Basic Camera questions...

[TinMahn]

Hi guys.

Im just trying to understand how exactly the cameras, gimbals and controls all go together. For instance, on a S1000 with a Sony NEX5 (or whatever else) how do you actually trigger the camera to take a photo or video? and how does it work so that it feeds back to the FPV/screen? I know you can get an IR remote for these cameras but does the gimbal come with that and the IR remote is somehow controlled by the controller?

 

[SleepyC]

Hi,

Well it all depends on what you want to do. An S1000 with a NEX Zenmuse gimbal you can program the shutter release through the gimbal.
Other gimbals, you would have to provide your own control. Most of us shooting video just hit record when we start the flight, that's really not a big deal.

As for the video feed, you can use SD systems or HD systems, your budget is the only thing to hold you back.

 

[TinMahn]

Hi SleepyC.

What im trying to do is set it up for photogrammetry so a gimbal like the Zenmuse is probably overkill. The eventual goal is to have two nex5 cameras on board, one shooting RGB and the other shooting NIR. To do that I suspect I will need to make a custom gimbal that can take two cameras or something. At the moment just trying to understand how most of these UAV's actually take pictures and video.

How do you get the video feed from the camera to the controller on the ground? I understand its over radio link, but what do i have to plug into the camera to get it to send the live feed back?

 

[SleepyC]

Ahh. Ok. well there are several companies that make a "shutter release" that you can control with a channel on your radio.This one supports up to 100 cameras:
http://store.fpvbox.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=70

Then for the video, you would use the HDMI output of the camera. And either send it into a HDMI/SD converter and into a VTX (Video Transmitter) and then you would have a VRX (Video reciever) plugged into a monitor or goggles.

A great place to see RTF systems is HERE.

Another awesome option is the connex HD system. up to 3000 feet of FAST HD signal for around $1500. The system works GREAT.

Hope that helps a little more!

 

[TinMahn]

Thanks for that! Much appreciated!

 

[dazzab]

Hi guys.

Im just trying to understand how exactly the cameras, gimbals and controls all go together. For instance, on a S1000 with a Sony NEX5 (or whatever else) how do you actually trigger the camera to take a photo or video?

A lot of people trip the camera via it's IR control but I found that unreliable and it has quite a delay which was a real issue. It's quite easy to modify a Sony NEX 5 to use a wired release which can then be connected to your flight controller.