Check this out, would you violate any laws flying this above a city skyline to take aerial photos?

 

only if you get caught

I think you could get away with it

 

I don't see whats wrong with it...by the way, is that yours??

No it isn't mine.  It was a photo I found on the internet and it gave me an idea.

Well I say go for it!  But make sure its YOUR camera...not mine!  :wink: :laugh:

For some reason, I have an image in my head of monte launching a helicopter off the Carew Tower observation deck, only for it to come crashing down in the middle of 5th St.

For some reason, I have an image in my head of monte launching a helicopter off the Carew Tower observation deck, only for it to come crashing down in the middle of 5th St.

 

... and Monte being escorted away in cuffs by Homeland Security, to become Jose Padilla's cellmate. :cry:

Uhm yeah, but first get some experience flying it.  From the videos I've seen of these things, their flights are bit frantic looking.

Pocket Wizard radio triggers have an advertised range of about 1,600ft.  The new versions cost about $400. for the necessary two units.  This would allow you to fire off the camera from a significant distance and height.  However, you would certainly want to do it on a windless day as camera movement obviously degrades image quality. 

 

Other tricks for getting the camera up high include buying an old car with a steel roof that you can stand on (many landscape photographers have done this, some even building platforms so that their tripods will have a firm footing), putting the camera on a monopod and holding the monopod above your head easily reaching 10ft. (oddly I don't see people do this too often), and last but not least is simply carrying a folding six foot ladder around.  You can even combine the ladder and the monopod to hit 15ft. although camera stability will be low.  You definitely want to use 1/500th or higher in that situation.  I have seen some people weld a monopod to a step ladder, then hang a sand bag in the "A" for stability.  This way you have a much more stable platform for longer exposures.         

 

 

http://www.pocketwizard.com/HTML/plus2.asp#

 

I just bought a set of the old Pocket Wizards last weekend, these things are irritatingly retaining nearly all their value.  They came out with this new version, which has hardly any new features, so people aren't selling the old ones. 

 

I am sure image stabilization would be a must. ;)

That's a cool little gadget. Reminds me of the innovative technology they started during the XFL season with the cameras that zip around.

IS isn't going to help with much.  From what I understand IS works best for shutter speeds between around 1/8 and 1/30 second.  You wouldn't want to mess with anything under 1/500 like I said but you'd usually have plenty of light.  Also you'd want to use a prime lens and tape the lens at infinity focus.  Any wide angle lens is going to be at infinity after about 30 feet.

 

 

 

 

    Just buy an old camcorder, take an hour of film, and pull still photos off of it. Granted, you won't get the best quality, but what do you expect from that little flying machine?

 

    I always wanted to do that with a kite, or maybe a paraglider.