Finally got a "real" drone!

[Squerly]

Well, it's real to me anyway. Better than the $65.00, el cheapo models I've been flying for the last couple of years.

Sorry for the grainy video, it seems to loose quite a bit of definition when loading up/down from youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk4NdauU0p0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8EVY_d0ppE

[Redstreak]

What model are you flying?

[Squerly]

Originally Posted by Redstreak

What model are you flying?

It's an Autel Robotics X-Star Premium. Do you fly a drone too?

[Big-Foot]

Mavic 2 Zoom pilot / photographer here....

[Squerly]

Originally Posted by Big-Foot

Mavic 2 Zoom pilot / photographer here....

Nice!

I'm making the transition from the typical $65.00 indoor quad to something that I can fly outside. I'd love to have a DJI but at this time I'm more qualified to lose it in the forest than I am to navigate the sky's without incident.

And given my wife's lack of tolerance for stupidity, coupled with some previous "I told you so" incidents, I'd rather learn on a $400.00 drone than an expensive one.

It's called survival...

[The Gritz Carlton]

Phantom 4 Commercial here. Love the drone possibilities while traveling! I do mostly private work, inspections for local municipalities and a few high-end realtors.


Website:


Home

[Big-Foot]

Originally Posted by Squerly

Nice!

I'm making the transition from the typical $65.00 indoor quad to something that I can fly outside. I'd love to have a DJI but at this time I'm more qualified to lose it in the forest than I am to navigate the sky's without incident.

And given my wife's lack of tolerance for stupidity, coupled with some previous "I told you so" incidents, I'd rather learn on a $400.00 drone than an expensive one.

It's called survival...

I have a couple thousand in my setup to this point. Photography is one of my passions and this drone allows me to go places I simply can’t go or places that might put me in harms way. I fly the desert mostly and while the drone can operate up to 5 miles away from me, I generally stop my outbound treks at no more than 2 miles. This is desert flying only. Otherwise it never leaves my direct sight. The safeguards built into the drone such as obstacle avoidance has saved the drone from almost certain loss / damage on a couple of occasions now.
I love shooting sunsets with “Chuck” (drone)...
—
I was trying to attach but my stupid iPad has just informed me that I don’t have any pictures or videos ((wrong))..
I will update later after a reboot..

[Squerly]

Cool, I'm among experts!

I'm having a blast with mine, still have it in beginner mode so I'm limited to 98' and decreased top-end speed. I'm using an iPad mini for the display and find it very difficult to see anything on.

Any advice on how to fix that?

[Squerly]

Originally Posted by Big-Foot

I love shooting sunsets with “Chuck” (drone)...
—

That is beautiful

[JamieGeek]

Could always use a Skydio and just have it fly itself.

[Big-Foot]

Originally Posted by Squerly

Cool, I'm among experts!

I'm having a blast with mine, still have it in beginner mode so I'm limited to 98' and decreased top-end speed. I'm using an iPad mini for the display and find it very difficult to see anything on.

Any advice on how to fix that?

No expert here, but I have done a few things....
I have an iPad Mini-4 which has a brighter display than previous releases, but not as bright as the new Mini-5. I also bought an anti-glare screen cover for it - that dramatically cuts down on the reflectivity of the screen.
Also adjusted the brightness on the screen to MAX.
You can make or purchase glare guards or make one out of an old cereal box / cardboard to shield the screen from glare.
—
I almost always fly Chuck in “P” mode unless I am shooting in Tripod mode. I have only flown him in Sport mode once and that was by accident.
—
I have added a couple more pictures above. Some of these are taken a mile or more into the desert while hovering only a few feet off the ground.

[Big-Foot]

Originally Posted by JamieGeek

Could always use a Skydio and just have it fly itself.

Cost of entry is $1,500.00 for the drone, charger and battery.
Max flight time is 16 minutes
Shoots video only at either 1080-60fps or 4k-30fps
Appears that it is meant solely for doing selfie videos
Interesting, but not what I am into personally.
Mavic 2 will do everything that this drone would do.
The cost of entry for the Mavic 2 Zoom, controller, battery and charger is $1,249.00.
—
Thanks for introducing us to a very interesting drone!

[blw2]

As an inactive private pilot, I've been thinking those things would be a good way for me to cheaply get an aviation fix.... the view from up there...

but I'm concerned that I wouldn't be able to fly the thing most places we go...state parks and such.... so I've so far resisted. Does look like fun though!

[Big-Foot]

Originally Posted by blw2

As an inactive private pilot, I've been thinking those things would be a good way for me to cheaply get an aviation fix.... the view from up there...

but I'm concerned that I wouldn't be able to fly the thing most places we go...state parks and such.... so I've so far resisted. Does look like fun though!

There are some places that are “no fly” zones and some of those you can fly with permission.
Download UAV Pilot (free app) and you can see where some of these zones are also current flying conditions where you are at.
Generally speaking, if you know what you are doing and don’t make a pest of yourself by hovering over people, etc., no one is really going to care.
Drone Paranoia is real. People typically believe all the TV shows and News broadcasts that villainize drones and their have found that it is usually pretty easy to turn them into allies just by being open and welcoming to their questions. 1 such person I encountered last winter was in the process of purchasing his own drone the last time I saw him.
Still though - you need to be respectful of the laws...

[The Gritz Carlton]

Just fly "under the radar" and respect others and their property...no problems. It's a blast and the point of view is amazing. Makes you appreciate birds a lot more!!

[Squerly]

Finally got the nerve to take my drone up to the legal limit of 400 feet. Wind was pretty strong and I was big-time nervous.

Anyway, here is the video. It was shot in 4K but after loading it to youtube I'm sure it's going to take a hit in resolution.

Note: Resolution and video is better if you click on the link at the top of the video. It'll take you to a separate page where the video will be full sized.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCc-...ature=youtu.be

[The Gritz Carlton]

Sitting on the sofa with the drone...you can do anything. Want to turn a man into a little boy in the dark in 5 seconds...send her up several hundred feet. It's scary!! Been there and done that!! Of all the videos I've watched and done over the last 8 years...this is the best! Whoever flew this is the best there is. I could never do this...ever...but what a goal!! The music is as good as the drone skills..."The Train From Washington"...notice it's empty and has been for over 100 years....incredible video!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQDcDZ6rmGE

[Squerly]

lol, yep, that is amazing, thanks for posting.

Right now, I just want to fly without being afraid of hitting a tree, or crashing into the ground, or loosing my drone in the forest, or... Know what I mean?

I'm logging in about 20 minutes a day almost every day. I'm trying to gain comfort with the monitor and put a little less dependency on actually seeing the drone. At 400' I can barely see it anyway.

It seems funny in a way, but looking up at that dot in the sky give me a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach.

[The Gritz Carlton]

Originally Posted by Squerly

lol, yep, that is amazing, thanks for posting.

Right now, I just want to fly without being afraid of hitting a tree, or crashing into the ground, or loosing my drone in the forest, or... Know what I mean?

I'm logging in about 20 minutes a day almost every day. I'm trying to gain comfort with the monitor and put a little less dependency on actually seeing the drone. At 400' I can barely see it anyway.

It seems funny in a way, but looking up at that dot in the sky give me a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach.

That's God!! He's saying...oh, yeah...you looking that hard in this direction but you're missing someone!!!

[Blindcoyote]

I guess it must be me, but I have tried 3 different drones and every one seems to drift. with zero wind. Shouldn't they just hover if you're not messing with the controls?