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Helicopter Photography

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RyanWard

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Joined: Mar '10
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Hi All,

I am new to posting, but have been reading for some time. Great resource!

I have some questions about shooting from a helicopter that I may need to do in the next couple of weeks. I am a real estate agent and will be potentially getting an listing on as much as 80 acres.

I have a D60, 35mm 1.8, 50mm 1.8 (may be hard to use from the air with no auto focus), 18-55 kit, 55-200 kit and Tokina 11-16.

What I am reading is to keep the shutter around 1/1000th or higher so I will probably set some in aperture priority wide open and some in shutter priority at 1/1250th and auto ISO set at a maximum of ISO 800 (too much noise above that).

Questions:

A.) Will my setup be sufficient?
B.) Any tips?
C.) Lens/settings recommendations?
D.) Anything else?

I did a Google search and found a couple decent articles, but this seems the kind of thing that a good conversation may help me with. I understand the camera and know how to use all of the settings. I'm actually ready to upgrade, but, will likely wait until the next generation comes out and will get the D90 replacement. Not sure yet, we'll see.

Thanks in advance for your time and any thoughts/suggestions/experience/help anyone may have,

Ryan

Posted 3 years ago #
mb

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Depends on how high you intend to fly and how bright the day will be.
16-85 VR II would probably be better then anything you have right now, no need to switch lenses and active VR would minimize shaking if weather is not optimal … better camera would also help …

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Other than the vibrations and getting a steady shot I think the next "obstacle" in shooting from a chopper is probably shooting through the plexiglass. So shooting through an open window/door is best.

Here's a what a gyro for shooting from a helicopter looks like. It stabilizes your shots. Very expensive but you can also rent one.

http://www.kenyongyro.net/kenyongyro/id1.html

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Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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Yes I would agree a VR lens would help to reduce camera shake and the 16-85 VR II has a very good stabilizer. Also I would take the picture at app 1 pm area, unless you want things to have shadows

In sunlight you should have no problems getting faster than 1/1000s speed at F8 area at 400 ISO.

Remember the f16 exposure rule: On a sunny day with ISO 400 film(DLSR ISO setting) and aperture at f/16, gives a shutter speed of app 1/400. So F8 would result in app 1/2000s speed at 400ISO and F8 is ideally sharper on most lenses

That is all ;~)

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
RyanWard

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Joined: Mar '10
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...better camera...I agree. I need better focus, white balance, more control and would love a little better high ISO performance, but I'm waiting for next generation. In real estate, I could find a few decent uses for video and would rather have it built in to the camera as long as there is no compromise to the picture quality. Video seems a little weak right now and so I am hoping to eek out the rest of the year with the D60.

Most of my shots seem pretty decent even at 8 X 10 and think I could get a little bigger without a loss in quality. More than enough for internet marketing and I think I could get something decent for the high end print. My partner is going up with a film camera (N60) and so we will have some higher res shots from that as well. She has done it before with the film camera and seems to be ok. I've been spending money on glass like the 2 primes and Tokina 11-16 rather than a body. With new bodies likely coming, seems like a good time to at least wait and see how much better they may be than the D90 (if that's one that gets replaced).

16-85 seems sort of steep $$$ for a lens that really only replaces the 18-55 and doesn't shoot FX (not that I am prepared to make that upgrade yet). Maybe I'll see if I can pick up a used one.

The gyro looks great, but would probably buy a new body where I could crank up the ISO to shoot at 1/1000th instead of spending the money on a rental. Maybe I could justify the upgrade purchase to he wife. Hmm...

Posted 3 years ago #
RyanWard

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Just noticed the 1 p.m. suggestion. 1 p.m. better than dusk? Only problem with late as I may need the light and I could tun out of time....ok - midday is best...got it. Thank you.

Posted 3 years ago #
jonnyapple

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Joined: May '09
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I think you should be fine with a D60. Does your 18-55 have VR? That would be helpful.

I wish someone wanted to fly me in a helicopter:
me: Could you just fly this thing over closer to that canyon over there?
pilot: But that's not part of the property.
me: Yours not to question why, pilot. Maybe someone would like to know what they'll live close to.

Posted 3 years ago #
RyanWard

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Joined: Mar '10
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Yes the 18-55 has VR...

I have to admit, it's going to be quite exciting. The back of the property has a large lake and we will have a good bit of time to direct him to different areas. I hope we are allowed to fly low. Then we are going to fly around to local golf courses and amenities to take photos too! I can't wait..

So no other items? I was at first a little concerned about the camera, but I think I should be ok.

The 16-85 would certainly give me better range without swapping out lenses. I'd very much like to get a chopper with no doors. Better for pictures and I imagine more exhilarating :)

Posted 3 years ago #
NSXType-R

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I'm not exactly sure what you would be shooting, but doesn't the 55-200 seem like a better choice?

Again, if you're shooting landscapes, then yeah, you'd want the wide angle. I haven't done any shooting from high up, so I really don't know.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Joined: May '09
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The longer the lens zoom the less stability even with VR. A helicopter can be a very bumpy ride. I've seen people with D3's and a gyro so don't think a "better" camera will give you "better" results. If you plan on doing shots at over 1/1000th then you'll need plenty of daylight. This is where the gyro comes in and allows you to go for slightly lower shutter speeds which is helpful if your not shooting with the high noon sun.

I'd still be more concerned about whether or not I'd be shooting through a plexiglass window.

Posted 3 years ago #
RyanWard

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Joined: Mar '10
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Mostly it will be a large house - think mansion and the gorounds surrounding it. High noon would be good because any angle/side of the house should expose - I think. Problem is I won't really know unitl I go.

My partner said she shoot with film so she would be in the same ISO range and her camera only sghoots up to 1/1000th. As long as we can get close and the focal length isn't too long where I need the 55-200, I THINK it should be ok.

I'll have to see, but I there will only be 3 of us in the heli so we should be able to get him to go turn it around and shoot through windows - although I'm not sure.

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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RyanWard said:
Just noticed the 1 p.m. suggestion. 1 p.m. better than dusk? Only problem with late as I may need the light and I could tun out of time....ok - midday is best...got it. Thank you.

I think you want to have less shadows, to me that would be looking the best.

Don't worry about gyro, just hang outside the door, but don't fall down ;~)

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
RyanWard

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Joined: Mar '10
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Don't fall out - eek...

I'm not sure exactly what lenses I'll end up using in the heli, but, the Tokina 11-16 was not going to be one of them so I went out today and bought the Tamron 10-24. I haven't had much of a chance to use it yet, but, it auto focuses which is nice and the added length on the long end is nice and usable. Now I'll probably sell the Tokina if the images on the Tamron look fairly sharp at 100% on my monitor.

Thank you to everyone for all of the help.

Anyone have luck selling on Craigslist?

Posted 3 years ago #
RyanWard

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Joined: Mar '10
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Oops - meant to hit edit. Sorry...

Posted 3 years ago #
SBGrad

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Joined: May '09
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Take the 55-200, you'll need it, unless the heli can fly VERY low. Earlier this month I was on a Zeppelin flight over San Diego, and more often than not I had my 80-200mm on the camera. We were at roughly 1000', not sure how low you'll be able to go. You should talk to the pilot BEFORE you meet him, find out what altitudes he can/will fly at. You can also ask about open windows/doors, although you couldn't pay me to shoot out an open door without a safety harness.

I took a 12-24, 35-70 and the 80-200, used all 3, but like I said, the 80-200 was used when I really wanted to zoom on something. With the 12-24, at 1000' I was getting vistas of most of downtown San Diego. You can view the pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/18842924@N03/sets/72157623846689470/

Have fun, and be sure to tell us about your flight after it's over.

Posted 3 years ago #
RyanWard

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Joined: Mar '10
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Great shots. Thanks for the tips. Real world experience helps. I'll bring my bag and talk with the pilot. I don't know how low we can fly, but, he landed a helicopter in his yard last week for a reception. Crazy.

On a side note, I returned the Tamron 10-24 I bought as it was terribly soft. I set up my tripod and took a photo wide open with it and my Tokina 11-16. No comparison. The Tokina is worlds better and you can see the difference at about 50% image size. At 100% it's night and day better. Sometimes you have to see it to understand.

Posted 3 years ago #

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Helicopter Photography

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