Filming your tanks.

[tribalmasters]

Whilst you are there visit this guy http://www.youtube.com/user/dovetastic  With the help of his one ton microwaving robot, the AMIR 9000 he films all sorts of goodies being microwaved and catching fire in the microwave in HD widescreen!  I wouldn't want to see an RC tank in there through ok maybe I would but it would have to be an old non S&S!!

[vonrundstedt]

Picked up a minni cam-corder yesterday for £30. Video coming very soon.

[hatakashi]

I use a Canon DC, IXUS series, filmed in 1024 x 768 resolution.
Then I use Corel VideoStudio 12 to edit the video, one good thing about this program is, I can output the video in its original format, instead of Windows Movie Maker's "downgraded" output. 

[tribalmasters]

are those 2.4GHz cameras any good? drive the tanks whilst recording the action?

[thecommandernj]

Hi guys and gals, there's alot of good videos on here of you all driving your tanks around. What type of video device do you all use and how do you get it on the forum? I'm looking into getting something to take videos but I'm not too sure what to get or how to go about doing it.

                  Regards, Luke

   
Hi Luke, 
              The smaller and light the cameras are better for filming. I use a hand held camcorder some times but I never really like the perspective of flying over the battlefield. If you weren't close enough you couldn't even hear the sounds of the tanks. I found out early on that I love the from the tank perspective and have used wireless mini cameras for several years now. I have mounted them in the drivers position which is nice but the best has been from atop the turret in the commanders position. I have also sold custom mounts with the camera hidden inside a soldiers torso. Tribalmasters question about the recording whilst driving is very relevant.  The heavier the tank and the slower the speed you drive the higher the quality of the video. My favorite camera angle is looking over the front of the mantlet down the barrel. You can get the mini cams with and without sound/audio. Check before you buy one. I also have used a bullet cam with good success but you cannot be certain of the image/angle without seeing a live feed. I have even filmed over the shoulder of my driver, Fritz, in the RC Kubelwagen. That video is very bumpy due to the light weight of the model. I have mounted TV monitors atop my transmitters and even battled the tank that way. Feel free to check out my video on youtube.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivDNOPrNXUE 
        Please leave feedback if you enjoyed it.  The best mounting method for a mini cam to date has been "Funtack". It is a adhesive putty that isolates vibration and is easily moulded and removed. My kids use it to mount Hannah Montana posters. Velcro and fixed mounts are either too loose or too ridged. Tanks with metal tracks and extra weights added for filming are a great trick to increase stability. Filming on cloudy days is also preferable as it cuts down on sun glare, reflections and simplifies film editing shadow issues. I record the wireless video transmission via DVD recorder (on short record /SP)and load it into my laptop. You can edit and title the video via many different programs (I use Magix). The time limit for Youtube is 10 minutes. Wibblywobbly has covered the protocol quite well.  I look forward to your posting a link on your Youtube quest. My video has about 7,000 hits thus far and I want to post more but is it time consuming. I hope this helps and if you have any question please ask. 
                                                                                                                            Bob  thecommandernj

[thecommandernj]

Sorry...first photo was incorrect...   Here are some others.    Bob

[tribalmasters]

Is the TV on top of the transmitter just a normal portable TV and the metal box receiver thingy somewhere else plugged into it or is it a special TV for 2.4GHz?  I notice on www.dealextreme.com they have special ones that pick up 2.4GHz and have SD card recording for 'portable surveillance operations'  The trouble is these no name Chinese TV recording things are about £140+ which could get you an elmod or part of an elmod or go some way into making the whole thing metal!!  Good thing the cameras are not expensive so a laptop with TV pickup could work!  Could be a use for my old IBM laptop right there!!

[mickyb]

This subject is just perfect for a winter project. I was loking at some of your videos and would love to make one of my own.

This is by no means within my field of knowledge so does anyone know what camera is best to use? I understand the reasoning and method, but purchasing the correct camera and reciever is obviously important.

I would like to get a low light colour camera with sound but there are a several on the market and some of them are rather large...or they look absolutely cr*p.

Mike

[vonrundstedt]

Cheers for the info Bob. I picked this up at the week end for £30, the packet of cigerets is just to show the size of it. It can record an hour of footage on the included SD card and obviousley the bigger the card, the more footage you can take. All I did was to strap it to the back of the turret of my BullDog and press GO! it not bad, the resolution is a bit grainy but if your going for that vintage film look,it works quite well, the sound quality is pritty good to. Check out my video, 'Bulldog video' in show off.

[mickyb]

Hi Bob, sorry mate I should have said what a great video.

I am astounded at the indoor area that you have put together, it is brilliant. You have put much time into the buildings and landscape and it shows what can be achieved by a club, you must all be very proud if it.

Whatever I put together in my garden for my grandchildren gets demolished by the tortoise......maybee we should do battle with him through the flower beds.

Mike