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Parrot Bebop Drone Landing at Apple Stores in December for $499

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Drone maker Parrot today finalized the pricing for its upcoming Bebop drone, confirming a $499 price tag for the standard package and $899 for the more expensive SkyController version with an extended range wireless controller.

parrot-drone-main.png
The Bebop drone is Parrot's third-generation quadricopter and the successor to the popular AR Drone. The Bebop offers noticeable improvements in camera recording, including a 14-megapixel camera with 1080P full-HD video support and the ability to stream a captured feed to a compatible smartphone or tablet device.

Other notable features include an f/2.2 fish-eye lens with an 180-degree angle of view and three-axis image stabilization. The stabilization allows users to digitally pan and zoom in a semi-circle without the need for a bulky gimbal underneath the body of the drone. The Drone also connects to an iPhone via the updated FreeFLight 3.0 software, which allows the user to control the drone, view flight details, and execute complex maneuvers via on-screen touch controls.

For those looking for enhanced piloting controls, Parrot has also developed a new SkyController that extends the range of the drone from 200 meters to 2 kilometers. It also connects to first-person view glasses like the Oculus Rift, providing pilots with an immersive flight experience.

The Parrot Bebop drone will go on sale in December and will be available in both Best Buy and Apple retail and online stores. Pricing starts at $499 for the standard edition and climbs to $899 for the SkyController edition. Parrot's competitive pricing undercuts its closest competitor, the DJI Phantom 2, which retails for $679.

Article Link: Parrot Bebop Drone Landing at Apple Stores in December for $499
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/11/19/parrot-bebop-drone-apple-store/
surely not having a camera on a stabilised gimbal severely limits this drone? Seems like a daft design for this price point.
 
Kissaragi said:
surely not having a camera on a stabilised gimbal severely limits this drone? Seems like a daft design for this price point.
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Surely you missed the part about 180 degree field of view and it takes a 1080p area using digital stabilization. The sensor is 14mp. Allows one to pan around left right up down 180 degrees. Could be better than a gimbal. Watch some of the videos and the are real stable.
 
Peepo said:
Surely you missed the part about 180 degree field of view and it takes a 1080p area using digital stabilization. The sensor is 14mp. Allows one to pan around left right up down 180 degrees. Could be better than a gimbal. Watch some of the videos and the are real stable.
Click to expand...

Yes. But the question is how well it works in real-world situations. And can it take stills?
 
redscull said:
Website says 150 minutes. Edit: ok only 12 minutes. Not sure what the 150 is talking about.

It is amazing to me that consumers can buy an HD Video, 1 mile range drone for $900. That is nuts.
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Not that you should fly these things out of visual range. The 150 minutes number is probably recharge time.

It does take stills, according to the company web site.
 
Kissaragi said:
surely not having a camera on a stabilised gimbal severely limits this drone? Seems like a daft design for this price point.
Click to expand...

At $499 there is nothing like it. Add the controller at a total of $899 and you get closer (but still undercutting) the DJI Phanton 2 Vision (the one with the stabilized gimbal camera) that runs $1100-1200.

The stabilized video from the Bebop is *obviously* not as clear or stable as the DJI Phantom 2 Vision, but it is close... and at a smaller, lighter, cheaper package it may be more than good enough. I for one knew I didn't want to get into drones without stabilized video but by the same token I didn't want to pay $1500+ for my first drone, once DJI Phantom 2 Vision got down to $1100-1200 I was ready to pull the trigger but I am wondering if perhaps this would be the better choice. At $900 for the extended range receiver (which the DJI Phantom 2 does in the first place) I wonder if stepping up the DJI for a couple hundred more is the better choice... hmmm.
 
redscull said:
Website says 150 minutes. Edit: ok only 12 minutes. Not sure what the 150 is talking about.

It is amazing to me that consumers can buy an HD Video, 1 mile range drone for $900. That is nuts.
Click to expand...

Without factoring the wind that leaves you a maximum of 6 minutes to fly one mile and 6 minutes to flight back :D
 
Flight time listed on their website is 22 minutes. Not sure where everyone is seeing 12 minutes.
 
Is the $899 just for the controller or controller and drone?

On their site I couldn't make heads or tails of that.
 
Kissaragi said:
surely not having a camera on a stabilised gimbal severely limits this drone? Seems like a daft design for this price point.
Click to expand...

You should see the 250 quad FPV scene...it is exploding. All with non-gimbaled video cameras strapped to them. A VERY different beast than the floaty hover and pan Phantom.
 
Peepo said:
Surely you missed the part about 180 degree field of view and it takes a 1080p area using digital stabilization. The sensor is 14mp. Allows one to pan around left right up down 180 degrees. Could be better than a gimbal. Watch some of the videos and the are real stable.
Click to expand...

Surely I didn't and realised an independent gimbal physically moving a camera is far superior to limited digital tricky.

For a cheap drone its fine, at this price Id go to the competition.
 
Faa?

Hmmmm - the embedded video clip (commercial) may be in violation of FAA rules at the moment - Feb 25th there will be a summit under auspices of Congressional Entertainment Caucus on filmmaking and UAVs/Drones see http://dciff-indie.org at US Capitol
 
macbookonthego said:
Hmmmm - the embedded video clip (commercial) may be in violation of FAA rules at the moment - Feb 25th there will be a summit under auspices of Congressional Entertainment Caucus on filmmaking and UAVs/Drones see http://dciff-indie.org at US Capitol
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You're presuming it was filmed in the USA.

This particular drone is a consumerized toy compared to professional grade drones carrying fully gimbaled GoPro cameras for only a few hundred dollars more.

Battery performance on devices like this drops off rapidly as temperatures drop.
 
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