?
Slavik Boyechko is offline   Reply With Quote
Old December 9th, 2014, 05:10 AM   #4
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Horsham / United Kingdom
Posts: 328
Re: Essentials to flying a Phantom 2 with a GoPro

Hi Slavic,

I've got the DJI Phantom 2 Vision Lightweight Back Packer Case. I got it from RC Geeks in Crawley UK.

https://www.rcgeeks.co.uk/accessorie...cker-case.html

This wouldn't offer much protection in an aircraft hold and you have to take the props off which doesn't take long but then it fits everything you need, batteries, FPV screen and RC controller.

I'm hoping that someone comes up with a backpack for the Inspire 1. Sure it will need to be bigger but it could be made of the same lightweight material.
Mark Dobson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old December 10th, 2014, 11:20 PM   #5
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC USA
Posts: 147
Re: Essentials to flying a Phantom 2 with a GoPro

Quote:
Originally Posted by Slavik Boyechko View Post
Yo - there's a lot of options out there for accessories (like an FPV) to flying a Phantom 2/GoPro, so I put together a blog post that summarized what's worked for me for the past year. Might be of help to folks just getting started (or waiting for the DJI Inspire). A Drone for All Seasons: DJI Phantom 2 Tips for Aerial Filmmaking Gold | Alaska Video Shooter

Cheers,
Slavik
Hey Slavik,

Great blog and info, I'm going to order all the recommended parts in your blog, Can you point me to where I can get instructions or videos on how to add those components? I just got a Hero Go Pro Black 4k camera, will it work with the Phantom 2 for FPV, and the Zenmuse G3-3d Gimbal?
Leon Kolenda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old December 11th, 2014, 01:09 PM   #6
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Horsham / United Kingdom
Posts: 328
Re: Essentials to flying a Phantom 2 with a GoPro

Hi Leon,

Sure the GoPro 4 works for FPV with this set up. I didn't have a problem fitting it to the gimbal although others have said you need to slightly modify the gimbal. There are loads of instructional videos on Youtube for installing various bits of kit onto the phantom 2.

I personally was disappointed with the quality of the image on the fpv screen but having all the flight data is very useful. I was just about to invest in the DJI lightbridge system, which is pretty expensive but very good, when the news broke about the Inspire 1. This comes with Lightbridge pre-installed, all you need to do is connect an iPad or similar or a LCD Monitor with an HDMI input ( lilliput ) and you have the complete works.

Its also worth bearing in mind that by the time you've added all these bits to a phantom, together with bunch of spare batteries, you are going in direction of the cost of an Inspire 1. Not that this will not be without it's quirks and I'm sure that many people will be buying replacement care gimbal units if they have a rough landing.

But at least you won't have a bunch of components and wires stuck onto the exterior of your UAV.

Here's a video shot with the same Phantom 2 FPV setup that Slavic has blogged about apart from the aerials.

Mark Dobson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old December 11th, 2014, 11:28 PM   #7
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC USA
Posts: 147
Re: Essentials to flying a Phantom 2 with a GoPro

Thanks for the info. I was wondering if everything was outside and hanging from the P2, Not my cup of tea!
Your video is interesting, You can see pretty nice detail, but in some ways it looks like a model neighborhood, or model train shoot. Is there any Post editing done, like stabilization, or motion speed changes?

How are you liking the Hero 4?
Leon Kolenda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old December 12th, 2014, 01:49 AM   #8
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Horsham / United Kingdom
Posts: 328
Re: Essentials to flying a Phantom 2 with a GoPro

Hi Leon,

Because the gopro image is very fisheyed it has been straightened out. However if you don't crop right in you can see the distortion at the edges. This is what gives this video the tilt/shift type effect.

Also it was filmed on the flat protune settings and colour corrected in FCPX, has sharpening applied and also a filter called Film Convert to further enhance the image. In retrospect this film is probably a bit over saturated. All of these stages are what I find necessary to improve the image from the gopro, which whilst being a very convenient lightweight HD camera is still not on a par with cameras with larger sensors.

Many people have started to replace the original gopro lenses with one that is less fish-eyed and the Inspire 1 has a lens with a narrower field of view.

Mark
Mark Dobson is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Most Recent Additions... > Flying Cameras

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:18 AM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network