Depending on the perspective you want, a "skyjack" may work for you.Those are the platforms that workers use when installing/repair various height oriented projects.Some are able to extend to great heights,are safe for the crew and persons on the ground,able to be moved easily,etc.
http://www.skyjackinc.com/

Here's a couple of other groups related to AP:

http://www.helifreak.com/forum-83.html

http://www.runryder.com/helicopter/f25p1/

I think in the latter link, someone has some great footage of a Sony HC1 and he is a skilled pilot - pretty impressive.

This was the specific thread I was thinking of, but I don't think that the HC1.wmv file is available:

http://www.runryder.com/helicopter/t...?highlight=hc1

I've been flying the Bergen Observer and recently the Bergen EB specifically built and set up for aerial videography. We use a front mount system that we fly with a FX1, HC3, and GL2. It is completely vibration isolated.

We can fly in moderate winds to 20mph without too much difficulty.
We use a 2.4ghz video downlink for the camera person to operate the 2 axis camera mount.

The helicopters are about 5.5 feet long, weigh up to 23 pounds in flight, can fly faster than you'd ever need, and are very reliable and don't drop out of the sky.

The pilot I am training with has flown for James Bond, Van Helsing, Harry Potter, and other productions. These aircraft, when utilized by a trained professional, yield footage otherwise impossible to obtain.

Re: Aerial shots
 

I just got an offer to shoot flood footage from a hot air balloon tomorrow.
I've never been in one, not even mentioning shooting from one, so do you have any tips or experience I could learn from?
Thanks!

Re: Aerial shots
 

Balloons can typically be flown at pretty low altitudes so you should be able to shoot pretty wide. Nearly all flying is done near either sunrise or sunset so plan for the light. It's a very smooth and stable platform. Have fun and post some footage.

Re: Aerial shots
 

Some of the best stuff I've seen using an Hekacopter (electric RC heli), a stock panny GH2 and some very skilled hands:



Similar setup using a 5D MkII

Re: Aerial shots
 

Phil, what is the current status of these radio controlled platforms for commercial use? Are they still in a legal limbo with the FAA? (I noted that the guy posting 2 up is doing a balloon shoot and he's outside the USA so not of interest to him.)

Re: Aerial shots
 

Before taking off, talking with everyone that will be in the balloon about holding still at times. The basket can be very wobbly (not scary wobbly, just that the movement of people shifting their feet can be transferred to your camera).

The best shots are in close proximity to the ground. From ground level on up to a couple of hundred feet. When you get up several hundred feet, everything looks pretty static and the effect is somewhat lost, although still aerial.

I've shot handheld once, and with a tripod another time. Definitely got tons of good stuff using the tripod, and asking the others (only 3 of us) to hold still at times...perfectly still...

Re: Aerial shots
 

Jim - Not sure about that one. Just really in research phase of this stuff. Just getting into flying the small RC heli's for practice now. The two guys around here that have the proper gear for this type of shooting mainly do smaller productions and the shooting is usually in semi-remote areas with virtually nobody around. So they seem to operate on the "don't ask, don't tell" method.Booking heli time is super expensive around these parts ($1000 - $1200 /hr) so the RC route is very interesting to me. However, much of my shooting would be over water and in 20-30 mph of trade winds. So, I'm not sure there's any other option for me personally than sitting and hanging out of a real bird. At least until Red Bull starts throwing a bunch a money at us and we can go this route:

http://www.brainfarmcinema.com/cineflex_hd.aspx

Re: Aerial shots
 

I liked the Element 52 video, Phil. Here is some more footage taken with the 5D and Hexacopter:

Re: Aerial shots
 

Amazing! The more I see of what those guys are doing with these things, the more I want one!