Camera weight on heli

[helimadness]

Hi All.

Looking at a camera for several applications including maybe sticking on my heli.
I found one I want and its 1/3rd the price of a go pro but 191 grams. Is that going to be way to heavy for my heli? Figure the Goblin wont care but the 500 might?
2.5 x the weight of a go pro.

FULL HD sports camera HAT20 (HAT20) - China Full hd sports camera, Camshot

Cheers

[ghost2212]

I wouldn't think the 500 would care about that weight if your aiming to just use it for filming stuff rather than trying to 3d with it on.

[Peper]

I've seen 450 size helis carrying go pro's (without case) pefectly flyable,
So your 500 should't mind a few more grams at all, just ensure you locate the camera the closest to the Main shaft axis as possible or you will have to play with batteries locations

[franky975]

More weight probably just make it more stable? Just think if it would be an extra 3s 2200 underneath the main shaft. Should be ok.

[Peper]

More weight probably just make it more stable? Just think if it would be an extra 3s 2200 underneath the main shaft. Should be ok.

I agree with More weight more stable, the only concern here is if the weight is placed at the correct place so CG is good, also to keep in mind that there will be more forces applied to the shaft bearings and other components generaly, also a bit more load on the electrics...
Nothing that can't be sorted with setting up a shorter flight timer and sensible stick management

[franky975]

Well i was meant of course place it to keep the CoG. The sorter flight time is the toll of the heavier AUW. If the flight time would be more important i would go with a hexa or opto copter. I have myself a quad. It flies almost as good on 4000mah lipo as on 2200mah.

[cjm180]

This is an old thread, but to put some numbers in.

I designed a rig to accept a digital camera back in 2005 when 'compact' cameras were not so compact. the rig i used mounded underneath a raptor 50v2. I made an aluminium plate to replace the carbon fibre one underneath the heli with a small fixing directly under the main shaft for the camera rig. The rig was driven with a second tx and rx. it could pan, tilt, soon in and out and operate the shutter with 4 servos. It also had a video transmitter and a lipo battery to power it all in addition to everything else. And extended legs.

Anyways before i made the rig, i had a copy of autodesk inventor that is 3d modelling software. I drew all components and assembled the rig onscreen. Inventor then told me the weights and CoG of the rig. The complete rig including camera was estimated to be around 1.1kg. I didn't think my stock raptor 50 could lift such a weight. So off to reflex XTR, pulled up my heli and adjusted the model weight. I got up to 3kg of extra weight before the heli would not get off the ground on the sim. Again, not believing this, i tied 2 x 1.5kg bars to the base of my raptor, and sure enough it lifted it. Only thing was it would climb unto about 1m from the ground and then would not climb any higher, or just out of ground effect. So i figured that was the limit. So to summarise, once i got the rig complete and fitted it flew with around 1.1kg (if my memory serves me correct). no problem

Kr
Craig

[debrooker]

I had a DIY rig, together with camera was approx 600g. My Trex 500 and Gaui 425 could handle the weight, so long as you don't want to do any onboard 3Ding

[Rossoroth]

I think that in general with the heli's nowadays the amount of lift we can get from them - especially in order to carry out hard 3d is a lot more than it used to be. They make them really light so that the blades can throw them around without any issues. Mount a stocky camera to it and all you are doing is potentially changing the heli's purpose, from 3d to AP
If you want it for 3d then you probably want to spend the money on the better lighter gear as this is how the heli was designed but for AP I think most helis from 450 and up could lift a standard camera and 500/550 could probably cope with an slr.

[helimadness]

Yeah they seem to be able to carry plenty just fine.
Over the last year I have been playing with FPV a bit. A mate I fly helis with is right into aerial filming and has a DJIS800 and S1000 with very nice but expensive setup. Amazing pictures.
I have been looking at building a Hex coptor and getting a more basic gimbal. A DJI 550 hex frame clone is super basic and almost free they are so cheap. Just brought a Zaze32 controller for $50 which looks like an amazing bit of kit for the price. Top reviews everything I have seen. So all up cost for the flying hex well under $200 (not inc lipos have a collection of them) Compare that to a trex 550 for instance and about 1/5th the price and a better tool for the job. No brainer.

then the camera rig. This seems to be where the money is. Looking at a brushless 3 axis gimbal to put under it. Problem is worth about 10x what the hex is. Still more research to do there.

So for now the heli are staying as helis and loving them the way they are :-)

Cheers

[Rossoroth]

you can get a F550 flamewheel artf with a H3-2D gimbal for £500 still under the price of a 550
Build Your Own Drone DJI Naza M V2 GPS + H3-2D Brushless Gimbal + F550 ARTF Flame Wheel Kit £499.00Fast & Free Delivery in the UK, Official UK dealer for DJI Innovations products.
DJI Naza M V2 is also an awesome bit of kit

[cjm180]

However if u have a nitro Heli and a gopro how to u reduce the vibrations

[Rossoroth]

I believe you can get dampeners, or you will have to invest in a higher specced gimbal