What kind of drone are you all using?

[SparkFlash]

For those of you who use a drone for digital video shots, what kind of drone are you using? I was using the Phantom 3 4k, but returned it and just ordered a MAVIC Pro now that they are 7-10 shipping time. I am super excited for the small form and all the bells and whistles.

What are you all using?

 

[BeechFlyer]

I don't have a drone, but that MAVIC Pro sure looks very, very nice!

 

[SparkFlash]

I don't have a drone, but that MAVIC Pro sure looks very, very nice!

It is! There is nothing it can't do! It was shipped today so I am now super stoked!

 

[richard371]

Mavic here.

 

[wordup60]

Mavic Pro. It is amazing. In fact, the only letdown is the iPhone's inability to work in very cold weather. The drone itself is near perfect.

 

[v3rlon]

I have a 3DR solo.
It is a nice camera platform (multi point cable cam etc), but sadly it seems 3DR is getting out of consumer drones. I liked the idea of the GoPro as the cameras improve year on year, and they are the only one I know to add features in a current model via software.. The Mavic does look really nice. It is small enough you could add it to a camera case.

 

[SparkFlash]

Mavic Pro. It is amazing. In fact, the only letdown is the iPhone's inability to work in very cold weather. The drone itself is near perfect.

What do you mean? I use iPhone as well and its pretty cold and my iPhone is working good?

 

[wordup60]

What do you mean? I use iPhone as well and its pretty cold and my iPhone is working good?

I was skiing (temperatures just below freezing, around -4C) and the phone battery, though full, collapsed within minutes. It's not a good feeling to go blind when you can't actually see your drone anymore. Thank heavens for the auto-return-home function with collision avoidance.

Just to qualify this, this is with the phone attached to the Mavic controller and being exposed to the cold and wind on four of its six sides.

 

[natebookpro]

I was skiing (temperatures just below freezing, around -4C) and the phone battery, though full, collapsed within minutes. It's not a good feeling to go blind when you can't actually see your drone anymore. Thank heavens for the auto-return-home function with collision avoidance.

Just to qualify this, this is with the phone attached to the Mavic controller and being exposed to the cold and wind on four of its six sides.

Mavic Pro here as well. On an iPhone 7 Plus in 20ish degree Fahrenheit temps I can definitely burn through a good 25% of my battery on one flight. I had an old iPad mini 2 laying around and have started using that for the bigger screen and better battery life. I feel fine on my phone making one flight as long as the battery is charged, but yea, its definitely something to keep your eye on.

 

[iMas70]

Phantom 4 Pro here. I use my iPad Air 2 while flying. What is everyone using to edit videos? I've been trying Premiere Pro. Seems like it will be pretty good. I just need to learn it.

 

[joema2]

Phantom 4 Pro here. I use my iPad Air 2 while flying. What is everyone using to edit videos? I've been trying Premiere Pro. Seems like it will be pretty good. I just need to learn it.

This is a Mac forum so I assume you have a Mac computer. iMovie is free and works very well. I have talked to some newspaper photographer/videographers who use only iMovie.

I use both Premiere CC and FCPX. If you don't mind paying a perpetual subscription fee for Premiere it is pretty good. If you get the entire suite, you get a tremendous amount of software for that monthly fee. OTOH FCPX is $299 for a one-time fee and they have updated it many times since 2011 for free.

If you are an educational user for $200 you can get the entire bundle of FCPX, Compressor, Motion 5, Logic Pro X, and MainStage 3: http://www.fcp.co/final-cut-pro/news/1925-apple-announces-200-pro-apps-bundle-for-education

 

[Keebler]

The Mavic Pro is on my list.

It was on the list.
Then off again after I learned of the 9 km (about 6 miles) no fly zone near aerodromes and airports here in Canada.

Where I plan to use it most of the time is 2 kms from a grass strip aerodrome.
But the owners just had an article in the paper trying to sell the aerodrome which will most likely be purchased by land developers as that area is growing.

So the MP is back on the list if that place is sold.

From all the reviews I've read, the quality is darn close to the others, but the size factor is a massive wow appeal.
Plus it will be completely amateur.

My buddy uses iMovie to edit his stuff and I plan on using FCX.

Cheers,
Keebler

 

[northernmunky]

Well I'm new to droning, so I got something much cheaper for now until I prove to myself that I'm actually any good at it. For now though, I ordered an Aosenma CG035 with GPS (and without cam) so I can attach my own 4k GoPro to it. Should arrive next week. Youtube reviews have been very positive, so I guess we'll see how well it performs.

http://www.banggood.com/AOSENMA-CG0...4G-4CH-6Axis-RC-Quadcopter-RTF-p-1078097.html

 

[dannynjoni]

Phantom 4 Pro here. I use my iPad Air 2 while flying. What is everyone using to edit videos? I've been trying Premiere Pro. Seems like it will be pretty good. I just need to learn it.

I've been learning Adobe Premiere and prefer Lightroom for most of my photo edits. I subscribe to the Adobe suite and love it. They are always adding new features and some of them are pretty powerful. It's definitely worth the time to learn! FCP was good too but I haven't been putting time into it since Apple decided to move away from it. I like the Adobe products anyways, and they are very committed to the product.

Just got my first drone when Best Buy began the deep price cuts on the Solo by 3DR. I picked up the drone, four batteries, 3 sets of props, SOLO back pack and an extra gimbal for a fantastic price. It's the easiest thing to fly I have ever tried and has a tremendous user base who seem like they're in it for the long hall. My son-in-law was more than willing to loan out his GoPro Hero 4 Black for me to use as needed so it was a no brainer.

And I'm sure as these things get smarter and smaller I will upgrade at some point. But for now I fell like I've really got a lot to work with!

 

[joema2]

....FCP was good too but I haven't been putting time into it since Apple decided to move away from it...

Apple has never moved away from FCP. With the release of FCPX in 2011 Apple committed to a 10-year development plan. Since then there have been 21 updates, many of them major. One of the largest feature updates in the product's history was just a few months ago: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201237

All of these updates have been free and don't require a monthly subscription to get them.

Premiere CC is good and I have a subscription to that. If you have the entire suite that gives tremendous functionality for $49 per month. OTOH for that price you could buy a new iMac (including trade in) every two years.

 

[ibookg409]

Well I'm new to droning, so I got something much cheaper for now until I prove to myself that I'm actually any good at it. For now though, I ordered an Aosenma CG035 with GPS (and without cam) so I can attach my own 4k GoPro to it. Should arrive next week. Youtube reviews have been very positive, so I guess we'll see how well it performs.

http://www.banggood.com/AOSENMA-CG0...4G-4CH-6Axis-RC-Quadcopter-RTF-p-1078097.html

My wife bought me a cheap little quadcopter for Christmas (a Syma x11). I was embarased when I opened it because I thought it was a kids toy. After flying it around for 5 minutes I was hooked. I ordered the bigger SYma X5C-1 and that still wan't enough. I looked at the AOSENMA but ended up getting the MJX Bugs 3

It arrived yesterday and holy crap! It's awesome" Brushless motors for $100. This thing actually lifted my very heavy iPhone 6 Plus with a case on it. I have a much lighter GoPro knock off coming and a plastic 2 axis gimble. So for about $200 I got 4K recording brushless drone. I can't afford $1000 to throw away on a hobby (yet).

 

[northernmunky]

My wife bought me a cheap little quadcopter for Christmas (a Syma x11). I was embarased when I opened it because I thought it was a kids toy. After flying it around for 5 minutes I was hooked. I ordered the bigger SYma X5C-1 and that still wan't enough. I looked at the AOSENMA but ended up getting the MJX Bugs 3

View attachment 688699

It arrived yesterday and holy crap! It's awesome" Brushless motors for $100. This thing actually lifted my very heavy iPhone 6 Plus with a case on it. I have a much lighter GoPro knock off coming and a plastic 2 axis gimble. So for about $200 I got 4K recording brushless drone. I can't afford $1000 to throw away on a hobby (yet).

Nice one! I did consider the Bugs 3 as well, I was between that and the Aosenma, and I went for the Aosenma. Still waiting for it to arrive tho....

 

[ibookg409]

Nice one! I did consider the Bugs 3 as well, I was between that and the Aosenma, and I went for the Aosenma. Still waiting for it to arrive tho....

I took the Bugs for its maiden voyage today. Holy Sh*t Snacks! It's a beast. Really fast and agile. My GoPro is on its way so,we will take some decent footage next week. I also have a lightweight 2 axis gimbal coming and extra batteries and whatnot. The field I was using is actually too small for the Bugs.

 

[3568378]

Mavic - it's fantastic. I was tempted on the P4Pro because of the 1" camera sensor - definitely a plus for shooting low light but when it was all said and done the Mavic was both cheaper and ridiculously smaller and I don't really need low light much, esp. aerial shots. The Mavic flies awesome. I had it up to about 1500 feet the other day and it's as stable as can be - light winds and no issues. Edit using FCPX. Will never pay monthly for software and FCPX is optimized for my graphics card on my rMBP - render times are fantastic and it does all I need it to do.

 

[ibookg409]

Mavic - it's fantastic. I was tempted on the P4Pro because of the 1" camera sensor - definitely a plus for shooting low light but when it was all said and done the Mavic was both cheaper and ridiculously smaller and I don't really need low light much, esp. aerial shots. The Mavic flies awesome. I had it up to about 1500 feet the other day and it's as stable as can be - light winds and no issues. Edit using FCPX. Will never pay monthly for software and FCPX is optimized for my graphics card on my rMBP - render times are fantastic and it does all I need it to do.

1500' is way above the legal limit. Aren't there height limiters in the Mavic as there are in the Phantoms?

 

[Munimula]

1500' is way above the legal limit. Aren't there height limiters in the Mavic as there are in the Phantoms?

400' AGL is the legal limit, but even the Phantom will let you disable that within the DJI GO control app. I have had mine at 1500' a few times, as I live in the middle of Nowhere beside a mountain that rises 700' above my yard, so to fly over the top of that, I have to break the limit. P3 Advanced is VERY stable at 1500', but I was afraid to go any higher since most of the YouTube 'crash' videos seem to start with "So I was flying around 1600' up and then..."

 

[elf69]

I got a cheapo at min.

but have a phantom 2 clone on its way from china.
only £150 yes it not going have same quality but for price it be fine for an amature

 

[ibookg409]

400' AGL is the legal limit, but even the Phantom will let you disable that within the DJI GO control app. I have had mine at 1500' a few times, as I live in the middle of Nowhere beside a mountain that rises 700' above my yard, so to fly over the top of that, I have to break the limit. P3 Advanced is VERY stable at 1500', but I was afraid to go any higher since most of the YouTube 'crash' videos seem to start with "So I was flying around 1600' up and then..."

I've been flying cheaper drones just line of sight. Yesterday I took the phantom further than I could see for the first time and it was scary to just relay on the instruments and the FPV. Sit was fun though. I don't think I'll be going above 400' for a while.

I got a cheapo at min.

but have a phantom 2 clone on its way from china.
only £150 yes it not going have same quality but for price it be fine for an amature

 

[Keebler]

Bought a mavic last week. LOVE IT!

Looking at a VR headset now. Found it hard to see in sunlight and like the idea I'll be flying like a bird lol

 

[v3rlon]

So I sold my Solo and bought a Phantom 4.
Advantage Phantom
It is MUCH faster to get the Phantom in the air. The Solo required to turn on the GoPro, the Drone, the controller, and the screen. I often had struggles getting everything synced. It wasn't that I couldn't, but that it was more work.

1 charger for battery and controller

Smaller form factor, lighter to carry

Longer battery life (28 min on the P4 INCLUDES camera and gimbal. 23 minutes on Solo was naked. I usually got 15-18)

Less fisheye on default lens

DJI continues to serve consumer/prosumer/pro markets - likely to be around longer

Easier to find parts/accessories - some even cheaper

Lightbridge = better video over longer range with less latency

Easier to xfer images and videos without taking it apart.

Advantage Solo
The Solo had more flight modes than the Phantom

Could replace GoPro with upgraded model (until GoPro changed form factor with 5)

Software upgrades (but those seem to have ended)

I liked the App better

I liked the controller better, except the phone holder.

Black is easier to see in daylight sky