I have to shoot some video at an air show this weekend from a helicopter.

Last year, I did the same thing but noticed that when I zoomed in for a tight shot that the image was bouncing all over the place.

Obviously, a hoovering helicopter isn't the most stable platform for shooting video. So I am wondering if I would better off actually turning off the steady cam.

Anyone out there have any experience with this?

Thanks,
Brad

One: Image Stabilization in cameras is only meant to really handle the small jiggles caused by muscle twitches and pulsing arteries in the fingers. For handheld -- leave it active.

Two: it wasn't mentioned, but if you were bracing your arms and/or the camera against the vehicle body.... DON'T! Let your body and arms act as shock-absorbers (which may not be easy -- you have to let your arms go "loose" so that inertia holds the camera steady while your body moves with the vehicle; a heavier camera might help)

You might also want to look into something like a SteadiCam Merlin, or a GlideCam 2000 (I'm presuming a consumer camera of around 2-4lbs; the Merlin won't handle a 5+lb camera, and one would need the GlideCam 4000).

It's a PD-170 that weighs about 5 lbs. with the battery attached.

As for the bracing thing, I am in a rather cramped helicopter with not much room for mobility. I try my best to allow my arms to dampen, or float the camera. The wider shots are fine, but it's when I zoom in for a tight shot that things really begin to shake.

I'll try it both with the stabilization on and off and see which works best.

Thanks for the reply.

-Brad

That would be the threshold for the Merlin (The Canon XH A1 exceeds it with a large battery or any accessory on top). The Glidecam is bulkier, and probably not enough room in that helicopter.