drone question
 

I'm considering buying a drone. Mid-range 2K? 1K? I'd like to be able to shoot action, drifting, bike ridding, little league, dogs etc... HD vid? 4K vid? Suggestions, experience?

Thanks in advance...

I’ve been flying DJI drones for 8 years or so. I currently have a Mavic AIR 2 S and it is pretty good. Distance, sensors, 4K, filters for the lens of the camera—you can’t go wrong.

The bad part is the drama about them being banned from being used. I don’t know how valid these talking points are, but you may want to look into Skydio.

I would suggest you look at Skydio 2 Plus and make sure you get 3 or more batteries. They have a beacon so it’ll follow you. You can fly with your phone without a controller, or fly with controller and phone as your pov. The sensors for obstacle avoidance makes a difference. You don’t know how many trees or power lines you may hit lol.

You are looking at about $1,500-$1,600 dollars for something you’ll have for a while.

The Mavic Mini’s are okay. But after you get comfortable flying. You’ll want to fly farther away to look at cool stuff.

thanks....

More questions later...

Hi Grape,

Consider the DJI Mini or Pro Mini. They are not expensive, shoot 4K and have all of the other features you would want. Most importantly they weigh only 249 grams so you don't need a license to fly them.

I have been flying my DJI mini for a few years now and love it. I fly both in the winter and summer. I can fly it for about 2.5 kilometers away before I lose the signal, but I live in a rual area.

I plan to buy the DJI Mini Pro this spring because it has longer range (up to 10km) and has obstacle avoidance sensors which my current one does not have.

You can buy camera filters for both from 3rd party vendors.

Good luck!

I would go for the 4k models, as if you do film with it, you will probably buy a 4k regardless.

I have a cheap thing just to play, but to be honest I used it twice, and not since.

I find even with my cheap one (DJI Tello Ryze) I find the footage just feels like the thing is on a camera stand as they stay so flat.

I keep thinking would a remote control helicopter with a gopro on give me more a feel of flight.

I am on my second DJI Mini 3 Pro already (the first one was taken by a sea eagle), and I can highly recommend it.

$439 at Costco

https://www.costco.com/dji-mini-2-dr...100679649.html

I seen some of your drone footage. It’s amazing to be perfectly honest

Get the servo release mechanism

I want cinematic quality

Mini 3 Pro: youtube.com/watch?v=c1j9VqmDYEI

Mark, I'm not interested in anything you have to say. Be well, B

Thanks, I'll be going over this stuff in the next few days. I'm a very slow thinker... busy writing letters right now...

When TV shows use drone footage, they tend to just se a few seconds, the problem people have it they use too much drone footage.

But when it comes to cinematic , the problem as i have said is it often looks too good with a drone. It is so level it looks like is on a stand rather than flying.

The next problem is that when it comes to cinema drones, you have two operators, one who fly's and one who operates the camera. On normal drones your having to do both the flying plus camera operation, and this tends to produce not a great look.

I think too often people fly too high and would get better results much lower down.

In truth I suspect a lot of people buy drones, use them twice, then not bother again.

This may be worth considering.

I have seen lots of vids on this drone.

It even went fine in the woods.

But apparently they are in high demand and hard to get.

Although the DJI are cool, this is the model I would get if I was after a drone.

so get the drone off CL?? :1orglaugh:1orglaugh

yeah I've been a camera operator for over 30 years...I get it. I'll need to see how I handle a drone... thank you

If you can get cheap one second hand, then great.

But I find what people want second hand, that brand new is often not much more.

Also if you time it right you can often get a good deal.

If you opt for a DJI thing, then I think go for the full package (often spare batteries and so on) as it seems to be the best value.

I think the UK has similar rules to those in the USA with weight.

Below a certain weight in the UK you I believe do a online test (basic) then your supposed to put your operators licence on the drone in case you crash it.

I suspect the The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the UK is probably very similar to the rules and regulations in the USA. It would be logical for them to be all similar.

In the UK if you go above a certain weight then you are restricted on what you can do.

I best not get one as I would be tempted to fly it around the student area to see if I can see female students getting undressed (like in Bluethunder).

Don't listen to any of the suggestions here.

You want a 2.5" cinewhoop with a naked GoPro.








Full set up: Quad, Goggles, Radio, Batteries, Charger and extras - $1200 or less.

DJI consumer drones are boring as fuck. Not really capable of getting the action you want...even with they newer FPV variants. They are still lacking in comparison to other options on the market.

Or something smaller with a smaller action camera like the Insta360 Go2.

This is my favorite quad to fly:



Email me and I'll point you in the direction you want to be going. If you wanna go big, I have one that can fly a Blackmagic Pocket or Red Komodo. Built it for $800.

Link in sig.

That’s ok. Since this a public forum, others can read it and may find it useful. Good luck drone shopping.

You're not doing this with any Mavic or Mini or even their FPV drones.

- skip to about 8:00

The union offers courses, your local which is probably IA 600 would probably help you out. I have been offered opportunities through the union to work and learn with drone pilots, just a different local. You may get a chance to learn some high end drone work. Check it out.

Candyflip, do you own an FPV drone? If so which one? I am thinking about buying one this spring.

That's the rub, with FPV drones. You don't own just one. It's not possible. We have a good number here, I don't even know at the moment. Let me list them out, from the top of my head.

BetaFPV Cetus Pro - ready to fly kit for beginners
BetaFPV Meteor65 - tinywhoop racer (we have a few of these, they cost about $100)

iFlight Protek25 - 2.5in cinewhoop (flies naked GoPro and Insta360 Go2 - stays under 250g)
iFlight Protek35 - 3.5in cinewhoop (flies full GoPro)
iFlight Protek60 - 6 in cinelifter (carries Blackmagic Pocket sized cameras)
iFlight Nazgul Evoque F6 - 5in Freestyle / Long Range - (flies full sized GoPro)

RekonFPV Recon3 - 3in Long Range Cruiser (uses 18650 batteries and flies for 20+ minutes)
RekonFPV Rekon5 - 5in Long Range Cruiser (flies full sized GoPro)

Firefly Baby - 1.6in Freestyle Cruiser (carries a Naked GoPro or Insta360 Go2 -weighs 60g)
Firefly Nano Baby 2 - Micro Cruiser (digital DJI 03 camera / video system - weighs under 100g)

HOM FPV Wingsuit S - 2.5in cinewhoop (flies naked GoPro and Insta360 Go2 - stays under 250g)

I also have custom built cinelifter that I have put together this winter and plan to play around with this summer. I have a US Part 107 license, but do this for fun, flying around the park in my backyard or camp in the woods. I have avoided monetizing yet another hobby, but every now and then the right offer comes my way...and I buy a new quad with the proceeds.

Some of these are digital running DJI's video systems. If you commit to digital from the go, it's pretty easy. You just buy their goggles, their radio and a drone that was built with their system. Analog is another beast entirely. My list is a combo of everything.

If I had to recommend an all round solid and fun quad, it would be this one...with the DJI Digital set up.



Your DJI branded quads will all sit forgotten once you fly one of these for the first time. I promise you this much. :1orglaugh

Wow thankyou!! I appreciate the advice.

In a few weeks. Got busy fir a bit. For river rafts Thank you

DJI Mini 3 just went on sale for $90 off

https://store.dji.com/product/dji-mini-3

Should shoot yourself..

I am also looking in a DJI Mini 2 or 3. Or something different if there are better options.
I will travel with it and it is 249 gram.

In Europe you don't need a flying license if less than 250 gram.
But what i read you must register it in Europe in the country you enter.
At least in Holland that is, must be EU rules now.
You sent in an online form,pay about 15 euro and get a code.

That shit is sooooo boring man. I've got a bunch of DJI drones and these days, they just sit. Even for paying jobs, most people aren't interested in the boring old drone shots from a few years back.

Look for a sub-250 Cinewhoop using DJI new 03 Air Unit and go from there. If you want to have a good time flying, this is what you're looking for. I think one of the links I posted above has some more info on this type of quad.