In ideal conditions, a hot air balloon provides a very stable, slow moving aerial camera platform, however, ideal conditions cannot always be guaranteed and balloons are highly susceptible to changing weather conditions. A balloon basically goes where the wind blows it and if you end up being blown away from your subject, there is nothing you can do about it. This may not be such a problem if you are filming wide landscapes but if you are trying to track a herd of animals then the shot may not work at all. Best times to fly are at dawn & dusk when the weather is at its' calmest. Unexpected turbulence can be severe especially in tropical climates and in extreme cases could lead to the envelope collapsing.
Set up, launch and recovery times are long and you rarely get time for a second go.
Cameras can be mounted inside or on the basket although space is usually very cramped. Another option is an external camera platform to give the camera and operator more space and wider field of view. As always, seek specific advice from an experienced company.
