My name is Kyle Decker and I am a videographer/editor for a ski film company called Level 1 Productions. You can check out our video trailer for our current release turbo at http://www.level1productions.com/turbo.php

This past season I've shot a handful of homemade gravity-fed cablecam shots with a fixed camera setup (a few you may catch in the trailer). Instead of having the camera upright, I just used a heavy duty ball head tripod on my rig and hung the camera upside down. This helped me adjust the horizon of the shot quickly and easy. I then would flip the image in post and was relatively happy with the results for a first year run at it. There were some flays in this design however...

This fall I am redesigning my cable cam with a 2 rope system to improve stability and reduce wobble. I also definitely want to purchase a video transmitter/reciever that will transmit up to 200ft and still keep things cheap. Anyone got any adivice on this? In addition I might plan on incorporating servos to adjust pan/tilt and possibly speed, but thats another post. I look forward to sharing/learning alot through these forums. Any questions/comments/suggestions email me kyle@level1productions.com.

Welcome Kyle!

Nice work on the teaser! Great action, shots, angles, and movement!


For wireless transmitters check out: http://www.rangevideo.com/index.php?mai ... x&cPath=35

RECEIVER
Here's a nice setup with an internal battery so you don't have to worry about "where" to place a battery pack. 2.4GHz Portable Receiver Extra batteries will run you around $15.. Fujifilm NP-120 Li-ion Digital Camera Battery Replacement

The cheaper version is 2.4GHz Standard Receiver, but then you need to get one of these (it takes 12v to run, but double check)

TRANS
http://www.rangevideo.com/index.php?mai ... ucts_id=43


I have the MATCO 2.4 Ghz wireless and it will easily do 200ft in line-of-sight. For my setup I have to run an external powerbrick that takes 8 AA batteries and it's a pain to mount and deal with...

This may be a simple/dumb question but do you need a battery pack on the cable cam rig or just at the reciever? I wasn't sure if the camera powered the transmission signal. Also what do you use for your video monitor? I am on a tight budget and was probably going to go with a portable DVD player with video inputs. Thoughts? (I'm not concerned about image quality/color, just for framing purposes).

I also forgot to mention... The video signal thats being transmitted (for preview purposes only) is going to be coming out of my Sony EX-1 which will be shooting in either 1080p or 720p 60fps, is that signal going to run through this frequency?

My Panasonic HVX200 has an option in the menu to select from 3 different video output signals 480, 720, or 1080. If Sony has this option too then you will need to make sure it's set to 480. I'm playing my video back on a Varizoom TFT display, but you can use any small DVDPlayer/Monitor as long as it accept a video signal in (most likely through a composite/RCA video-in.) I pretty much use my set up for framing too, since it's just the 480 signal and worthless for color or focus.

Yes - You will need a battery pack for both the transmitter and the receiver.. You might be able to use RC batteries (7.2v), but check with the Range Video dudes if that will work. I know my Varizoom monitor comes with an up-volt thingy that allow you to run the 12v monitor off a 7 v battery... but it's not ideal.

One thing I would not go cheap on is the transmitter power (1000 mW).. Nothing worse than spending $50 only to find out the $85 dollar transmitter was what you needed.. Plus you will want the higher power to transmit the signal through trees, etc.

Please also note that you will need a Technical Class License to operate.

One thing I would not go cheap on is the transmitter power (1000 mW).. Nothing worse than spending $50 only to find out the $85 dollar transmitter was what you needed.. Plus you will want the higher power to transmit the signal through trees, etc.

Please also note that you will need a Technical Class License to operate. [/quote]

I ordereed the 1.3GHz kit from range video. My cable cam is usually never longer than 150 ft, but 200 max. I'm assuming that will be ample signal for that distance.

Cool. I don't have any experience with the 1.3 Ghz systems, so please post up how it works out for you.

Hi
My name my Jean Paul. i build a cablecam and have put up a couple of shots on Youtube.
Yooucan see them at http://www.youtube.com/Flycams.

JP

I have been using 2.4Ghz video link stuff. Originally I was using the little (8") omni-directional antennas for my transmitter and receiver. I found I was getting too much interference as the camera moved further away. So I bought an 8db gain Yagi directional antenna ( looks like a small Uhf tv antenna) and it seems to work way better. The only thing is being directional as opposed to omni, you need it situated near one end of the run so the video transmission never moves from the line/direction in which the Yagi is pointing.
I have to add also that the power output allowed here in Australia is way lower than in the US, my results would be different to yours. The 2.4Ghz band is license free here but we can use the 1000mW stuff. I think we have only 250mW TX power.