The General Drone-Related Thread

I think you've missed my point.
I'm talking about flying acro with a stabilised gimbal like on the P3 and P4, it can't do it.

What agility mode is on the Chroma is how many race quads are set up, with fixed vibration damped cameras, my mini hex is set up the same way with tap washers under the GoPro mount, then setting the FC so it flies like its on rails, flips and rolls are just awesome.
I'm not sure what point you think I've missed? I'm pointing out that a larger quad not made specifically for racing can fly in the same manner as an FPV racer, the Chroma could conceivably be considered both a 3D flier and GPS camera platform. As I said, I'm reasonably sure the earlier Phantoms, the 1 & 2 can fly 3D (no idea about the P3 or 4 as I've never owned one), but I accept your point that of course the gimbal and camera could never be used in this configuration.
 
My 16 year old daughter is asking for one for Xmas (bit of a tomboy still)

I have virtually no knowledge of these at all but if I am going to buy one I don't want to buy something that is rubbish BUT I don't want to spend a fortune only for it to sit in the box after Boxing Day.

Realistically what would I need to spend ? Would I get something semi decent for a beginner for say £100 ?

Like I say I am starting with virtually no knowledge

Any thoughts ?
 
Does she want a racing drone, something to just fly around, or something to take photos/videos with? x
 
I'm not sure really but think she would be happy with something we can take out together and yes, a little photography would be good.

Certainly nothing too fast as she is not the best at reacting lol
 
Check out -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cheerson-C...&sr=1-3-fkmr0&keywords=alcase+cheerson+cx-10w

Don't be fooled, by it's diminutive size, a great wee drone especially for starting out.

I was going to suggest the Hubsan H107D which I own and is great fun, but this Cheerson definitely looks like a great idea for starting out. The biggest difference is that the Hubsan has its own dedicated LCD display, whereas the Cheerson uses a smartphone for display which I assume your daughter already owns. Hope she enjoys whatever she gets!
 
I use 1080p 60fps mate as my pc slows right down with anything better lol. I'm using trial version of adobe premier elements which is really nice to use
 
How do ye edit your vids, as in what software,
what is your process from shooting to uploading ?
also what settings do you use for video on your phantom,
Not a phantom user (other brands are available heheh), but like StuartH I go for 1080p 60FPS to allow some overhead for slow-mo, 4K seems pointless for me at the moment as I don't own 4K anything, but appreciate the ability to use it in the future with both of my drones. I only fly/shoot for pleasure so only do simple edits, Windows Movie Maker does all I need. For now
 
I tried windows movie maker, everything is jumpy ? Don't know why and in pans the 3 description are all pixel ate in finished file.
If I link a Dropbox folder with originals, anyone fancy editing so I can see what I should be aiming for, not saying my footage is any good or anything, just a complete lack of ideas on what to do and how.:help::help::help::oops: :$:oops: :$:oops: :$
 
The problem with moviemaker you have no real control over export presets.
What happens if you do the export as a file to the computer?
This should be more or less uncompressed but will be very large to upload unless on a fast connection.

If playback is jerky it sounds like the computer can barely do 4K and you might have to record 1080p - but try the 2.7K which is considered the sweet spot for this camera anyway.
Sometimes a different video player with up to date codecs is all you are needing.
VLC or mpc-hc are good ones to try.
 
Not a phantom user (other brands are available heheh), but like StuartH I go for 1080p 60FPS to allow some overhead for slow-mo, 4K seems pointless for me at the moment as I don't own 4K anything, but appreciate the ability to use it in the future with both of my drones. I only fly/shoot for pleasure so only do simple edits, Windows Movie Maker does all I need. For now
You dont need to have anything 4k to take advantage of the higher quality starting footage. One advantage of shooting in 4k is that if you have your end resolution as 1080/720 you can scale down the footage but have the option to crop/zoom without losing any quality. Any decent editing software will allow you to do this.
You'll need a half decent computer to edit 4k footage though without it becoming a little less than enjoyable!
 
You dont need to have anything 4k to take advantage of the higher quality starting footage. One advantage of shooting in 4k is that if you have your end resolution as 1080/720 you can scale down the footage but have the option to crop/zoom without losing any quality. Any decent editing software will allow you to do this.
You'll need a half decent computer to edit 4k footage though without it becoming a little less than enjoyable!
That's interesting actually, so much of my footage is wider than I'd like, but for some reason cropping never entered my head... Will have a go with 4K on the Chroma and experiment. Cheers for the tip PC is a bit older so may struggle, i5-4690 but set up for over clocking by the supplier, 16gb RAM, GTX970. It was a beast in 2014, possibly not so now!
 
FWIW this is my first ever flight with the Typhoon a few weeks back, filmed in 1080p60 and edited with Movie Maker. The only editing was cutting scenes together (rather poorly lol), other than that the footage is as it came out of the camera.

View: https://youtu.be/gWeT5NmT_8k
 
Not a pilot but I hear Sweden has now banned drones with cameras?


Edit: spelling
 
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Not a pilot but I hear Sweden has not banned drones with cameras?

Somebody not doing something wouldn't be much of a story ;)

A court in Sweden has ruled that cameras on drones are surveillance devices and need to be licensed as such
 
So with a Mavic on order I have time on my hands to do more research into drones.

I've noticed that all National Trust land has a ban on drones and being in Cornwall, this could be an issue.

I've also noticed 1000's of videos from National Trust land on YouTube, but no mention of anyone getting into trouble for using a drone in these places.

Has anyone here ran into any problems, either on National Trust land, or beaches etc?

Any advice really appreciated.

I should add I will be following the advice from the CAA of course.
 
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So with a Mavic on order I have time on my hands to do more research into drones.

I've noticed that all National Trust land has a ban on drones and being in Cornwall, this could be an issue.

I've also noticed 1000's of videos from National Trust land on YouTube, but no mention of anyone getting into trouble for using a drone in these places.

Has anyone here ran into any problems, either on National Trust land, or beaches etc?

Any advice really appreciated.

I should add I will be following the advice from the CAA of course.

Depends if you get caught I guess. But, remember that there are other users of these areas and in the case of some coastal cliff areas (in Cornwall - don't know about others), rc flyers have been given permission for 'silent flight' (rc gliders) along with full size paragliders. YOU WILL VERY LIEKLY BE LYNCHED by the 'silent flight pilots' if you turn up and fly with anything that is not silent flight as it puts their negotiated arrangement at risk. Where mixed rc and full size silent flight occurs, both happily coexist together but the rc combat glider pilots will easily 'convince' any multirotor to land one way or another.

Just make sure you observe the separation rules and don't be a dick, there are far too many of them out their giving multirotors a bad name as it is. Oh, and make sure you get insurance from the BMFA or something equivalent for when things go pear shaped. Ideally, if you have little flying experience, why not contact a model flying club who can offer you a lot of advice, help and provide a 'safe and legal' flying site for you to get to grips with your new multirotor. Where abouts in Cornwall are you?
 
if you have little flying experience, why not contact a model flying club who can offer you a lot of advice, help and provide a 'safe and legal' flying site for you to get to grips with your new multirotor. Where abouts in Cornwall are you?

Good luck with that, from my experience some clubs don't like mulitcopters (they just about tolerate helicopters)

better to find a multirotor group that can give advice, do meet ups.
mostly just use common sense and practice in an area that's away from anything or anyone.

:)
 
I decided to speak to a few people I know at the National Trust and get definitive answers. This may have been a rule that they have a bit of flexibility on.

It wasn't :), this is part of the reply I got back:
NT policy does not allow drones to be flown on, from or across our land except in certain commercial cases which we deem appropriate whereby a license for use is drawn up. In these cases, only contractors with the correct licenses and insurance are used.

This means I can't use the Mavic for what I want it for, so I've decided to cancel my order. Shame.

I wrote more on this here if anyone is interested (but it comes down to no permission so I won't fly): http://cameraandcampervan.co.uk/i-ordered-drone-photography-now-im-cancelling/
 
They say much the same about photography and video in general.
National Trust have no more power than any other landowner to prevent overflying at a discrete height.
They may be able to to stop you taking off from their land but even that is rather doubtful if talking about large areas and a quiet time of day/year, not least because they'd never know.
Mavic is much quieter and less intrusive for slightly cheeky use.
 
What he said. You don't t own, or have any control of the airspace over your property

I've heard this argument quite often. I've also read about the Civil Aviation Act 1982 giving certain rights to the first 500ft above owned property. Is this not true?
Don't suppose you (or anyone else) could link me to an article stating this as I'm having a hard time finding one?
 
I've heard this argument quite often. I've also read about the Civil Aviation Act 1982 giving certain rights to the first 500ft above owned property. Is this not true?
Don't suppose you (or anyone else) could link me to an article stating this as I'm having a hard time finding one?


As far as I'm aware that's not true. I've no idea as to a link to show
 
From http://shop.droneflight.co.uk/pages/summary-of-uk-legal-requirements

The aircraft must not be flown:

  • over or within 150 metres of any congested area
  • over or within 150 metres of an organised open-air assembly of more than 1,000 persons;
  • within 50 metres of any vessel, vehicle or structure which is not under the control of the person in charge of the aircraft
  • within 50 metres of any person except during take-off or landing, the aircraft must not be flown within 30 metres of any person except for the person in charge of the aircraft.

I rather doubt that any NT owned structure would be under any "person in charge of the aircraft" which would suggest that overflight of any of their properties might well be frowned upon - fences can be considered structures (try putting up a 10' fence and see what the planners have to say about it!)
 
From http://shop.droneflight.co.uk/pages/summary-of-uk-legal-requirements

The aircraft must not be flown:

  • over or within 150 metres of any congested area
  • over or within 150 metres of an organised open-air assembly of more than 1,000 persons;
  • within 50 metres of any vessel, vehicle or structure which is not under the control of the person in charge of the aircraft
  • within 50 metres of any person except during take-off or landing, the aircraft must not be flown within 30 metres of any person except for the person in charge of the aircraft.

I rather doubt that any NT owned structure would be under any "person in charge of the aircraft" which would suggest that overflight of any of their properties might well be frowned upon - fences can be considered structures (try putting up a 10' fence and see what the planners have to say about it!)

I would like to agree, but I also found this:
The common law distinguishes between two different types of airspace. The lower and Upper stratum.

The lower stratum is concerned with the portion immediately above the land and interference with this air space would effect the landowner’s reasonable enjoyment of the land and the structures upon it.

The Higher Stratum is something which exists above the height which is reasonably acceptable and necessary for the ordinary use and enjoyment of the land by it’s owner. The landowner has no greater rights to this airspace than any other member of the public.

S. 76 Civil Aviation Act 1982 states that ‘the lower stratum is unlikely to extend beyond an altitude of much more than 500 or 1,000 feet above roof level, this being roughly the minimum permissible distance for normal overflying by any aircraft’ (Rules of the Air Regulations 2007, Sch 1, s. 3(5)).

I would say it was a reasonable argument that a drone could infringe "reasonable enjoyment of the land"?

I've seen it written loads of times that this isn't the case and a landowner has no rights to the airspace above. Just wish I could find some facts to back this up.
 
From http://shop.droneflight.co.uk/pages/summary-of-uk-legal-requirements

The aircraft must not be flown:

  • over or within 150 metres of any congested area
  • over or within 150 metres of an organised open-air assembly of more than 1,000 persons;
  • within 50 metres of any vessel, vehicle or structure which is not under the control of the person in charge of the aircraft
  • within 50 metres of any person except during take-off or landing, the aircraft must not be flown within 30 metres of any person except for the person in charge of the aircraft.

I rather doubt that any NT owned structure would be under any "person in charge of the aircraft" which would suggest that overflight of any of their properties might well be frowned upon - fences can be considered structures (try putting up a 10' fence and see what the planners have to say about it!)


That's a very different issue from owning the airspace over your property
 
Not owning the airspace, rights over it.
It's the rights I'm hoping to find an argument against (and failing)

In theory Heathrow has the rights to the airspace from surface over my house.i don't. Does that help
 
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