Aerial Photo Drone

Discussion in 'Misc. Quadcopter & Multirotor discussions' started by joegambler0, Aug 18, 2016.

  1. joegambler0

    joegambler0 New Member

    Hi everyone,
    After learning to fly I want a really good photo./video. 4k gopro drone. I refuse to get a DJI. Every blog, mag., etc recommends them, but they get bad reviews and have horrible cust. serv. I want a hobby store RTF built/factory heavy lifter like Lum. QAV500, Storm Quad or Helimax Form 500. I keep hearing if you fly over water which I want to and can't aford to loose your equipment to use a hexa or octo for engine redundancy. But really how many quads fall out of the sky because of engine failure? Isn't signal loss, power loss, etc more common? I don't see any way to back that up. Can't I just use a well built quad instead of a hexa or octo. Thanks.
     
  2. webman

    webman Administrator Staff Member

    Why do you want a "heavy lifter" to fly a GoPro?

    If you want a good 4K photo/video drone there are only a few real choices for a totally integrated solution:
    Autel Robotics
    DJI
    Yuneec
    Between those three that is probably 90% plus of the market, with DJI at 75% or more.

    Yes, a quad CAN be very reliable. But some may not be.
    GoPro is coming out with their Karma Drone in a couple of months - although we usually suggest not buying newer machines until the kinks are worked out.

    Your refusal to consider DJI means you don't want the most reliable and feature filled unit for the dollar spent. That's fine - consumer choice. I'd suggest looking at Autel Robotics (a DJI clone in style and somewhat in function) if that is the case.
     
  3. joegambler0

    joegambler0 New Member

    Not my refusal, just common sense. As an example on Amazon Phantom 3 pro gets 115 one star reviews. Are all thilose people wrong? Refusing to accept DJI as the best? Novice? Don't know what they are talking about?
    If I spend close to a grand on something, it better have a lot less negative reviews.

    Not necessarily looking for a heavy lifter for a gopro. Just want the quad to easily handle camera and big battery for long flight times unlike the inflated flight times that the above companies you mentioned advertise.

    Out of the 3, if I had to pick it would be a Yuneec. Don't like the fact that the camera is their own and not a gopro.

    Just feel with all the great component manufactures and serious hobby stores, that for the money I can get a better built rig that one totally made by one company that don't even get outstanding reviews for supposedly being the best out there.
     
  4. RGJameson

    RGJameson Active Member

  5. webman

    webman Administrator Staff Member

    Joe, Common Sense isn't really common.....
    I did extensive research into Amazon reviews....there are vast amounts of fraud as well as competitors posting negative reviews.
    BUT, even more importantly you will find a lot of folks with 10 flights or less reviewing stuff. Even as a "pro" reviewer I will freely admit that withouth dozens of flights over many months and conditions you really can't get a handle on stuff.

    Then there is the question of what is "bad" in terms of total review scrore.
    Let's look at the P3 Advanced:
    http://amzn.to/2bJVe4H
    4.4 out of 5 stars over 561 reviews. It doesn't get much better than that! Any drone with hundreds of actual reviews that scores over 4 is doing fairly good.

    The Phantom 4K - same - 4.4 out of 5.
    http://amzn.to/2beXakh

    Notice that Amazon has an option to look at only products with reviews over 4 stars - that's the top of the line!

    If you feel you can get a better one, go for it. But the reality - that is, based on science, statistics, economics and experience is that you cannot buy or build anything close for the same money.

    The Yuneec G holds a GoPro and is inexpensive. It also won't fly in medium winds or stronger and has no mapping, etc.
    The 3DR Solo - discontinued and (IMHO) not reliable, sells for $599 now (closeout) with gimbal and backpack.

    The longest flight times on a camera equipped model is the Phantom 3 and 4 - GoPro models have a heavier gimbal and camera so it's just simple mechanics. The Solo, for example, flies about 14 minutes compared to 20+ on the Phantoms.

    Buy what you want and report back here after 6 months to a year after using it.

    IMHO, GoPro drones are pretty much dead for a couple reasons. The Cam is expensive - it is fisheye - it is focused for close-in work, not infinity. It requires a heavier gimbal and therefore a heavier craft and battery. And, maybe the biggest downfall is lack of proper control and the need to have to deal with two completely separate devices. GoPros malfunction like anything else...in fact, I had to send mine in after 3 weeks of light use. This adds a level of complexity to the whole package.

    In the end it depends on what you really want to do. If you want to spend a lot of time online, tune, fiddle, experiment, etc. than going for a low volume (not mass produced) machine may suit you. But if you want to take videos and pictures as easily as possible, I'd say look at the DJI or Autel stuff. Yuneec is a year or two behind in terms of their software and also has poor quality control.

    If you really feel you need more customer service than 10's of thousands of online users can provide you, buy crash insurance from Neary Aerial (3rd party) which covers all repairs other than complete loss of the bird.

    Anyway, as usual, your decision. Just be aware that Amazon reviews are stuffed - some of them big time. I caught the employees of one drone company posting 5 star reviews on their own machine...same with paid contractors for those companies.
     
    joegambler0 likes this.
  6. J Blaeser

    J Blaeser New Member

    I might be in the minority here but I love my Blade Chroma. It was the first drone I ever owned and I thought it would just be a beginner, but almost a year later I still love it and it's integrated 4k camera. I noticed there is a great package deal on Amazon right now, and they are also the drone of Horizon Hobby, so there are always deals on their website. Another thing I really like, is that the camera screen is right on the Yuneec remote (not phone). I just think that is one less thing to worry about. I know that Phantoms are the hottest thing on the market right now, but if you are looking for something else, maybe look into this. A good site that I found that has all types of drone video is airvuz.com . It really gives me another perspective on the many types of drones and cameras. So hopefully this may help.
     
  7. joegambler0

    joegambler0 New Member

    Hi Webman,
    Thanks so much for taking me to school. I really mean that, not being sarcastic. I had a bone to pick with DJI based mainly on negative Amazon reviews. I buy a lot of things on Amazon and rely heavy on other users opinions. Shame to learn that those opinions can't be trusted that much anymore. Even if my mind is made up, I can change my opinion in a second if I get an intelligent argument in contrary to what I think.
    So new plan:
    Learn on a simulator, train with a Syma X5, get a Autel or Phantom 3 Advanced (that's the model I like the best). In future if I get bored or want better photo/video get a hobby store RTF built quad or hexa that carries a mirrorless camera and 3 axis gimbal, no gopro.
    Does that sound like a better plan?
    Like the warden told Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke "I need to get my mind right".
    That's exactly why I post on these forums, to get opinion from experienced people that have something to teach and share. Thanks and thanks to the other posters as well.
    I will be sure to post as questions arise.
    I will be slow to get into the hobby, because right now I am in the process of starting a new career as an aircraft mechanic and also will be relocating.
     
  8. webman

    webman Administrator Staff Member

    That sounds like a plan.
    The tech moves so quickly - and the cams improve - so you may find the mirrorless cam in the future not the way to go. I formerly flew a Canon SD series and have a Sony RX-100, but so far it hasn't been worth my while to fly it. I keep thinking of getting a Phantom 2 (bare) at $300 and mounting the Sony for stills...but, truth be told. I am 95% satisfied with the stills out of my Phantoms (I have a 4 now).
     
  9. webman

    webman Administrator Staff Member

    FYI, I was out yesterday evening taking still photos with my Phantom 4 - and when I showed the pics to a pro (he worked at Adobe for his entire career) - he stated they were noticeably better than those from the Phantom 3...and he didn't even know at first I used a different model as I had been using a P3 for over a year.
    Sure - it's a consumer model and not a $5k+ rig - but I am happy (for now) with both the stills and video. Most of photography is really in the hands of the person behind the camera (I am not a pro - obviously).
    DJI_0143.jpg DJI_0163.jpg
     
  10. joegambler0

    joegambler0 New Member

    Hi Webman,
    Beautiful pictures, can't wait to get started, but I must wait.

    Now that I got my mind right that for the money, the Phantoms are the best, I have a few questions.

    From researching I understand that even if the P4 is the newest the P3 ADVANCED (copter wise) is the best because of Lightbridge and other technologies, I'm I correct?

    Also which Phantom camera is best? 1080P, 2.7K or 4K. Again common sense would tell me 4K, but I heard of a experienced Phantom user that 4k is fussier and he gets better results from 1080P at 60 fps and it's a lot easier and more practical.
     
  11. BoostN

    BoostN New Member

    Great pictures!
     
  12. webman

    webman Administrator Staff Member

    P3 Advanced, Pro and P4 all use lightbridge.
    4K, IMHO, is really not needed for most. I never use it.

    The P3 Advanced is probably the best for the money - the P4 is worth the extra if you have a fat wallet.

    I may even eventually buy an Advanced (I sold my pro and got the P4), just for my more risky missions. I'd rather lose $600 over the Bay than $1000.
     
  13. BoostN

    BoostN New Member

    With that said, have you ever had a fly away with a DJI product?
     
  14. EddieO

    EddieO New Member

    I know there is always a fear of losing your craft over water, but is there any viable reason why you shouldnt fly there, does the moving water have some effect on P3A to make it fall out of air (newbee question)
     
  15. webman

    webman Administrator Staff Member

    Never - and based on what others have done I know I am way too conservative...compared to what the machine can do.

    But, realistically, many of the people who take it to the limits do so just to see what happens and not because they actually need the shot. I'm glad they do it (so we know how reliable it is), but at the same time I am an extremely frugal person (always worked really hard for my money and retired early, etc.) so whether it's $50, $500 or $5,000 I take the least risk possible.
     
  16. webman

    webman Administrator Staff Member

    In general there is no difference in flying over water - just that if it lands (low battery or anything else), you cannot retrieve it.

    I have followed "lost machines" (I won't call them crashes or flyaways since we don't know) for years and many of them are over water....many more per mile flown, it seems.

    My guess is the reasons for this are many. An operator who continually flies over water even with no need to simply doesn't understand the risk...they tend to think these are 100% reliable in every situation. That type of operator is more likely, as a whole, to not understand the whole picture such as wind, distances, moisture and temperature effects on electronics, etc.

    My thinking is that newer pilots should be the most conservative - and as you learn and understand the modes, the weather, the craft and other things then you can take calculated risks. I fly over water now with little fright - but, again, only when I need to. If I am just messing around I'll fly over a nice open field.
     
    BoostN likes this.

Share This Page