I've had great luck using a three-legged RAM mount system. Suction cups (RAM items) attached to a camera work well in many locations on the plane. Zero jello. And very secure installation (if a glossy/smooth surface for the suction cups). Pic shown has a screwed ball at the aft location (for use in the tie down).Bryan - most occurrences of the "jelly" effect are related to vibration and most of the vibration is from the engine.
One thing I still have not done if go out and fly at a series of engine RPM while recording so I can see which settings cause the most/least effects.
Since every aircraft is different, with different resonance, and different camera mounting positions, I don't think any one aircraft's data will help any other aircraft.
What Jello effect are you talking about? The one I'm familiar with happens to the whole image when the camera moves or vibrates. In that case, you need a more rigid mounting system.
What is interesting is that increasing the frame rate and adding an ND filter would be counter producing results - one is speeding the shutter rate and one is slowing it.
Based on my experience with a Drift camera on my Legal Eagle XL (LOTS of airframe vibration!), I think we are getting "shutter speed" and "frame rate" confused. The two terms are not referring to the same camera mechanics.
Hope this helps,
Based on my experience with a Drift camera on my Legal Eagle XL (LOTS of airframe vibration!), I think we are getting "shutter speed" and "frame rate" confused. The two terms are not referring to the same camera mechanics.
I have my Drift camera set to 60 fps because it reduces shutter roll (jello) effects. But the camera shutter speed can vary while still operating at 60 fps. Here are real-world examples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9iforGIIQ0
This vid was shot in bright daylight at 60 fps. Notice the prop artifacts caused by the scanning of the shutter.
Here is a video shot in low evening light at 60 fps, notice how the prop is now blurring instead of "chopping":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndSqKW94WCQ
The reason the prop blur is enhanced in low light is because the camera decreased shutter speed in order to achieve proper exposure. The frame rate was 60 fps in both cases, it didn't change, but shutter speed did change.
Density filters have been recommended in order to increase prop blur by slowing the shutter speed. But high frame rate is the best method for reducing rolling due to airframe vibration. Using a neutral density filter will not impact frame rate, that is a setting in the camera menu.
Hope this helps,
Sam,
You're right I was using the terms interchangeably...I think. Thanks for picking up on this and trying to straighten me out. Something was bugging me from my SLR and film days but I had not put my finger on it. Let see if I understand the difference.
When I set the frame rate to 60 FPS, the I will always get 60 FPS regardless of the lighting. What the camera will change (in order to get the right exposure) is the "shutter speed." I'm further guessing that the shutter speed is really the speed that the progressive scan that makes up one frame is completed. I'm going to stick my neck out and say it sounds to me like, if you're shooting at 60 frames per second, the scan rate (or shutter speed) had to be 1/60th of a second (and maybe a bit faster to make up for lag) or faster. If the light was bright the scan rate (i.e., shutter speed) could go up several or many times the previous 1/60th of a second rate.
In bright light, I can imagine the scan rate may be 1/1000 sec or faster to get the right exposure but, the frame rate will still be 60 FPS. In dim light the scan rate (or shutter speed) would drop to 1/60 sec (or a bit faster) and fast moving stuff would be blurred.
Do I have the difference between frame rate and shutter speed correct?
No, I can't see frame rate exceeding 60 fps. The software we use to produce videos is designed (per menu selection) for a specific frame rate (30 fps, 60 fps, etc).
I think the frame rate is locked per the setting in the camera menu. But shutter speed can vary and still not impact frame rate--a high shutter speed will just mean a particular scan line was exposed for a briefer period of time than a scan line with a slower shutter speed.
Shutter speed and frame rate are not related (except maybe on the slow end) if my understanding of camera mechanics is correct (but still willing to learn after 32 years in the photography biz...).
I think we're meaning the same thing now with the terms frame rate and shutter speed/scan speed. FWIW, the Drift Ghost S will do 60 FPS @1080p, 120 FPS @720p and 240 FPS @WVGA. Not to debate you, but it doesn't seem like 60 FPS is a limit these days. What I don't know is if that's a spec to sell cameras or if that's something valuable to have.
Thanks for helping me get the concepts straight. It will be helpful as I explore what the camera can do.
Question here from a complete videography idiot... Does the new Garmin camera use this same type of image sensor? Is it as likely to experience this same type of jello/warping/whatever image distortion?
Question here from a complete videography idiot... Does the new Garmin camera use this same type of image sensor? Is it as likely to experience this same type of jello/warping/whatever image distortion?
At some point I'll buy a camera with the express intent of using it to capture first engine runs, first flights and who-knows-what further down the line. I'd rather fork out money for something that's going to produce a decent image in our little niche aviation application, so all advice is gratefully received.
Sam, you build or buy the Legal Eagle?
All excellent info! Thanks !!!Built it:
http://eaglexl-58.com
And the EAA webinar detailing its construction:
http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=2634527737001
Fun little plane.
One of VAF sponsors (Aircraft Spruce) sells a filter that claims to remove the annoying propeller distortion.
Anyone have any experience with it?