I came across an intriguing find on a few different RC related websites: attaching a camera to your rc airplane. The idea of taking a few aerial snapshots caught my attention and I decided to pry into the topic further.

Attaching a low-cost digital camera to the rc plane seems to be the most popular way to get flight photos. One option is the Pentax Optio S4 which can be triggered to take a picture with an infrared remote. You can order something called a PRISM switch from HExpertSystems.com that take advantage of the shutter function and plug straight into the receiver. The great thing about the Pentax Optio S4 is that it weighs roughly 4 ozs. Most of the reviews I’ve found online claim this is a very rugged camera able to withstand the occasional crash landing.

The second option I’ve seen is to actually attach a video camera to your bird. This is the topic for another post, but if you can pull it off the payoff is worth it, just make sure your airplane is large enough to support the added weight.

How To Mount The RC’s Camera

You will need some way of mounting the camera to the airplane. Below is a camera mount made of leftover wood from a deck project. The joints are secured with epoxy, as this frame needs to be strong. The tilted platform carries the camera, which is attached to the mount by a large bolt that fits in the hole intended for the camera tripod. Be sure to use a chain to attach the camera to the airframe. This way if the bolt fails, you don’t have an expensive camera ship. (Consider a parachute for the camera as well.) On the mount below, the platform can be tilted by unscrewing the nut on the bottom right side, then re-tightening. This rc schematics feature is useful for aiming for getting those breathtaking photographs.

These tips should help take your RC photographs to the next level. What techniques have you used to attach a camera to your RC?