Notes on Kite Aerial Photography: Equipment

Suggested Supplies for
Kite Aerial Photography


From time to time I am approached by an academic colleague with the idea that kite aerial photography (KAP) would be of assistance in their work. I am quite interested in these applied dimensions of KAP and would like to help where I can. Often the colleague is developing a proposal and would like to know "what equipment should I specify for applying KAP in project X?" The answer, of course, depends on a myriad of factors including specifics of the application (e.g., descriptive, quantitative, critical, ancillary), site conditions (expected wind, site obstructions), budget, and so on.


As a rough guide I have assembled this general list of equipment based on my experience in the last few years. My process in this exercise is subjective -- no warranty is expressed or implied. The roster is keyed to three levels of KAP kit development:

B Basic kit             These devices should be in any equipment set

I Intermediate     Recommended enhancements to the basic kit

A Advanced     Accoutrements that are fun but not necessary

The costs listed are approximate and do not include shipping, tax, or overhead. For those items that require fabrication I have estimated the cost of materials but not labor. Purchasing everything on the list would require around $4,000. Vendors listed under source are the ones I tend to use. Most of these items are available from a variety of sources. Pick the one you like best or better yet support your local merchants. Contact information for the sources listed is found at the end of the table. See my KAP WWW site catalog page (http://www.arch.ced.berkeley.edu/kap/background/kapcat.html) for further information.

 

  THE LIST

Item

B

I

A

Cost

Source

Notes

KITE, Sutton Flowform 16 dot1.gif (1115 bytes) dot2.gif (1117 bytes) dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$100

Highline Kites, Into the Wind The 16 ft2 Flowform is a basic workhorse kite if you expect steady winds above 15 mph. It packs in a very small space.
KITE, Sutton Flowform 30   dot2.gif (1117 bytes) dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$200

Highline Kites, Into the Wind The 30 ft2 version of the Flowform is my "go to" kite. It adapts to a fairly large range of winds and provides sufficient lift for a SLR rig.
KITE, Sutton Flowform 60     dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$320

Highline Kites, Into the Wind The 60 ft2 Flowform serves when winds are too low for the Sutton 30 or the payload is particularly heavy. This is a large kite and deserves respect in higher winds.
KITE, Carlisle 7.5 foot Rokaku   dot2.gif (1117 bytes) dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$240

Highline Kites, Into the Wind Kevin Shannon’s Rokaku is well made and the light carbon frame flies in a minimum of wind. At times, however, it is unstable. Practice is recommended.
TAIL, nylon "fuzzy" tail, 30 feet long dot1.gif (1115 bytes) dot2.gif (1117 bytes) dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$10

Requires construction I’ve auditioned many tails and this geometry works great. Nylon fabric is available through kite store, labor not included in cost
KITELINE, 100# dacron, 1,000 feet dot1.gif (1115 bytes) dot2.gif (1117 bytes) dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$21

Into the Wind, Highline Kites 100# line is lighter than the others, use when the wind is low
KITELINE, 200# dacron, 1,000 feet   dot2.gif (1117 bytes) dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$35

Into the Wind, Highline Kites This is my most used line, feels good in the hand.
KITELINE, 250# dacron, 1,000 feet     dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$45

Into the Wind, Highline Kites This heavier line will provide a safety factor if you think the wind might build in while the kite is aloft.
SPOOL, Halo, 9 inch dot1.gif (1115 bytes) dot2.gif (1117 bytes) dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$10 each

Into the Wind, Highline Kites These are compact, inexpensive and easy to use. Purchase one per line weight and perhaps extras in case of breakage
LEATHER GLOVE dot1.gif (1115 bytes) dot2.gif (1117 bytes) dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$20 each

Sailing supply store Wear glove on dominant hand to protect skin while handling kiteline, fingerless gloves are ok, glove use is mandatory, carry a spare
DOG STAKE, 12 inch, steel dot1.gif (1115 bytes) dot2.gif (1117 bytes) dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$3 each

Pet supply store Dog stakes (look like a large corkscrew) provide a means for anchoring the kiteline to the ground
CARABINER, basic dot1.gif (1115 bytes) dot2.gif (1117 bytes) dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$6 each

REI Carabiners are used with the climbers strap to secure the kiteline to handy anchorage points (use a clove hitch)
CLIMBER"S RUNNER, 3 foot loop dot1.gif (1115 bytes) dot2.gif (1117 bytes) dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$7 each

REI These strong loops of nylon webbing provide easy attachment to fixed objects (e.g., lamp post, bench)
FIGURE 8 BELAY DEVICE     dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$18

REI The Figure 8 is used to handle line when it is under too much tension to handle comfortably by hand.
WALK DOWN PULLEY     dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$13

REI This split pulley allows you to easily walk the kiteline down.
HANGUPS   dot2.gif (1117 bytes) dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$10

Requires construction Make at least one spare pair, labor not included in estimated cost
PICAVET SUSPENSION dot1.gif (1115 bytes) dot2.gif (1117 bytes) dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$10 to $100

Requires construction Make a spare, labor not included in estimated cost
O-RINGS and STICKS     dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$12

Auto parts store Rubber ‘donuts’ (muffler hangers) can be placed on the kiteline above and below the camera to dampen vibration.
CAMERA CRADLE for P&S Camera dot1.gif (1115 bytes) dot2.gif (1117 bytes) dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$50 to $80

Small Parts
Requires construction
labor not included in estimated cost
CAMERA CRADLE for SLR Camera   dot2.gif (1117 bytes) dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$50 to $100

Small Parts Requires construction labor not included in estimated cost
YASHICA T4 SUPER dot1.gif (1115 bytes) dot2.gif (1117 bytes) dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$150

B&H Camera The T4 is a compact point & shoot camera with a sharp lens and a fairly fast shutter (up to 1/700 sec). The Olympus Epic is an alternate.
CANON REBEL G   dot2.gif (1117 bytes) dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$240

B&H Camera The Rebel is light, tough, capable, and relatively inexpensive. Its autofocus and exposure metering systems work well in the air. I consider it ideal for KAP use.
CANON 24-mm,
f 2.8 EOS Lens
  dot2.gif (1117 bytes) dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$400 w/ hood

B&H Camera This sharp wide angle lens is my standard for KAP. Using a wide lens allows lower flight and makes aiming less critical.
CANON 50-mm,
f 1.8EOS Lens
    dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$90

B&H Camera A less expensive and lighter alternate. Useful when you have more camera height than desirable.
RADIO SET manual, 6 channel dot1.gif (1115 bytes)    

$180

Tower Hobby, Sheldons Radios are sold as a set with matched transmitter, receiver, batteries, charger, servos, and accessories. You get a lot for the money.
RADIO SET Programmable, 6 channel   dot2.gif (1117 bytes) dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$250

Tower Hobby, Sheldons Programmable radios make the camera cradle easy to tune and operate – recommended. Any of the major brands (e.g., Futaba, Airtronics, HiTec) is fine.
Extra TRANSMITTER & RECIEVER BATTERIES dot1.gif (1115 bytes) dot2.gif (1117 bytes) dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$45

Tower Hobby, Sheldons Spare batteries prevent frustration, keep them charged
BATTERY FIELD CHARGER   dot2.gif (1117 bytes) dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$50

Tower Hobby, Sheldons Tower’s Quick Field Charger works from a 12 VDC source (auto battery) and can charge the receiver and transmitter batteries in 15 minutes. Very handy.
ANEMOMETER     dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$90

Forestry Suppliers My favorite is the Kestrel, small and easy to use
LASER RANGEFINDER     dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$360

Forestry Suppliers This amazing instrument can provide accurate ranging from you to the photographic target and from you to the camera rig. With a little trig you can position the camera accurately.
CLINOMETER     dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$80

Forestry Suppliers Provides the angles necessary for positioning calculations. I use the lovely Suunto instrument.
FRC RADIOS     dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$200

REI The new Family Radio Channel two-way radios (what walkie talkies should have always been) provide a convenient means to relay spotting information from observers downwind. I use the Motorola TalkAbout.
PHOTOGRAPHER’S VEST   dot2.gif (1117 bytes) dot3.gif (1122 bytes)

$60

  I’ve found this vest indispensable in organizing the various small parts that need to be at hand while rigging for KAP.
CARGO BAG dot1.gif (1115 bytes) dot2.gif (1117 bytes) dot3.gif (1122 bytes)   REI Having auditioned several forms of storage and transit luggage I’ve settled on a compartmented duffle.

This list has not included equipment necessary for microvideo via airborne transmitter. Sending a tiny CCD camera aloft can provide an "electronic viewfinder" for more accurate image framing. I do not list this because I have not had much experience with the equipment. My initial impressions are cautionary because the approach requires several more battery system and I have yet to devise a suitable display system for conditions of high ambient light.

VENDOR INFORMATION

B&H Photo-Video
119 West 17th Street
New York, NY 10011........................1-800-947-8006

Forestry Suppliers, Inc.
205 W. Rankin Street
P. O. Box 8397
Jackson, MS 39284-8397 .....................1-800-647-5368

Highline Kites
Tom McAlister maintains a store at Cesar Chavez Park in the Berkeley Marina.
Call 510-235-5483 on weekdays from 9 AM to 5 PM U.S. Pacific Time

Into The Wind
1408 Pearl Street
Boulder, CO 80302 ........................1-800-541-0314 or 1-303-449-5356

Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI)
1338 San Pablo Ave. (near Gilman)
Berkeley, CA 94702-1094 .....................(510) 527-4140

Sheldon's Hobbies
2135 Oakland Road
San Jose, CA 95131 ........................1-800-822-1688

Small Parts Inc.
13980 N. W. 58th Court
P. O. Box 4650
Miami Lakes, FL 33014-0650..........1-800-220-4242

Tower Hobbies
P. O. Box 9078
Champaign, IL 61826-9078.............1-800-637-4989

 


 


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All rights reserved. Revised: Saturday, June 26, 2010


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