FPV camera... On a gimbal or static?

[Amorgos]

Built my quad and had my first FPV test runs today. I have a quad with a GoPro on a gimbal and it';s my only camera currently but I intend to have two. The second will be bolted on and not on a gimbal.

My question is intended really for the people who are flying quads for video footage as a main reason really...

Do you prefer flying FPV using the static camera or the gimbal camera?

It';s very early days for me in FPV, but I thought that flying today using the GoPro on the gimbal felt like I didn';t really know exactly what the quad was doing and I felt a bit uneasy about it. My early non-FPV tests I could clearly see exactly how much I was banking and how much it was suffering in the wind. With a camera on a gimbal it';s so steady I feel like i have to take my goggles off and make sure it';s all ok!! If that makes sense.

[n506]

I prefer to have fpv on a hard mounted camera for exactly the reasons you mention when flying through goggles.

For filming type shots I';d tend to fly the quad line of sight but have a monitor for reference of what the gopro is shooting, rather than using goggles. If I were to use fpv while filming I';d fly a hard mounted camera and the gopro on the gimbal running through a video switcher. That way I could flick back and forth depending on which I wanted at the time. And if the gopro froze up, or the battery failed, I';d only be a flick of a switch from a more reliable video feed.

[Biffa]

Most people would agree that a fixed camera for FPV is the best way.

You know exactly what the aircraft is doing and how it';s behaving,  as you mention viewing from a gimbal gives a more sterile experience.

[fruitsalad]

fixed cam my choice too..
can see every movement from me or the wind..

[Hands0n]

Excellent that you';ve maidened in FPV    It is a thrilling experience, unparalleled.

I';ve not flown with a gimbal yet - but my experience to date with a GoPro as the FPV and recording camera has been a complete success in my opinion.  As others have said, the experience is less sterile and more immersive when you know what the aircraft is doing.

Gimbal for movie-class shots are great, if that is what you';re trying to achieve but it isn';t in my own particular case.  Typically, out of 40 minutes of video I generally find that there is sufficient material for a 2 - 3 minute YouTube 

[Gav]

Fixed cam is better or you can quickly lose your bearings if fpv';ing through the gimbalised camera.  Although saying that I always fpv my naza 450 via live out of the gopro on a brushless gimbal.   2 things that make it possible for me  : quad with naza and gps is amazingly stable and on mine the tips if the landing legs come into shot so I can see the angle of my quad via legs moving around even though the camera is always level.  If I have no reference of the airframe angle, then woooo it is scary even more so if using a flight controller without gps or in manual mode.
Cheers
Gav

[nub]

fixed i would have thought, it would be weird and hard to judge your movements otherwise, suppose if your just flying about slowly it would be fine.

[Amorgos]

Fixed cam is better or you can quickly lose your bearings if fpv';ing through the gimbalised camera.  Although saying that I always fpv my naza 450 via live out of the gopro on a brushless gimbal.   2 things that make it possible for me  : quad with naza and gps is amazingly stable and on mine the tips if the landing legs come into shot so I can see the angle of my quad via legs moving around even though the camera is always level.  If I have no reference of the airframe angle, then woooo it is scary even more so if using a flight controller without gps or in manual mode.
Cheers
Gav

Thanks Gav. I found flying today again pretty nervy. I';m almost scared to use the rudder/aileron too much with goggles on. I';m also having trouble with distance perception as well which adds to it. I guess it will come in time.

I';m going to buy a static CCD camera probably either a Sony or or one of those FatShark ones.

[Leigh]

The only way I would feel comfortable flying FPV multirotor on a gimbal camera would be if it was mounted on top of the craft where I could see the front two arms as a frame of reference and perhaps with an OSD that has horizon markings on it to keep me in check - otherwise what others have described above would scare me! 

[Hands0n]

Thanks Gav. I found flying today again pretty nervy. I';m almost scared to use the rudder/aileron too much with goggles on. I';m also having trouble with distance perception as well which adds to it. I guess it will come in time.

I';m going to buy a static CCD camera probably either a Sony or or one of those FatShark ones.

Why not try mounting the camera you have somewhere static on your multi-rotor and leave the gimbal empty. At least that way you can try the fixed view for yourself ahead of buying anything specific for purpose. It';ll give you a pretty solid taster of the differences of flying each.

[flybywire]

If your prime motive is videography, the gimbal cam wins hands down.  I had a Seawolf attached to the servo gimbal on my CX4, so I saw what the GoPro was seeing.  Now I';ve swapped it for a H3-2D gimbal, which will be even better.  It';s great to be able to see what your filming.  The icing on the cake is having a second camera, purely for fpv.  The dji iOSD has a built in switcher for this very purpose!  Belt and braces. 

Andy

[dp106]

If your prime motive is videography, the gimbal cam wins hands down.  I had a Seawolf attached to the servo gimbal on my CX4, so I saw what the GoPro was seeing.  Now I';ve swapped it for a H3-2D gimbal, which will be even better.  It';s great to be able to see what your filming.  The icing on the cake is having a second camera, purely for fpv.  The dji iOSD has a built in switcher for this very purpose!  Belt and braces. 

Andy

hobbyking do a video switcher cheap as chips, mines still in my tool box waiting for me to wire it up

If your prime motive is videography, the gimbal cam wins hands down.  I had a Seawolf attached to the servo gimbal on my CX4, so I saw what the GoPro was seeing.  Now I';ve swapped it for a H3-2D gimbal, which will be even better.  It';s great to be able to see what your filming.  The icing on the cake is having a second camera, purely for fpv.  The dji iOSD has a built in switcher for this very purpose!  Belt and braces. 

Andy