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RC aerial photography

Within the hobby of radio control flying, rc aerial photography is a rapidly growing sector and it's easy to see why.

The ongoing electronic revolution has given us small and lightweight digital cameras, and electric rc airplanes, helicopters and blimps that are very capable of carrying them.

So getting a bird's eye view of where you live, or fly from, is very easy these days. You don't have to spend a fortune to enjoy some basic rc aerial photography fun - all you need is a bit of flying experience and some basic model knowledge.

Even a very basic plane/camera set-up can give satisfying results, and miniature wireless spy cams can provide even more entertainment in the way of in-flight video.

As technology advances further, there will of course be more options available. A huge milestone in the world of rc aerial photography though, is the recent release of an RTF electric Predator UAV - complete with on-board digital camera! This product is a great deal, and an excellent way of getting into rc aerial photography for not a lot of money.
The Predator UAV can be seen below...

An RC Predator UAV


But if you feel like utilizing your existing rc airplane or helicopter for taking photos from above, below are some suggestions of what's available at the moment. How and where the camera is mounted on the model of course depends on the model, so the following suggestions just focus(!) on camera operation.

DIY camera & servo set up

This is one of the most common - and cheapest - options, and provides good results. You will, however, need a spare channel on your radio system, this can be either stick movement if your model is 3 channel and you have a 4 channel TX, or one of the toggle switches on a 5/6 channel TX.
The idea is to fix a micro servo, with a modified horn, onto the camera in such a way that when the horn rotates, it activates the camera shutter button. How you attach the servo to the camera is up to you; zip ties or servo stickers work well. However you do it, make sure that the servo is secure and cannot move, and that only the smallest amount of movement is required to hit the button.
A basic servo-on-camera set up can be seen below...

Micro servo mounted on camera for rc aerial photography


Infrared camera switches

These are the high-tech version of the above method, and there are several switches available at the current time.
The PRISM (Photography Radio-Infrared Shutter Module) switches from HexpertSystems.com are about the best. They plug directly into the receiver of your model and are activated by that channel operation on your TX. On activation, a signal is passed to the infrared sensor of your camera, which in turn releases the shutter. Obviously then, your camera needs to have an infrared sensor for this option.
A switch like this (shown below) is about the same price as a micro servo, and a lot neater!

PRISM infrared camera switch


Modified digital cameras

If your knowledge of electronics is vast, then you may be very capable of modifying a basic digital camera yourself, to take power from and be activated from the receiver. This kind of job is well beyond most folks though, but fortunately there are modelers around 'in the know'.
PlaneCams.com is one such example, and two different digital cameras are available that have been especially modified for rc aerial photography.
These inexpensive cameras are an ideal option for keeping things simple. An example of one of PlaneCams cameras is shown below...

Modified digital camera



Electronic camera switches

Again, if your electronic knowledge is great, then you can probably manufacture your own switch from a stock circuit board.
But there are some commercial switches and devices available, that plug directly into the receiver and operate the camera. They are small and neat, and can be used with many different cameras. The Pico Switch is a relay switch that has a multitude of uses in rc aircraft. Another option is a USB interface, the Singapore Hobby Supplies 'URBI' is an example. Both can be seen below...

Pico Switch and URBI


The important thing to remember when trying rc aerial photography, is of course to keep the weight down. The cameras don't need to be big, or high-res; a 1MP digital camera will give you perfectly adequate results from an rc airplane or helicopter. And of course, you need to remember the crash-factor; can you afford to lose the camera in the worst case scenario??

Again, it depends on your model as to what size camera you can use, and how you mount it. Backwards, sideways or downward facing cameras are the best option, as there is less chance of dirt, or insects, getting stuck to the lens.

RC aerial photography is a lot of fun, but it's always a case of trial-and-error to begin with. The beauty of digital cameras is that they can hold so many photos, so you can click away until you're ready to land your model.
But until you get the hang of it, don't be surprised to see that the majority of aerial photos that you take are no good. Just keep practicing, and you'll soon be getting good results!



Related resources

More info on the RTF Predator UAV.

More info on the PRISM switches.

More info on the PlaneCams modified cameras.

More info on the Pico Switch.

More info on the URBI.