Tim Mackey Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 And finally.....Next morning dawned even better, even stronger wind, and north easterly too –just right for another trip to the Orme! I had decided to try the camera mounted on my slope soaring SAS “Wildthing” – newly acquired a few months earlier as my first slope soarer ever – I know, I know - lives 15 mins from the Gt Orme, and never been sloping shame on him.The lack of vibration from any power train should go some way to improving the image quality.So flask filled, off we set again.48 mins after throwing caution to the considerable wind, it was time to land. I had completed this first flight of the day with the camera in “ahead mode”. I now simply turned off the camera to save the clip to disk, and then, after removing it from its mirror holder, turned it back on again, and stuck it back on the nose. Streaking skyward in the good strong lift, I quickly flipped her inverted for the aerial view.37 mins later, having been “out to sea” rolled, looped, and generally made the onboard camera operator completely sick, it was time to bring her in. I chickened out of an Inverted landing, fearing the little camera might not approve – besides, the COG had definitely altered slightly with the addition of the camera, and holding inverted throughout almost all the flight, sometimes with the plane completely out of view below the slope edge, was, shall we say…… challenging!I “arrived” at the back of slope, and recovered the camera, powered down, and had a well deserved cup of hot coffee and a sticky bun - ooh yummy!Back home, the files were loaded into the PC, and windows media player fired up. Yippee – much better :) - In fact not a bad first attempt if I say so myself.Time now to try my hand at editing in “movie maker” courtesy of Microsoft windows XP.Both clips were edited crudely down to a size that UTube would accept, and uploading commenced.A link is included here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCJOvsJ8328 in order for you to judge for yourself. PS whilst your there...checkout the brilliant "teddy in flight" video too !But be kind, remember this is all new to me, and the purpose was to just assess the camera’s ability.I have since conducted further testing to positively identify the cause of the distortion in the first clip done on the powered plane. Extensive tests in the workshop prove almost positively that vibration is the culprit NOT radio interference. Furthermore, strapping the unit tightly to the airframe worsens things, but hey – I didn’t fancy losing it into the foaming briny !In summary I would say the FlyCamOne is great value for money.Be careful how and what you mount it to, - a glider is definitely the best idea. It certainly didn’t cope too well on my JP “Twister Bell” helicopter.I imagine that if you really wanted to use it on a Heli, it might be disappointing, but then that’s your own fault for trying to fly a bloomin’ eggbeater :-) :-)Specifications follow…….SIZE 85 X 35 X 10 mmWEIGHT 24 GRAMSVIDEO 25 FPS @ 320 X 250 pixel resolutionFUNCTIONS Stills, Audio, Video, Card-reader, Memory stick, WebcamPOWER Integral lithium cell @ 170 mAhCARD SLOT SD / MMC INTERFACE USB 1.1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommeh Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 Good review mate. www.actioncameras.co.uk is a good site for cams. I know alot of my mates in motocross use them but then they are mounted on the head and so the body soaks up the vibrations. Would be interesting to see what sort of mounting is used on cars etc to soak up the vibration.How big was your file for the video that was not intended for youtube? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted July 20, 2007 Author Share Posted July 20, 2007 Thanks Tom.Ended up at about 390 megabyte before editing.In fairness to the camera, it is only a cheap fun thing, and I know that to get the sort of results that some people have achieved they are spending a LOT more than £40 :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Morgan Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 OK where do I get one ?????Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted July 20, 2007 Author Share Posted July 20, 2007 Ah..you have to read the full 3 part review for that :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted July 21, 2007 Author Share Posted July 21, 2007 In case you didnt find this posting over in general section...here is a link to the last video of the orme session with the camera this time mounted on the "aerial view" perspective.Here is a last one….. promise :-)Remember ( more excuses coming up ) It was on top of the nose, so the whole flight is inverted, and also remember its a sloper - so you have to stay in the lift area as well, which means the occasional fast dive/loop/roll whatever to get back in the lift. Checkout the middle bit where the plane can be "seen" "nodding" as it is just about to stall....the COG had moved slightly with the cam on board and therefore flying it for the 30 odd minutes inverted was a bit challenging....Edited for UTube down to around 3 mins Enjoy...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZA4zRIcGG0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Morgan Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 Well done Tim, Good bit of entertainment.ThanksLee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted July 21, 2007 Author Share Posted July 21, 2007 Cheers buddy :-)So when you come and battle out the Orme ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Morgan Posted July 21, 2007 Share Posted July 21, 2007 Well I have the weekend off coming up soon so will have to see whats happening, Looked on aa route and it says its 2hrs to the orme from here so thats not too bad. Just need to get some practice in :o) with me Zebra first lol.Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted July 21, 2007 Author Share Posted July 21, 2007 remember if you want to make a weekend of it, we have a spare room free :)Just avoid around the 2nd August onwards for a few weeks.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Freullet Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 thanks for the info tim I am gonna get one of these, great read & video I have just returned to the hobby after 10 odd years havnt we moved on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Morgan Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Tim I will sort a camping trip up your end of the world (wales) after your aug hol's maybe we can go flying then.Best RegardsLee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted July 25, 2007 Author Share Posted July 25, 2007 TY Marc, and welcome back....we all see the error of our ways, and return eventually you know :)Lee - yes you are very welcome to come and join us, camping or itherwise :)It is not actually holidays,( early retirement and living here means one long holiday ) but wifey has to have a big op in early August, so I will be nursing her for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Morgan Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 sorry to hear about wife hope every thing goes ok for you. See you soon mate.Best regardsLee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted July 25, 2007 Author Share Posted July 25, 2007 TY.... we are both very scared for her, and she is counting down the days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Jordan Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Hi Timbo, Just watched your video and loved it, More please! Best wishes to your wife, hope all goes well. Allan J... TTFN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Morgan Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Well due to your lack of consideration Tim I am now £35 lighter,and my wife hates you. (Some thing else to take up my time) lol OJ As I am sure you have guessed one of those fancy pants cameras is on its way to sunny mid wales hooray :o)Best RegardsLee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted July 25, 2007 Author Share Posted July 25, 2007 Nice one, your wife too eh ? Thought it was just mine that hated me :)One thing to watch for ( not sure if I mentioned this in the "review" ) is the internal memory is volatile IE if you switch the camera OFF, you lose any video you may have captured. Leaving it to just automatically enter "stand by" will not let this happen. Of course, for any real useful video length you will need a MM or SD card, which is NON volatile.TY for your comments and wishes Allan. Not sure I am about to inflict any more "home movies" on the forum, but I am just about to "publish" an article on converting your IC powered planes and transmitters to LiPo power ...if you are interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myron Beaumont Posted July 26, 2007 Share Posted July 26, 2007 Timbo I've said a little prayer .Love to 'er indoors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted July 26, 2007 Author Share Posted July 26, 2007 Many thanks Myron.... much appreciated my friend :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winchweight Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 Tim,Do you have any additional advice having owned this for a while? I just got one 2nd hand and am waiting for a 1gb SD card (99p from Amazon) to arrive. Sadly I don't own a single glider or flyable leccy job, so it will be going on my smooth as silk FW190 with a 4 stroke up front. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Morgan Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 ShaunI too have a FC1 and couple of things to note are 1) dont point the cam through prop, Makes for a messy vid 2) Mount the cam on foam or something similar that will absorb the vibrations 3) make sure the way your mounting it doesn't switch it back off ( ask me why I check) 4 ) Don't leave it switched on if your not using it ( the small lipo can be destroyed if fully discharged. 5) Slow smooth flying makes for a good vid, Loops rolls and furious flying makes for allot of horizon flashing.I think this should helpBest R'sLee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted November 23, 2007 Author Share Posted November 23, 2007 Hi SC - as Lee says really.... and watch out for the mirror - easily damaged - especially the rubber fixing, the tiny on/off switch has broken on mine too, and remeber when using the mirror - you get a mirror image !! Overall though, excellent value gizmo- i beleive there is a new version just released. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Morgan Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 The mirror can be fixed by cutting up a DVD and replacing the glass mirror supplied Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winchweight Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 The rubber fixings are already a goner. I bought this to see how I got on, before possibly upgrading to the new version. Lee, is the finish on a DVD good enough?Mounting it is a worry. I don't really want a piece of velcro on every model I use it on, so I will have to think up a truely detachable, concealed, anti vibration system instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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