Camera Drones

Do a Google search for `best camera drone' and read on. There is a difference between `toy' drones and `hobby' drones but the articles will explain all that.

Depends on whether you want a toy or a real unmanned aircraft(vehicle)? Fixed-wing or rotary-wings? Single or multiple rotors?? How much money can you afford to see in a pile of pieces? Rule number one: if you can't afford to crash it, don't try to fly it! Rule number 2: if you can't afford the lawsuit when it hits someone or something, don't fly it!

rseymour21 wrote:
I've seen a few posts with some great pictures from a drone.
Mostly on this site. If a beginner wanted to purchase a decent,
Relative cheap one, what drone would you suggest?

That's a good question. I "popped" for a DJI Phantom, not exactly cheap and it's harder to fly than it looks especially when it's windy.

But it's fun and you're apt to draw on-lookers. These things are drawing a lot of "attention" and not in a good way. Too many knuckle-heads flying too close to crowds and not having respect for peoples privacy. I try to fly when nobody is around so as to NOT draw attention to my copter.

Dan



A shot from my neighborhood.....

Also, before you actually fly one, it's worth checking into FAA regulations so you don't get in trouble...

like here

I didn't know there was any cheap ones out there. but in saying that I bought on with a camera off the HSN last year for $69. but I see they were twice that this year.

Depends on what you mean by "great pictures," "decent" and "relative cheap" because you are buying a camera as well as an aircraft. The camera itself could be anything from a $40 webcam to $4000 production video camera, and that price might be before buying lenses.

Starting out, probably the best approach is a complete package: aircraft, camera, radio control system.

The BeBop at $500 is a good start for "let's go up and see what's out there." It holds cost down by skipping conventional radio control. It uses the smartphone you are presumed to already have as the controller, setting up peer to peer WiFi as a limited operating range 2-way radio. The camera this is not pointable (you point the aircraft) and has a 180-degree fisheye view. That may or may not mean "great pictures" for you.

$1300 Yuneec Q500 4K Typhoon puts a decent 4K video camera on gimbals into a quad-copter chassis with a fairly high performance radio control system (for greater operating range). Q500+ Typhoon at $1050 has a HD video camera, fixed focus with 110 degree field of view. The camera is gimbal mounted pointability and some stability, but it is not like having a gyroscope. There are also Typhoon models to carry a GoPro, if you already have that ($250-400) action camera.

Next step up, minimum pro expectations on video quality, will be about $4500-8000. Yuneec's Tornado line is an example, aircraft with about 2000 meter operating range carrying a HD video cam with a focusing zoom lens. Still not gyro stabilized, that's in the 5-6 figure price range. At this level, the camera probably represents 1/4 to 1/2 the cost of a system, the bare aircraft with the capability to lift a lightweight semi-pro camera and gimbal costing around $2500, $3500 with a controller. Then it is a matter of do you install $500 worth of camera and mount, or $4000 camera, or whatever in between.

Many others out there, these have become respected in the photographic community.

FWIW, once you get up past the "carry my GoPro" class, the most frequently carried camera is Panasonic's Lumix GH4, for 4K video quality, weather resistance, and remote-controllability. A GH4 body costs about $1300, lenses start at about $180 and go up into the $1000 range, which isn't bad considering Nikon and Canon lenses can run as high as 10X that. Yuneec sells a gimbal specifically for this camera.

I'd personally start with a Parrot Bebop Drone

I'd start with a drone forum somewhere online.