Does anyone own drone?

[scarlet knight]

My friend is coming over to show me his. I am a long time amateur photographer.

[Dan Pierce]

My son does. A couple years ago he stopped by the house to take some pics while we enjoyed some of Kentucky's finest on the deck. It's always amazing to see anything from a different point of view. No wonder real estate agents use this format.
dP

[77T]

I think you are going to hear from a TUMI toting drone fly-guy in just a few if @TheVTCGuy is awake this early on the West Coast.


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[brandrea]

Originally Posted by 77T

I think you are going to hear from a TUMI toting drone fly-guy in just a few if @VTCguy is awake this early on the West Coast.


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[East Bay Rider]

I have an entry level hobby drone. The DJI Mini 4K. I added an SD card and got a couple of extra batteries and charging hub. It's fun to view my property from other angles but I did get disoriented when I flew it in an unfamiliar, mostly wooded area where everything looked the same from above. Thank God for the 'Return to home' feature. I'm sure that's saved a lot of drones.
I have no plans to upgrade to a better model because to be honest, this is likely all I'll realistically ever need.

[alllexandru]

Had two, my kid broke them flying as f...k
After that no drones until he can get with his own money than I can fly and tear them down :D

[Calatrava r]

Aren't there strict laws on these things which the uninformed can stumble into some serious trouble over?

[East Bay Rider]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

Aren't there strict laws on these things which the uninformed can stumble into some serious trouble over?

FAA online certification for recreational hobbyists.
https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational...e_test_updates

[MrGoat]

Yep, I have a DJI mini 4k. I use it to check fence and the stock as well as do some surveillance if I hear or see vehicles on the property that shouldn’t be there.

I have had it 6200+’ away with a 4k picture. It’s the best $300 I have ever spent.


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[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by 77T

I think you are going to hear from a TUMI toting drone fly-guy in just a few if @TheVTCGuy is awake this early on the West Coast.


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Did someone call?

[TheVTCGuy]

I have been involved in drones since about 2010, mostly commercial models, bigger, heavier (and more expensive) then your typical DJI hobby drone. Up until a year and a half ago, I was Director of Engineering for Sony’s Drone (Airpeak) division, a model designed to carry a full DSLR camera for professional movie making (makes sense). I also am an FAA 107 and 108 commercial drone license instructor (and certifier). I have a commercial pilot’s license as well. I’ll be glad to help but the first question(s) I would have is what are you planning to do? Is this just as a hobby? Then as someone suggested a DJI Mavic (or similar) model is excellent and affordable. Are you planning on starting a commercial enterprise? Like filming weddings or other events? Then you would need a larger model, probably one to carry a DSLR. In between a good model/camera is the DJI Inspire 3. Oh, and you will have to get at a minimum your FAA 107 rating. Trust me, you don’t want to be caught without it, the FAA is very vindictive. I have been out of the business for about a year, but still have lots of contacts in the industry, including a very good friend in Hollywood named Skip Fredericks. He did the areal shots for some HBO show… small time…. Throne games…. Gamer of throners…. Something like that. If you are interested in serious cinematography I can put you in touch with him (great guy too). Whatever your interest and level, I wish you the absolute best!

[JasoninDenver]

Originally Posted by MrGoat

Yep, I have a DJI mini 4k. I use it to check fence and the stock as well as do some surveillance if I hear or see vehicles on the property that shouldn’t be there.

I have had it 6200+’ away with a 4k picture. It’s the best $300 I have ever spent.


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My cousin uses his to check irrigation lines in much the same way. Saves him hours each day.

[THC]

Nice gesture Paul

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

I have been involved in drones since about 2010, mostly commercial models, bigger, heavier (and more expensive) then your typical DJI hobby drone. Up until a year and a half ago, I was Director of Engineering for Sony’s Drone (Airpeak) division, a model designed to carry a full DSLR camera for professional movie making (makes sense). I also am an FAA 107 and 108 commercial drone license instructor (and certifier). I have a commercial pilot’s license as well. I’ll be glad to help but the first question(s) I would have is what are you planning to do? Is this just as a hobby? Then as someone suggested a DJI Mavic (or similar) model is excellent and affordable. Are you planning on starting a commercial enterprise? Like filming weddings or other events? Then you would need a larger model, probably one to carry a DSLR. In between a good model/camera is the DJI Inspire 3. Oh, and you will have to get at a minimum your FAA 107 rating. Trust me, you don’t want to be caught without it, the FAA is very vindictive. I have been out of the business for about a year, but still have lots of contacts in the industry, including a very good friend in Hollywood named Skip Fredericks. He did the areal shots for some HBO show… small time…. Throne games…. Gamer of throners…. Something like that. If you are interested in serious cinematography I can put you in touch with him (great guy too). Whatever your interest and level, I wish you the absolute best!

mic drop … the man has spoken!

Id be interested in knowing what type of drone to buy for filming/taking pictures of the lake at our cottage. It’s big water … anything I should consider because of that?

Sorry to the OP, I don’t mean to highjack your thread.

[East Bay Rider]

I will add that every drone user should have two apps on their phone. One is called Air Aware and it tells you if you are currently in restricted airspace. You might be living in or visiting a location with restricted airspace and not even know it. The other app is Drone Weather. That one takes weather data from your location and reports if conditions are favorable for flying or not. It reports (at different altitudes) wind speed, wind gusts, direction, percentage of cloud cover, precipitation, temperature. Kind of an interesting app to nerd out on. Maybe there are other apps that do the same things. These are the ones I use.
Hope this helps.

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by brandrea

mic drop … the man has spoken!

Id be interested in knowing what type of drone to buy for filming/taking pictures of the lake at our cottage. It’s big water … anything I should consider because of that?

Sorry to the OP, I don’t mean to highjack your thread.

Originally Posted by East Bay Rider

I will add that every drone user should have two apps on their phone. One is called Air Aware and it tells you if you are currently in restricted airspace. You might be living in or visiting a location with restricted airspace and not even know it. The other app is Drone Weather. That one takes weather data from your location and reports if conditions are favorable for flying or not. It reports (at different altitudes) wind speed, wind gusts, direction, percentage of cloud cover, precipitation, temperature. Kind of an interesting app to nerd out on. Maybe there are other apps that do the same things. These are the ones I use.
Hope this helps.

Brian, the field is wide open to you, depending on your desires. Just for hobby photography at your cottage (is my room ready?) I would look at one of the smaller and less expensive DJI models, probably a Maverick or maybe a Maverick Mini. They are dependable, lots of features, decent camera and easy to fly. One thing is to mind the flight times of the one(s) you are considering and if you plan on traveling to the other side of a large lake you don’t want it auto-landing half way back because of low-battery after flying it to long. Oh, and as Bill pointed out, DEFINITELY get one of those apps to make SURE you are not flying in controlled airspace. The FAA and other government entities tend to take a very dim view of unauthorized airspace entry, even if it is just a small drone.