Getting a high quality image

[JezUK1]

I know that I will never get a very high quality picture on my GoPro 3 so I'm looking for something better for my full FPV Quad.

What is the best camera to use for high-quality images? I guess it would need to have a life output for first person view just like the GoPro. What do the professionals use?

[KevDavies]

The pros use Go Pros mate! Dani R would be a good one to ask because thats what he does, but if you look at most of the motorsports on board cameras, theyre all go pros. There are some exceptions, but I say if a go pro is good enough for Eurosport etc its good enough fer me

[dani_r]

Getting a high quality image

It depends on what you want to actually do. Just take photos or video as well?

You'll need a Hexa at a minimum to carry anything decent. People have had good results from Nex5 cameras, I think the Panasonic GP3(?) is also a good one. I use a DSLR for stills and a Sony for video work. Bearing in mind I'm running a 1200mm airframe running on 10,000mah 6S.

If its for your own stuff, a Go-Pro 3 Black will be ok for a while, but it has its limitations of course.

[debrooker]

i would take a look on Heli Freak, as they have a very active aerial photo/video section

[groupcaptainbonzo]

The best results are from a Canon (or Nikon Equiv) EOS 1 Dx (£3000) with a 24 - 70mm f2.8l lens (£2500) slung under a machine that will lift about 3 sacks of coal ! £2000 +. So a gopro looks pretty good for now ....

[iceuk]

If you got some cash to burn but don't want to go absolutely crazy a Cannon 70D which will be released in September looks like a brilliant camera all round for Pictures and Video, Price will be about £1000 mark

Here is a review of Camera Canon EOS 70D Camera - Hands-On Preview

This will be my next camera but not until price drops as I have a nikon 5100 atm.

[jimmyhorns]

The best results are from a Canon (or Nikon Equiv) EOS 1 Dx (£3000) with a 24 - 70mm f2.8l lens (£2500) slung under a machine that will lift about 3 sacks of coal ! £2000 +. So a gopro looks pretty good for now ....

This isnt strictly true....

Getting good quality images is not only down to the camera, but also the platform.

Ideally you would want a camera that weighs nothing, a lense that weights nothing, and a mount that transmits absolutely zero vibrations from your platform to the camera.

Then you need a gimbal that introduces no vibrations, has no lag, props that are perfectly matched and perfectly balanced, and motors that are perfectly balanced, with bearings that never wear...

Then there is the argument/discussion about whether full frame sensors, or cut down sensors such as the APS-C (as you will find in most DSLRs) or even smaller, is better, and there is some merit in this when it comes to vibrations and the quality of glass that is used in the lense....

Then comes the lens, fixed focal length or zoom, if its a zoom, how are you going to control it whilst flying? Expensive glass tends to be heavy glass. Cheaper (and lighter) glass will work better on a smaller sensor.

I suspect that you could get better results from a mid range compact camera, mounted well, on a well balanced platform, than you would get from the worlds most expensive camera, mounted badly on a platform that isnt balanced......


If you are not getting good video from your gopro, then there is something wrong with one of the things listed above...

[iceuk]

This isnt strictly true....

Getting good quality images is not only down to the camera, but also the platform.

Ideally you would want a camera that weighs nothing, a lense that weights nothing, and a mount that transmits absolutely zero vibrations from your platform to the camera.

Then you need a gimbal that introduces no vibrations, has no lag, props that are perfectly matched and perfectly balanced, and motors that are perfectly balanced, with bearings that never wear...

Then there is the argument/discussion about whether full frame sensors, or cut down sensors such as the APS-C (as you will find in most DSLRs) or even smaller, is better, and there is some merit in this when it comes to vibrations and the quality of glass that is used in the lense....

Then comes the lens, fixed focal length or zoom, if its a zoom, how are you going to control it whilst flying? Expensive glass tends to be heavy glass. Cheaper (and lighter) glass will work better on a smaller sensor.

I suspect that you could get better results from a mid range compact camera, mounted well, on a well balanced platform, than you would get from the worlds most expensive camera, mounted badly on a platform that isnt balanced......


If you are not getting good video from your gopro, then there is something wrong with one of the things listed above...

Instead of writing a essay regarding someone's opinon on what would be a suitable camera why not do something constructive and help the OP decide what would be a good camera by telling them what you would use and why.

[r4nd0m]

I think rather than a black which does 4k at 15fps only the silver does it quite well - at least for me it does ...

[jimmyhorns]

Instead of writing a essay regarding someone's opinon on what would be a suitable camera why not do something constructive and help the OP decide what would be a good camera by telling them what you would use and why.

If you bothered to read my post, you would see that I listed a large number of thing other than the camera that need to be sorted/checked .

My point was that simply bolting on an expensive camera isnt necessarily going to give you the answer.

I am relatively new to the multi-rotor game, but have still done my research. Im not new to photography however, and the idea that buying a more expensive camera is going to get you a better image is how the industry continues to make easy money from the foolish.

Dont even get me started on what constitutes a good image, because thats half the problem. You need to learn your photography basics if you want to get good at photography, whether it is ground based or aerial, not buy a more expensive camera.

[groupcaptainbonzo]

My My,, What a lot of trolls there are ! This is the original question (Just in case anyone is interested in actually reading it)...... I know that I will never get a very high quality picture on my GoPro 3 so I'm looking for something better for my full FPV Quad.

What is the best camera to use for high-quality images? I guess it would need to have a life output for first person view just like the GoPro. What do the professionals use? There you go then girls. JUST CAMERA . NO balance. tweak etc. Suddenly, some of the original replies appear to make sence then.....

[jimmyhorns]

Professionals dont use a very heavy DSLR on a small FPV quad. As Dani-r mentioned, you need something more substantial for that

They use GoPros.... take a look at team black sheep on youtube to see the kind of quality you can get out of a gopro with a Properly set up machine. Then look at all the crappy fpv videos shot with a gopro.

The difference has nothing to do with the camera, its about the setup, and knowing how to use the camera.

[Zeeflyboy]

Getting a high quality image

While you can get very nice video out of a GoPro, as a stills camera I find it severely lacking (I'm using a Hero3 Black)

A quad is ever going to lift anything huge. Best bet in my opinion is go for a mirrorless like the Canon EOS-M or Sony Nex-3/5. Small, relatively light, high quality images.

I would probably lean towards the Sony for FPV, it also takes some killer video (so does the canon, but I find it hunts focus more often).

[panosg]

Instead of writing a essay regarding someone's opinon on what would be a suitable camera why not do something constructive and help the OP decide what would be a good camera by telling them what you would use and why.

Not sure what your problem is, but jimmyhorns "essay" was very helpful!
So what makes you think your post was better?

[asomaro]

I get very good (but not astounding) results from my Go Pro 3 black using a brushless gimbal on a very well set up 550 hex. I also use a CX730 for video or my Canon 650d for stills on my vulcan hex, so it kind of depends on budget and what results you can afford.

One of the new camera's that I'm waiting for is the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera which at approx £750 is a truly awesome cinema quality camera and it weighs just 355g (without lens). If you are looking for a very high end camera that weighs very little then start saving for this one, imo (as long as the promises are true) then it offers significant value for money.

Cheers,