Shaky/jitter footage...help!

Doug_EX

Member
Hi,

I have a quadcopter (XPX from Xproheli) with the SILK gimbal . I noticed (even in very low wind situations) some vibrations (or jitter) in my footage. Seems to be only on the yaw axis.
See this example:
https://vimeo.com/107099727

Should I change the PID values or even the strenght of the motor?

Thanks!
 

Av8Chuck

Member
There are a lot of variable that effect the stability of aerial video. So the key is to isolate the problem before making random changes that might not have any effect on improving your footage.

Here's the order in which I suggest you check out your rig:

1. Take the props off and start up your MR on a smooth table, listen and feel for vibrations from each motor. If a motor vibrates more than the others then balance the motor.

2. Balance your props

3. remove your gimbal and hard mount a GoPro directly to your frame and run it up again without props while recording video. If there are no vibrations at any throttle seeting

4. fly it with the Gorp still attached and check the video.

5. If the GoPro footage is good, remove it and reinstall you gimbal and attach the GoPro to the gimbal if you can and test fly that. It might not be possible to balance your GoPro on your gimbal but your not looking for a level horizon buy vibration free footage.

6. if that goes well replace the GoPro with the camera you normally use and test it again.

7. if after all that you have the same result then you want to check the vibration dampening for the gimbal.

A couple of other things to keep in mind, turn off any image stabilization on the lens and on the camera. Depending on the camera and lens image stabilization can often make things worse.

Sounds like a lot to do but it usually doesn't take long. Also make sure you don't do any image stabilization on YouTube or in software, its hard to tell online but that's kind of what it looks like is causing the shuddering in your footage.
 

Doug_EX

Member
The props are perfectly balance. The motor seems good too. I tried to balance them better than they were (with a IPhone app called ''Vibration'') and one motor performed a bit worse than the others but didn't seem to be a problem.
I mounted my Gopro directly to the frame and flew it. I did not have the shaky footage as with the gimbal and my GH4. Of course the video wasn't stabilize but no vibration detected.
I tried to lower the motor power of the yaw axis (from 170 to 100) and it seem to help a bit. Did a test at 50 and another at 255 (just to try) and it was worst. Maybe the PID settings?
 

Doug_EX

Member
I really think that it's the wind hitting the gimbal/camera that does this. Not sure at 100% but I suspect it.
 







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