New Camera...

[chavycha]

I picked up a cheap Garmin VIRB camera the other day, and put it in the 162 for a quick flight this afternoon.
The VIRB has an integrated GPS along with a barometric altimeter. The Garmin software allows you to overlay this data on your videos.
I'd tried a couple of multiple-cam setups so I can get the flight instruments in focus, but so far haven't been happy with that. Too much editing time and twice as much technology that can fail.

I still need to work a few things out - I accidentally had the camera set on a zoom mode, for one, so I think the resolution may be lower than the optimal wide angle. Plus I think I'd like the look of a wider angle in the cabin. I also didn't know to calibrate the camera when it was in its mount (thus the pitch/roll data is garbled). I also want to provide a better shock mount. I fabricated something which works....but it's not well-cushioned. I've used the BRS handle attach point, which is one of the few solid mount points in the 162. May also try a prop filter to reduce some of the jello effect.

Given that I didn't exactly have it 'right', I'm pretty impressed with the video quality as well as the overlay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAZwNJX3wP8

I've got more work yet to get this setup dialed in, but I think this could be a really effective teaching/learning tool.

In the process of editing the video, I noticed that my patterns were...well...not perfect. The wind today was out of the NW...variable at the surface but around 15 knots at pattern altitude. You can see that I was getting blown off course and rounding the initial two corners of my pattern. Whoops!

[FastEddieB]

Very nice! Good, sharp image.

Liked the landings a lot - and that horn sounds awfully familiar.

I like the ability to have data on the screen - might come in handy on training and test flights. Beyond that, perhaps a little distracting for everyday use.

Happy enough with my GoPro for now, but competition certainly improves the breed!

[MrMorden]

The data overlay is very nice. I wish the sample rates on the accelerometer were lower, they just bounce around too much to give any information. a 5Hz sample rate would probably be plenty, it looks like it's more like 100Hz.

Image quality looks nice. I like the Garmin stuff and it integrates with Garmin Pilot, which I use on every flight. How is the battery life? My GoPro is terrible in that regard.

[deltafox]

Good video, thanks. What model Virb did you buy?

[chavycha]

This is the Virb Elite. Tried it again today with a slightly different mount setup and set on wide angle. Honestly I think prefer the closer crop. I ran it on a 40 minute flight this evening and the battery was still about 60% charged when I got back. That's better than the GoPro and nFlightCam I've used (both good for just over an hour per charge). We'll see what I can get out of the Virb when I do a longer XC next week.

Tower had me landing with a bit of a tailwind today... and a hefty dose of crosswind (12+ knots). Found out my stall horn wasn't working, too... though I appreciated the peace and quiet when dealing with the bumps and gusts. I had planned on three trips around their pattern but said 'screw that' after the first and went home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFiFpg1EAQQ

[FastEddieB]

This is the Virb Elite. Tried it again today with a slightly different mount setup and set on wide angle. Honestly I think prefer the closer crop.

A while back I tried to fly three identical approaches at each GoPro field of view:

http://youtu.be/HhycU4UV90k

I think the final, narrowest view most closely reflects the view from the cockpit. The wider angles always make the plane seem much lower/flatter on approach than it really is.

Downside is camera movement is more apparent.

[deltafox]

I have been using the Virb Elite as my cockpit camera for awhile now. Like it. Some samples are here: http://lsaeronaut.blogspot.com/2014_06_01_archive.html

I have experimented with different settings but keep coming back to "Ultra Zoom" as my standard set up.

I just updated to Virb Edit Version 3.0.1.0 and found the new G-Metrix overlays. I haven't played with the overlays yet but am hopeful they can provide additional feedback for students. I suspect these were designed to work with the camera models just out.

[chavycha]

deltafox, nice clips! Looks like you edit outside of the Garmin software too, yeah? What's your usual workflow?

Yesterday I tried it on "Zoom 1"... I think this is my favorite setting so far. Still lets you see the control movements but doesn't distort the edges like the ultra-wide
angle.

On days with wind, the GPS speed can be a little misleading. I pitched for best glide nearly immediately, but had a 15-20 knot wind out of the N at pattern altitude. Thus my groundspeed was 90kts, whereas my airspeed was 70kts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhU5CcYjWR0

[deltafox]

I usually use two cameras, a black Virb on the wing and a white Virb Elite in the cockpit. I typically turn them on during preflight and turn them off during postflight. Post processing begins by synchronizing the GPS track to the video on the Elite. (I usually find I have airspeed before the takeoff roll.) I chose the overlay then export the cockpit view. I simply export the exterior view. Then I import both views into Camtasia. Next I sync those views, then edit the content. Finally insert transitions, titles, and music.

Reference: https://youtu.be/H3S2AgUm4QE

This is typically what I provide each client following his Discovery Flight.

[deltafox]

I tried G-Metrix yesterday. Not too impressed. I think the data needs to be buffered.

http://lsaeronaut.blogspot.com/2015/06/ ... pdate.html

[chavycha]

Thanks for the info on your workflow. I'm used to using Premiere for editing so the Garmin software seems awfully basic. I suppose I could do the overlays in Virb Edit, export the whole thing, and subsequently add titles, audio, transitions, etc in Premiere.

Re: GMetrix - I'm finding the same issues. I'm going to try smoothing the data and see if that makes it usable.

[Flocker]

Tested out my new VIRB XE last weekend. Awesome camera! Here's a shot taken on final into RYY.



To the other VIRB users on here - what video editing software do you use?

[Merlinspop]

Wowser! That's a gorgeous shot!

[SportPilot]

Looks familiar. We used to keep our Cherokee and Mooney there.