hey guys. to start off, im completly new to this, a friend sent me an aerial video he took at a football game and im hooked already. in looking at into how he did it, it lead me here. in reading numerous post it seems i need to learn how to fly one of these with a less expensive one first. could ya'll recommend a quad to 'learn' with that will teach me the skills to move up to some of the bigger models? i would prefer it to have a camera, camera quality and distance not important at this point, just need to learn to 'fly' thanks
Shaggy- Welcome, there is brand loyalty here and in every other internet website. If you want to learn to really fly a quadcopter buy a 3 axis quadcopter. There is no such thing as a 4 axis- that's a marketing/translation thing within the industry. A 6 axis quadcopter is easier to control as it will keep the transmitter input heading despite wind to some degree, and is or is supposed to be self leveling, One gets what one pays for with quadcopters to a degree. Transmitters are important as well some stock transmitters are good and some are not. I fly a Syma X1. I have 4 of them. The X1 transmitters are pretty poor. I use programable transmitter compatible with the X1. There are couple of quadcopters that come with included videocameras. I do not have one, but from what I have read there are a lot of complaints about the quality of the videocameras used in the cheaper quadcopters. I do know that the WL Toys V959 comes equipt with a videocamera and is a 3 axis quadcopter, but even a bigger 3 axis quadcopter like an X1 or V959 is not as stable a flying platform as a 6 axis quadcopter of similar size if photography is your real interest. I am sure owners of those brands will jump in.
I think you should not get one with a cam for the first quad.......no reason to bash a cam off the walls and ceiling. If you are going to learn inside in a small area (mostly) consider a micro (Hubsan Quads X4, Blade Nano, etc.). If you are going to learn outside you can step up to a mini. It's getting harder to even find 3 axis copters, but the Syma X1 and a few others retain that type of manual control. You will learn a little more since they are less stable (without your input)...
I agree. It's too bad the 3 axis quads are becoming harder to find. Everyone wants everything simplified to the ultimate point that some high end machines can be programmed to be completely autonomous (which really is not that simple). A lot of those "flyways" are the result of not knowing how to really operate the Tx controls and poor programming. I like flying and having control (6 axis would be nice though for photography) . The more stuff one has on a quad the more stuff one can damage. The mini sized quadcopters are a little too large for indoor flight. I only fly mine indoors to check repairs/part replacements, adjustments, modifications etc. to the quadcopters or the transmitter.
Also a newb. Picked up a Husban X4 H107L for ~$39. Now available at Amazon for ~$35. Living up North my winter flying season will probably be limited to indoor hours. Under normal mode and setting the rates relatively modest it took about an hour to more or less gain some control of this micro quad. Hours 2-3 have been mostly developing skills by repeating a set group of "flight patterns" with a few zips around the great room dodging various obstacles for fun. Was seriously wondering if I had any quad flying aptitude during that 1st hour. Purchase of this quad were based on a number of factors. The reviews. Availability of spare parts. Price of the unit and spare parts. A quad I can still have fun with as the flying skills develop to a higher level. If flying indoors the optional prop guard is nice. Allows you closer encounters with objects. Less of a chance for serious negative outcomes. Multiple batteries and a way to charge multiple batteries at a time, spare prop set are other "necessities". Single digit in terms of hours of flying experience. Just purchased the 2nd quad. Might be another option for your 1st quad. The RC Logger One S. Holiday Sale priced through Sat. @ 20% off it and all accessories. Little larger than the micro size X4. This quad has a camera option. Plug and play unit called the OneCam. ~8gm camera and tx that runs off the quad's LiPo. Might go that route in the future for a FPV. But more seriously looking at the soon to be released Xtreme for a FPV/video/photo platform.
thanks guys! i will get one and start flying!! so watch your heads lol i will also be relying on y'alls expertise and am excited about my new hobby, thanks again
