Who has a Quadcopter
 

Im looking at one under $3k with option of fitting FPV and gopro

This seems ok for a no name one
http://onlyflyingmachines.com/produc...ab-description

FPV will be using this
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=20672

Why spend $3k on something when you can spend $300 and get a quadcopter that will carry the camera without any problem at all?

http://www.rodaw.com/wp-content/uplo...n-IMG_0868.jpg

:stoned

ADG

I have a quad (DJI Phantom) and a hexa DJI f550, both are very suitable for fitting a gopro and are both perfect platforms for FPV flying.

If you want a fast flying fun copter than the Phantom is an amazing piece of kit, mine is fitted with a ImmersionRC 600mw video transmitter with spironet antenna, i use the gopro's direct video out for FPV as well, so it can record and be used as FPV cam at the same time. I bought FatShark attitude goggles.
The Phantom is super fun in manual mode were you can do flips and rolls!

If you want a more stable video platform than go for the much larger f550, its about 2x bigger but can lift much more weight.

My config for the f550:

DJI f550 frame
DJI Wookong M flight computer
Spectrum dx8 tx and rx
Aearoxcraft landing gear
Aeroxcraft Gopro gimbal with belt drive for smooth video
castle BEC
ImmersionRC 600mw video tx
Gopro hero 3 black used for video and fpv
A small dedicated FPV cam when i am not using the Gopro
2x zippy 5amp lipo packs in parallel gives me 19 mins of flight and plenty of power
Spectrum telemetry module to watch my voltages
Spironet polarized antenna's, Fatshark goggle

My next quad will be a TBS discovery as it's and amazing platform for FPV and with the EZuhf you can fly many miles away.

What flight ability is needed to fly the DJI 550? Also how much have you invested for the above setup?

Since i have a Wookong M flight computer you need the skills of a baby to fly it.
The Wookong is pretty expensive but you get about same flight characteristics with a DJI Naza M, you just don't have waypoints like the Wookong and its a little bit less accurate in GPS mode.

The f550 set me back about 2800 euros.. i think in dollars it should be about the same.

I've never flown multicopters nor helicopters before, and it took me only a few minutes to get the hang of it flying in GPS mode, its that easy!
If you flip the manual switch its a whole other story though, but most people dont fly in manual mode anyway.
If you need to know more you are welcome to hit my ICQ

Didn't they give you one if you bought the top level package of Black Ops 2?

Shot you a pm (they seem to be working here for some reason) :thumbsup

Thanks great info i was wondering about the TX i do like the spectrum

3k on one of these? You planning on filming celebrity wedding?

Will reply to you after the weekend, have to do stuff with my family :)

The spectrum dx8 is a great TX, i chose it over the Futaba T8J, however they say the Futaba has slightly better range..

And 3K is NOTHING if you really want a professional rig, than it will be in the 10's of thousands :Oh crap

Good i will have a look at both :thumbsup

No worries bloke - pretty much decided on the Phantom now with zenmuse setup - how have you found the phantom?

You will love the Phantom..

I found it in youtube looking for a quadcopter.

The TBS DISCOVERY looks hot

but probably going to get this
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/261236585... 4.m1423.l2649

or the f450 then get the kit http://team-blacksheep.com/products/product:98

Thats because it is! check out Team Blacksheep's videos on YT, https://youtube.com/user/nastycop420

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

I have a AR Parrot. Is simple to use and fun. I basically use it on weekends with friends.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=oic23ug_6RA

works pretty good.

:thumbsup

I have an AR drone 2.0 and I love it... The new one is even better with a frontal (like mine) cam and one at the bottom...

I have an AR Drone 2.0 as well with 2 cameras. Crazy fun. I play with it a few times a week. I like it except that it drifts too much so I'm hoping a new one will come out soon that is bigger, with longer battery life, that is more stable.

Ar drones are wifi, you practically have no range and flying with an iPhone isn't the same as using a proper tx. The Ar drones are fun but it's too much of a toy compared to the more expensive copters if you plan arial footage.

The drifting is because it doesn't have gps stabilizing so the wind makes it drift, I've heard rumors though that new version of the ar drone will have some sort of gps stabilization.

:stoned

ADG

The short battery time is definitely a buzz kill - I've seen after-market batteries for it that supposedly almost double the flight time...haven't looked into getting one yet, tho.

The drifting is also another issue. I usually only take it out on very calm days. And I've found it easier to control with the larger Acer tablet as opposed to a Samsung galaxy4...seems more responsive with the tablet and the video image is obviously much larger.

Check out these dudes.... http://www.team-blacksheep.com/videos

I think you are right :thumbsup

I hit up the DJI guys and they have been fantastic at providing information. Thanks for replying to this thread, never heard of the DJI quads till you mentioned them in here.

DJI is top company, and they constantly work to improve their products with firmware upgrades.

btw, check youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu6...LODOD6LyxrfDpQ

Many videos we did with the Phantom and GoPro Hero..

Nice vids :thumbsup

Have you damaged many props? Bought different props? If so what and what differences did they make?

Still flying with the stock props, you can replace them with carbon Graupner 10x8's, they are more durable and they are factory balanced so you have less or no jello effect from your gopro cam.

I crashed my Phantom about 10 times while doing stunts, some pretty bad, but the thing just keeps flying, nothing is broken, just some scratches.
The Phantom is surprisingly durable.
I am planning to make mine waterproof with some plastidip liquid rubber so i can fly in rain and maybe land it on water with some floaters attached to it.. would be fun to try :)

Do what I did is order a couple of extra batteries for it.

For the drifting, I fixed it. The iPad software I used has a setting to manage it and it works perfectly now.

This video of yours is wicked! Especially when you fly by the windmills very cool! Love quadracopters and been looking to start out with an inexpensive model with just enough power to hold my go pro & send video back to Shark Goggles. Well done man :thumbsup

.

Thanks, but my friend Nylos made this one, he bought a Phantom as well and we fly together a lot.

The Phantom can hold a stabilized gimbal with Gopro, and FPV gear with no problem! it will still be agile and fun to fly, in fact, you can even add an extra FPV dedicated cam on top of that and still fly great, the thing has plenty of power, however it will impact flight time.
We successfully tested a Phantom with gimbal, gopro hero 3, immersionrc TX and an extra 2200 battery pack in parallel witch almost doubled flight time.

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh :thumbsup for creative people!

How long was the flight time with two battery's and what isthenormal flight time? H

With cam gear attached about 8 minutes, with 2 batteries about 15

Sweet so bare bones what does a Phantom go for that is sturdy & cheap for close flying ( about 1000 feet ) ? $3k seems a lot to invest for something I'll probably crash and destroy within the first day of getting it! LOL

Its about 600 dollars i think, but you need good amount of battery packs and a GoPro cam witch is 450 dollars i think.

Range is 300 meters according to DJI, but it goes far far further, we took it over 1km with stock TX!
My 3k hexa was never crashed, and i fly it a lot, flying is really easy, no skills required.

I got the f550 and built it on the weekend nice kit and the board idea is good a few more tweaks with the gain and it should be fairly solid its about 90% now. i got the 8fg nice but no voltage witch i wish i checked before hand im using a lipo warning alarm witch i can here a far way away and when i get the fatsharks there is the hobby king osd for about $10 that shows voltage. And today got the hero 3 black and will mess around and post a video when its setup.


ow and thanks to fucking paxum for not letting me get my money for 2 days while i was away that was fun.

Walkera QR X350, pretty cool, and around $1000 only: youtube.com/watch?v=wVy4kjA4hxE

Nice! I got the DJI last week with extra propellers & 3 extra batteries, all together it was about $900. I strapped on my GoPro to the mount and have spent about 3 accumulative hours so far practicing. I've crashed it A LOT and I'm surprised how durable it is. :thumbsup

Spotted this in the news tonite:

The Associated Press
Published Sunday, September 15, 2013 5:39PM EDT

BERLIN -- A camera drone had a rough landing in front of Chancellor Angela Merkel at an election campaign event in Germany after police told its operator to bring down the craft.

Photos from the event in the eastern city of Dresden showed Merkel looking on in amusement as the small orange drone went down on its side about 2 meters (7 feet) in front of where she was sitting.

Camera drone makes rough landing in front of Chancellor Angela Merkel

Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/camera-d...rkel-1.1455966



Looks like an AR Parrot quadcopter.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1...._620/image.jpg

is it me or did everyone buy a quadcopter and a gopro camera? this year?

Getting pretty popular now, and lots of bad press about "drones" lately in media.
Counting down before it becomes illegal here in Holland..

Cool, welcome to the club :)

Yes, crashed mine a few times now as well, and some of the crashes were pretty enormous, but each time the little Phantom somehow survived! its and amazingly well build machine.

TIP! If you want to try manual mode flying, be sure to gain lots of altitude before even attempting it! have your finger ready to switch to ATTI mode as soon you think its gonna hit the pavement :)

Your first loop or roll is fucking adrenaline rush....