Recently I have been interested in quadcopters and would like to get one. For starters I'm 14 and on a budget of around 100 to 200 dollars. some things I cant live without are a camera and decent battery life. I would like to take some cool pictures and Mabye share with my friends. so anyone looking to give advice will be helpful.
Welcome! One problem is that you are likely to destroy your first quadcopter as you are learning. It's too much fun and you'll probably be tempted to take it further than you should...and get it stuck up in a tree, etc! Also, you have to consider where you are going to fly it. If mostly outside, you can go to a mini (as long as wind isn't strong). If you truly have patience and think you can learn without destroying the quad, you could get a v262 (mid-sized quad) and learn - and then get a good cam for it (Mobius or keychain 808)......later. The copter is about $100. Otherwise, I'd say start with a $50-$60 unit like the 202, 212, etc. - and save up some extra money while you are learning, then step up to a v262 with a Mobius camera. You can see some of the shots I took with this combo in the Aerial Gallery Forum here.
"One problem is that you are likely to destroy your first quadcopter as you are learning. It's too much fun and you'll probably be tempted to take it further than you should...and get it stuck up in a tree, etc! Also, you have to consider where you are going to fly it. If mostly outside, you can go to a mini (as long as wind isn't strong)." Just for learning "pure" quadcopter flying without 6 axis stabilization and photography I would recommend the Syma X1. They are one of the cheaper, well built mini sized quadcopters (outdoors in winds up to ~5 mph, + or - as experience is gained) with a huge inventory of available replacement parts. One can always add a keychain videocamera later; but this option also has its advantages and disadvantages.
one other thing that's important if possible is that I would like to have a camera so I can see what I'm doing as I'm flying it. an example is the screen is on the remote control so I can see what I'm taking as I'm taking it
That's called FPV and I don't suggest it for a first quad to learn on.....most FPV setups are put together from basic parts after you get to know how to fly. You don't want to crash a couple hundred dollars worth of cameras an FPV stuff. If you really insisted on this for your first quad, save up and look for sales and consider a Parrot AR Drone. That has cameras and works from a smart phone or tablet and you see what it sees. They are $300, but there are likely to be some sales during the holiday season so you might get it for $250. I still suggest getting a regular $50-$90 quad to learn on and THEN research your next quads. But if you want to start out with FPV, consider the AR Drone or a micro with FPV like the Hubsan Quads. http://www.amazon.com/Hubsan-H107D-Quadcopter-Live-Transmitter/dp/B00FMWGT9M/
Terk- I am old enough to be your grandfather so you can take what I am about to post for what it's worth. There is a big difference between needs and wants. At your age you will learn to fly a quad faster and quicker and in a shorter period of time than most of this membership, but you must first learn to fly. You need to do this. This part of the process for you will come quickly and relatively cheaply. Then what you really want- FPV will be so much easier to learn and much less costly for you to proficiently achieve. It is far better to watch your crashes from an observer standpoint than watching some crazy, dizzying visual display on some video screen with no reference points until the crash- then all you will see is the sky, grass/ground, and your approaching feet to the crash site if you are lucky. I am not posting this to insult you. This is the way it works.
thanks for the help I have found a parrot 2.0 power edition and its exactly what I'm looking for. I have experience with rc helicopters so I'm not completely beginner and I'm known to be a fast learner. although ive never flown a quad I assume that it's also like flying a radioshack rc helicopter. thanks to everyone for the advice. I know that I'm learning and will be very careful until I think I've gotten good. one last thing the reason I want one line this it's because I don't get a whole lot of money and would like something that I will have for a long time. once again thank you.
Great...my advice is don't try to fly it inside and don't fly it in winds greater than about 6 mph for the first number of flights. Put zip tie landing gear on it right away (see the article here about that)..... Good Luck!
ok I won't fly it inside because my house is relatively small and will watch the wind. thanks again. I think I will report in when I get it.
Good luck. And keep us posted. I meant it when I said that because of your age you will learn to fly a quad faster and quicker and in a shorter period of time than most of this membership, but because of your age you have great potential to become your own worst and most equipment damaging enemy. Your next task is to learn to accurately gauge wind speeds. Learn the Beaufort Scale. It's simple, accurate, free, and readily available on-line.
Solid advice given here. It won't take you long to graduate from toy grade RC quad copters to hobbyist and more advanced level drones. So by the time you're proficient with say the Syma X1 as recommended here earlier you will have saved up the cash you spent on it and will be ready to buy a Parrot or even better. Also don't at all underestimate the value in a feature as simple as having different colored rotors for beginners so you can easily tell the front of the back of the aircraft. Good luck!
Nothing I am aware of. Certain towns have passed "drone" laws, but those relate mostly to law enforcement, etc. and private property. As a hobbyist, you will probably start flying mostly inside (if a micro) on on your own property or some local conservation land, etc. (when no one else is around, please!)... Mostly the law of common sense applies here. Make sure you don't hurt yourself or anyone else or even anger the neighbors if they are not friendly towards you. I just gave my neighbors aerial pics of the block and their houses and they loved them! If you get into some bigger stuff, contact local clubs and see if they have flying fields.....or maybe you know some people with some land, farms, etc. I go to some state and local parks - by the letter of the law it may or may not be allowed, but I do so in seasons and times when no one else is around. I have a couple hundred acres of "conservation land" behind my house where nothing happens except some hunting (in season) and snow shoeing and it's planted in grasses and hay a couple times a year. That's ideal flying territory.
Respecting privacy, private property, public statutes, and common sense should cover most situations. I think the FAA rule is 4 miles and 400 feet altitude as it relates to airports, but I am not sure how that is interpreted and to what type of RC aircraft it specifically applies and does it apply to the private owner/operator within the confines of his own property within the FAA flight zone? I would hope my homeowners insurance would cover me for any injuries and damages to others sustained on my property. There is "modelers' insurance" for public use coverage and coverage is available through the national RC something or other that is required at RC airfields. It is best to be prudent. We live in litigious times here in the USA. And it is not getting any better for RC owner/operators with some of the less than intelligent decisions made by some RC aircraft owner/operators.
National Parks are off limits. This no-fly zone map may be helpful: https://www.mapbox.com/blog/dont-fly-here/
Yes, luckily we have no national parks around here. I don't even generally fly in state parks...I think they already outlawed that in RI. I find conservation land around here where it's protected but allowed for stuff like walking, farming (usually hay) and hunting. There are also places such as large ball field complexes which are not in use - we have one they've been working on for years and still haven't had the first game on! I think they key is to fly where there are no people - in general. There is one state park around here that I flew in once - it's a pond park with swimming, but I went after the park had closed up in the fall. Not a soul there. In RI, we sit next to a couple hundred acres protected by either the town (park) or by the Island Land Trust...that's my #1 flying grounds and scenic too. Hopefully the drone-flying crowds won't discover it and make the authorities close it down!
Thank you for that link begreen. On two occasions now, once in FL earlier this year where I went to the local Sheriff's Office and I was advised where I could fly at a local public park (for free) legally, and my own Police Department where I was informed that there were no known restrictions, regulations, or prohibitions against flying RC aircraft over public property. It is advisable to ask first before one decides to fly if one is unfamiliar with the area. As a precaution for liability reasons, as a probable requirement in the event that I ever fly in a RC club sanctioned by the AMA airfield in my area, and for "political" reasons; I joined the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA). Irresponsible owner/operators, flying while stupid, will create even more restrictions and regulations for all of us ultimately. Even if one does not join the AMA, its guidelines are pretty decent guidelines to follow for responsible operation of one's RC aircraft. JB
I'd say the UDI 818A. It is cheap and pretty durable. http://dronelifestyle.com/udi-u818a-quadcopter-review/