A question for the movie makers about the drones

[herr_oberst]

Obviously a game changer, especially for the budget minded filmmaker. But what about when money is no object, are they carrying big lenses now, capable of gorgeous shots and beautiful, steady pans? If not now, will lens technology and drone technology meet somewhere in the middle and make the helicopter obsolete in the movie making game? What are your thoughts?

[MBAtarga]

Here's an example of their use for cell tower inspections. HD quality...

[OldSpool87]

Based on the footage my 12 year old captures with a $300 DLJ Spark, I can’t imagine helicopters maintains relevance in that aspect of cinematic production.

[Bill Douglas]

Not movies but... In New Zealand high country farmers have been using them to check the sheep and cattle. Instead of climbing mountainous country on foot or horseback, they fly a drone over and look at it through the laptop.

[porsche4life]

Some is the modern camera drones can carry some pretty serious weight. Id think that combined with current camera tech would be getting close to what you are stalking about. The only limitation would be when a really big lens is needed I’d think, or the **** is going to take more than 15-20mins. Battery tech is still a limiting factor as well.

[sm70911]

I've worked with both. Drones are safer than Helo's, absolutely no question. Lenses are getting lighter and more compact and will continue to do so, as 6 - 8 blade drones are being developed. Thats the end for the few remaining industry Helicopter pilots.

There is another reason which my partner pointed out. If him, me, the DP, and the Agency cd OR Exec Prods all go up in the same helicopter and it crashes. Theres no one with an overall of the project to finish the film. You have 70 people standing around on the ground who beyond obvious niceties don't really give a toss and still want to get paid. And the client will still want the film they paid for. Its same reason we each take a copy of the job footage and travel on different flights when we come home from location work.

Sad but the research say people don't want those lush rich painterly pictures of the 35mm era where lens quality was everything. Butch and Sundance, McCabe and Mrs Miller, Heavens Gate, the Deer Hunter would never get made now. Studio's both traditional and new have research that shows audience's care less about image and more about shorter fast paced, phone viewable footage where watching something is a part of doing everyday stuff, not the main event.