Comments on: New “MeCam” Will Change The Way You Shoot BTS Video

By: Al Navarrete

Al Navarrete — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 21:44:00 +0000

Cool Idea! I was close to dreaming of strapping a GoPro to toy remote control helicopter. Hope the photos and videos are as good with this product.

By: Matthew Everett

Matthew Everett — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 20:28:00 +0000

As far as the federals are concerned, for commercial use, yes. You can strap a camera on any old remote control aircraft and even operate the purpose-built helicams all day long and stay within the confines of the law as long as you don’t charge people for your use of the equipment or the resultant footage/images and you . Right now, it is illegal to operate for commercial purposes any remotely piloted vehicle in the United States.

The rest of it depends on your state and local laws and ordinances. While it may be perfectly legal for me to have this thing follow me down the street in Knoxville, Los Angeles might have a serious problem with it.

In other words, the answer is complex and can only be summarized with a particularly unhelpful, “It depends.”

By: Dollia Sheombar

Dollia Sheombar — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:14:00 +0000

Check this out:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns3_n_lyPws

By: Joey Duncan

Joey Duncan — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:28:00 +0000

Is there even audio?

By: Joey Duncan

Joey Duncan — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:26:00 +0000

I see where this technology is going, I just don’t think the market is ready for it. I see it working in professional application, and in certain situations. But I think in general, people are getting ahead of themselves with multi-rotor. even the real hi end, super stable multi-rotors still have an inherent flaw that, yes they balance well, but as soon as they get into trouble the only means of recovery if basically blind. So it could end up somebody gets hit. I’ve been hit in the face by my small (MQx) multi rotor, which is larger than this and it hurt a little but that is it.

But, I also realize that these are steps forward, in 5 years the tech for this stuff, especially the self stability will be MUCH better, as is the tech is much better than it was 5 years ago. But I still think stuff like this is cool, just not where it needs to be. The programming can be good, but i can’t see it being good enough not to end up in trouble.

By: Jonny Ray

Jonny Ray — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:23:00 +0000

Just make sure you eat a breath mint between the Doritos and shooting.

By: Joey Duncan

Joey Duncan — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:22:00 +0000

it wouldn’t be illegal, the FCC has no classifications for this in personal airspace, it’s under the weight limits. ALTHOUGH they are attempting to screw with the FPV (First Person View) flyers which will more than likely include laws about flying within X distance of other people.

By: Joey Duncan

Joey Duncan — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:20:00 +0000

You aren’t wrong, I fly with people who have very nice Multi Rotors, some last an hour or so. But they are VERY expensive setups and use VERY large batteries.

In the small multi rotors they don’t have the lift capability to use long life batteries. it might work in short situations, I’m sure they could drag it out to 15 minutes or so.

By: Basia Kyra Kowalska

Basia Kyra Kowalska — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:56:00 +0000

Has anyone here read, “extras” my Scott Westerfeld? He introduces a similar concept called the HoverCam.

ANYWAYS, I think we’d have to know more about the product than a flash animation promo video can tell us (especially when it looks like a high-school-done infomercial). Once we see it in action, maybe.

By: Frazer Varney

Frazer Varney — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:38:00 +0000

This would obviously be pointless for Video Shoots, due to sound and whatnot – but for Photo s
Shoots, as long at it works properly and has a decent amount of battery life would be a clever idea.