User Panel
Posted: 4/13/2023 12:30:51 PM EDT
Good morning firearms aficionados!
I am a long time professional photographer. A Canon guy from way, way back. I was recently bitten by the drone bug and cannot wait to get more proficient in everything drone. I purchased a DJI Mini 3 Pro, with the RC controller. This controller has a fantastic built in screen which allows you to see where you are going and watch live video feed. The camera/video resolution is absolutely incredible for something this small and light. Playing around with this makes me want bigger and better. Sound familiar? It's very closely related to G.A.S. - Gun Acquisition Syndrome - a serious illness with no known cure. Just curious about what drones you are using, how you use them and any tips you might have for a beginner. GBB Quick picture over my house: Attached File |
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I picked up a mavic 3 classic a couple months back. It’s been fun messing around with it. Way more setting than I know how to manipulate yet. I made some okay short videos hunting last season. The auto tracking is pretty cool.
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Originally Posted By TheRedGoat:
Sex is always better when one of you is crying. |
honestly there isn't that far up to go from the mini 3 pro. its a HELL of a drone for the size and cost. enjoy it.
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callmenoshie: "saying that females have the potential to be "bat shit crazy" is like saying the sky has the potential to be blue."
XCRmonger: "I've seen German Shit Porn that was sexier." |
I figured that the Mini 3 Pro was kind of the pinnacle in consumer mid-priced drones. Knowing me, I will probably end up buying something crazy expensive before long. LOL.
GBB |
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I have a Mini 2 and Air 2 S.
I really love the A2S but the Mini 2 fits in my pocket. Of course, the controller doesn't, but it still makes it a great rig for run and gun. The downside is using the phone outdoors can suck bigly. |
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"The answer to crime is always cows." -Cheesebeast
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I picked up an Autel nano plus.
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Originally Posted By JaxShooter: I have a Mini 2 and Air 2 S. I really love the A2S but the Mini 2 fits in my pocket. Of course, the controller doesn't, but it still makes it a great rig for run and gun. The downside is using the phone outdoors can suck bigly. View Quote I went from Mini 2 to Mini 3 pro to Air-2S and the Air-2S by far is the best of the 3. The Mini 2 feels like a toy compared to the 2S. It has almost twice the range and MUCH better video/foto quality. |
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"Anytime a liberal mentions fairness, you can be assured they want something that belongs to someone else." Calgood
Proud member of the anti russian coalition |
In 2016 I bought a Phantom 4 Pro. I played around with it in my neighborhood for a while (not over anyone's house). I took it to Colorado and got what I consider really good video in the mountains. Since then, because it is such a PITA to find a place near where I live that is free of notification requirements (hospital landing pads, regional and local airports, landing strips, an AFB), I haven't flown it in 7 years. It now occupies a large backpack in one of my bedrooms.
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Mavic Pro here. You can get some amazing shots if you shoot raw and do some post work.
Storm Cell 20190526 by FredMan, on Flickr Sunbeams 20190526 by FredMan, on Flickr Storm Beams Pano by FredMan, on Flickr Storm Pano 2021-06-30 by FredMan, on Flickr |
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GD is like putting on crampons and walking through a room full of puppies.
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Originally Posted By FredMan: Mavic Pro here. You can get some amazing shots if you shoot raw and do some post work. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47938580602_0817c3384e_h.jpgStorm Cell 20190526 by FredMan, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47938329963_1d1b7fb6ae_h.jpgSunbeams 20190526 by FredMan, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50098312323_62829e097d_k.jpgStorm Beams Pano by FredMan, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51282065013_8bfc7ceb62_k.jpgStorm Pano 2021-06-30 by FredMan, on Flickr View Quote Wow, those are amazing shots! I wonder if my Mini-3 pro could do that with its smaller lens and image sensor. I would like a larger drone but my primary use is making backpacking videos, so i need a small drone since my pack is already too heavy. Another nice feature of the larger drones is that they are more stable in wind and perform better at high altitudes. In the video below, i nearly crash my Mini-3 flying it in the thin air at 10,000+ feet. Backpacking to KANE LAKE in Idaho's Pioneer Mountain Range | Kane Lake Idaho | Majestic Waterfalls |
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The Mavic Pro has 1/2.3" 12 MP sensor.
ISO 100-1600 (this ain't for low light!) The biggest issue is noise. Hence the need for the ability to capture in raw format. If I was buying one now I'd look hard at the Mavic 3 Classic, bearing in mind I'm in it more for the stills than the video. |
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GD is like putting on crampons and walking through a room full of puppies.
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Originally Posted By keiswa: In 2016 I bought a Phantom 4 Pro. I played around with it in my neighborhood for a while (not over anyone's house). I took it to Colorado and got what I consider really good video in the mountains. Since then, because it is such a PITA to find a place near where I live that is free of notification requirements (hospital landing pads, regional and local airports, landing strips, an AFB), I haven't flown it in 7 years. It now occupies a large backpack in one of my bedrooms. View Quote If you're a Part 107 pilot, you can get LAANC Authorization to fly in a lot of those places that are fenced off for recreational flyers. |
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Originally Posted By keiswa: In 2016 I bought a Phantom 4 Pro. I played around with it in my neighborhood for a while (not over anyone's house). I took it to Colorado and got what I consider really good video in the mountains. Since then, because it is such a PITA to find a place near where I live that is free of notification requirements (hospital landing pads, regional and local airports, landing strips, an AFB), I haven't flown it in 7 years. It now occupies a large backpack in one of my bedrooms. View Quote One of the reasons I want to hold onto my Mavic Pro is that the geofencing is optional, not mandatory. It’ll notify me, but not interfere with my flight. |
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GD is like putting on crampons and walking through a room full of puppies.
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Steve Rose
"Let your gun therefore be the constant companion of your walks" Thomas Jefferson - 1785 |
I'm dabbling in the idea but apparently we don't have a drone forum
dude at the range was using his to see his targets brilliant idea |
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GD is like putting on crampons and walking through a room full of puppies.
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So how close are the drones to handheld cameras as far as pic quality? 75% there? More? Less? I'm talking a $1500-2000 camera body, for example.
I'm spoiled on my Nikon D850. I don't have $5K (or more) to get a drone with super good pics. That's a shame, as my area is ripe with picture targets that I can't reach via foot or vehicle. I read a post of someone's drone getting to 10K feet? Holy shit! I wish more of the camera mags would do reviews on drones in a bit more detail. I would guess the lens is the weak point on a drone's system? I would love to read more about them. |
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Originally Posted By USPguy: So how close are the drones to handheld cameras as far as pic quality? 75% there? More? Less? I'm talking a $1500-2000 camera body, for example. I'm spoiled on my Nikon D850. I don't have $5K (or more) to get a drone with super good pics. That's a shame, as my area is ripe with picture targets that I can't reach via foot or vehicle. I read a post of someone's drone getting to 10K feet? Holy shit! I wish more of the camera mags would do reviews on drones in a bit more detail. I would guess the lens is the weak point on a drone's system? I would love to read more about them. View Quote You’d be surprised. Obviously the D850 is going to beat it on specs, but with a little post work they do very well. My Mavic Pro has a 12.1MP 1/2.3” sensor, and raw capability. Storm Beams Pano by FredMan, on Flickr Storm Pano 2021-06-30 by FredMan, on Flickr Sunbeams 20190526 by FredMan, on Flickr Storm Cell 20190526 by FredMan, on Flickr |
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GD is like putting on crampons and walking through a room full of puppies.
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Originally Posted By FredMan: You’d be surprised. Obviously the D850 is going to beat it on specs, but with a little post work they do very well. My Mavic Pro has a 12.1MP 1/2.3” sensor, and raw capability. View Quote Would I be correct in guessing the mirrorless wave hasn't hit the drones yet? Saves a lot of weight, from what I'm reading. Less weight = more flying time? |
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Originally Posted By USPguy: Would I be correct in guessing the mirrorless wave hasn't hit the drones yet? Saves a lot of weight, from what I'm reading. Less weight = more flying time? View Quote Most drones (and I imagine all consumer grade) are mirrorless. Electronic shutters. Weight and space limitations in the camera housing. Just like the "shutter" in your phone camera. Typically a "rolling" shutter as the sensor is read sequentially. It really only matters when taking pictures of fast moving objects; you get the distortion effect of different parts of the sensor being read at different times, resulting in apparent bending of moving objects. This shot is with a GoPro, but displays the effect very well. FRA0C004 Ground Idle by FredMan, on Flickr |
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GD is like putting on crampons and walking through a room full of puppies.
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