Drone hints and tips?
Discussion
Hi all,
I have recently got myself a Phantom 3 Standard as an introductory drone so I can see how much I use it etc before trying to justify something a bit more expensive.
I was hoping that the PH drone flyers (GetCarter being one I know of) could offer up some hints and tips on how to get the most out of the drone, good flying and positioning techniques and also, any suggestions on how to fly over water/off cliffs without worrying that the drone will drop out the sky! Is there any way I can insure it against loss without having to do the CAA licence for flying commercially as most insurers want that before they will cover?
I have been reading the dronecode site, have the CAA app for flying area restrictions and watched Youtube videos but most seem to concentrate on just flying rather than using it for any sort of photography.
I have recently got myself a Phantom 3 Standard as an introductory drone so I can see how much I use it etc before trying to justify something a bit more expensive.
I was hoping that the PH drone flyers (GetCarter being one I know of) could offer up some hints and tips on how to get the most out of the drone, good flying and positioning techniques and also, any suggestions on how to fly over water/off cliffs without worrying that the drone will drop out the sky! Is there any way I can insure it against loss without having to do the CAA licence for flying commercially as most insurers want that before they will cover?
I have been reading the dronecode site, have the CAA app for flying area restrictions and watched Youtube videos but most seem to concentrate on just flying rather than using it for any sort of photography.
SlowStig said:
Hi all,
I have recently got myself a Phantom 3 Standard as an introductory drone so I can see how much I use it etc before trying to justify something a bit more expensive.
I was hoping that the PH drone flyers (GetCarter being one I know of) could offer up some hints and tips on how to get the most out of the drone, good flying and positioning techniques and also, any suggestions on how to fly over water/off cliffs without worrying that the drone will drop out the sky! Is there any way I can insure it against loss without having to do the CAA licence for flying commercially as most insurers want that before they will cover?
I have been reading the dronecode site, have the CAA app for flying area restrictions and watched Youtube videos but most seem to concentrate on just flying rather than using it for any sort of photography.
Did you buy it new? DJI Care Refresh is worth investigating. Mine expires soon :/I have recently got myself a Phantom 3 Standard as an introductory drone so I can see how much I use it etc before trying to justify something a bit more expensive.
I was hoping that the PH drone flyers (GetCarter being one I know of) could offer up some hints and tips on how to get the most out of the drone, good flying and positioning techniques and also, any suggestions on how to fly over water/off cliffs without worrying that the drone will drop out the sky! Is there any way I can insure it against loss without having to do the CAA licence for flying commercially as most insurers want that before they will cover?
I have been reading the dronecode site, have the CAA app for flying area restrictions and watched Youtube videos but most seem to concentrate on just flying rather than using it for any sort of photography.
Don’t worry about flying over water as it’s almost guaranteed there will be nothing in between the drone and the control unit. Just make sure you calibrate the compass before the first flight at any location. Fly it as often as you can to boost your confidence levels and most importantly, enjoy yourself.
leggly said:
Don’t worry about flying over water as it’s almost guaranteed there will be nothing in between the drone and the control unit. Just make sure you calibrate the compass before the first flight at any location. Fly it as often as you can to boost your confidence levels and most importantly, enjoy yourself.
I am a bit worried about it falling out the sky, does that ever happen or is it something not worth thinking about in the grand scheme of things? I have noticed that some of the photos that I am seeing, they don't appear to be that high res (960 x 540 RAW) but I can't see a setting on the app that lets me change this, I presumed it was done in a similar res as the videos being shot? If I open the files in photoshop they open at the full resolution which is baffling me!
The main reason they used to fall out of the sky was because they hate really cold temps... but if you have the latest firmware etc, you'll find that it takes a while for the craft to warm up before it'll let you take off - and it will not let you take off if the battery is too cold. (Didn't used to be the case on the P3).
There was also an issue with flying when batteries didn't start the flight with at least +/- 80%.
It's a mindset thing - you need to just get over the 'oh s
t, what if?' thought process and just accept that unless you are flying like a twit you'll not crash!
Flying over water is fine. I would suggest at least 60% of my flying is over the sea (or a loch).
For the first year or so I used to land the craft on the ground. This can cause issues if it's not that flat and also the updraft can make life tricky. These days I bring it down to head height, hover and catch it by one of its 'feet' with one hand whilst left controller down with the other.
Top tip.. make sure you have the stills numbering set to 'continuous', or you might find you are overwriting photos if you do more than one flight without downloading.
Have fun!
BTW Youtube full of good tutorials.
There was also an issue with flying when batteries didn't start the flight with at least +/- 80%.
It's a mindset thing - you need to just get over the 'oh s
t, what if?' thought process and just accept that unless you are flying like a twit you'll not crash!Flying over water is fine. I would suggest at least 60% of my flying is over the sea (or a loch).
For the first year or so I used to land the craft on the ground. This can cause issues if it's not that flat and also the updraft can make life tricky. These days I bring it down to head height, hover and catch it by one of its 'feet' with one hand whilst left controller down with the other.
Top tip.. make sure you have the stills numbering set to 'continuous', or you might find you are overwriting photos if you do more than one flight without downloading.
Have fun!
BTW Youtube full of good tutorials.
Edited by GetCarter on Sunday 8th July 06:03
Its always worth updating your 'return home' destination to suit your current location:
Irish Army Drone goes missing
Irish Army Drone goes missing
Thanks for the help and suggestions so far, I have been watching youtube tutorials and found they are a little hit and miss (pun not intended) but still helpful. A couple have suggested replacing blades every 30-50 flights regardless of their condition, I presume this is due to fatigue in the plastic?
I will try and post up some pictures I have taken!
I will try and post up some pictures I have taken!
SlowStig said:
Thanks for the help and suggestions so far, I have been watching youtube tutorials and found they are a little hit and miss (pun not intended) but still helpful. A couple have suggested replacing blades every 30-50 flights regardless of their condition, I presume this is due to fatigue in the plastic?
I will try and post up some pictures I have taken!
I did 241 flights on my P3 without replacing blades. Have already done 60+ on the P4. It's tosh.I will try and post up some pictures I have taken!
Some people just like to get into the tech of drones. Fair enough. For me a drone is just a camera I can get into new places.
http://stevecarter.com/random/Aerial.htm
GetCarter said:
I did 241 flights on my P3 without replacing blades. Have already done 60+ on the P4. It's tosh.
Some people just like to get into the tech of drones. Fair enough. For me a drone is just a camera I can get into new places.
http://stevecarter.com/random/Aerial.htm
Some fantastic shots there, I live in the lakes so hoping to get some similar (maybe not quite as dramatic) shots once I get the hang of things. Do you get your images as snapshots from a video or do you just take photos when flying?Some people just like to get into the tech of drones. Fair enough. For me a drone is just a camera I can get into new places.
http://stevecarter.com/random/Aerial.htm
Do you insure your drone at all or is it not needed? I have been trying to use it more and surprised as how stable it is, even in fairly strong winds (would have been good to know before I went to Harris & Lewis).
essayer said:
How does flying the heavier drones compare to the lightweight FPS stuff like the Tiny Whoop?
Chalk and cheese. I started with a Typhoon (still a favourite) 'big drone', and apart from spatial awareness and remembering control locations, it couldn't be easier - you direct it to where you want it to be, take your hands off the controls and it sits there waiting for you to do something else. It's smooth, predictable, rock solid and accurate. Turn GPS off and I've had it up to 50 mph - still very controllable, it will 'stand on its tail' when you ask it to stop. Controls are intuitive and very progressive. Use one of the autonomous modes and it will zoom around in lots of clever ways whilst you get creative with the camera. I've flown it in up to 20mph+ winds and never had a problem. In terms of maintenance, two years worth of regular flying have required no more than a couple of prop replacements.Then I moved on to 5" FPV - holy cow! Blisteringly fast, unpredictable, twitchy little buggers to fly. Constant corrections required, and 'panic inputs' pretty much guarantee a crash or impact. Blink and they're gone. Sneeze and they're gone. Tuning is a magic art and has disproportionate effect on how 'flyable' your craft is. Your craft that you will spend endless hours rebuilding, adjusting and fiddling with... endless.. hours. Then again, after a while you start to get the hang of it, and it becomes easier. At which point you try a new stunt and fly it at 90 miles an hour into a brick wall. It's strangely addictive though...
I've got a 2 1/2" brushless FPV drone on order for inside flying... will report back when I've found out how well that goes.
SlowStig said:
GetCarter said:
I did 241 flights on my P3 without replacing blades. Have already done 60+ on the P4. It's tosh.
Some people just like to get into the tech of drones. Fair enough. For me a drone is just a camera I can get into new places.
http://stevecarter.com/random/Aerial.htm
Some fantastic shots there, I live in the lakes so hoping to get some similar (maybe not quite as dramatic) shots once I get the hang of things. Do you get your images as snapshots from a video or do you just take photos when flying?Some people just like to get into the tech of drones. Fair enough. For me a drone is just a camera I can get into new places.
http://stevecarter.com/random/Aerial.htm
Do you insure your drone at all or is it not needed? I have been trying to use it more and surprised as how stable it is, even in fairly strong winds (would have been good to know before I went to Harris & Lewis).
I'm 99% stills only as shooting RAW means you can fix stuff post processing. But if I take a vid and see something nice, I'll pull out a frame and use as a still. I moved here form the Lakes (by Loweswater), and wish I'd had a drone then... Buttermere in winter was fab - good luck.
SlowStig said:
So I have been able to get some time out flying and starting to enjoy getting a different angle for photos.
Still need a bit more practise though!
One can do very little with this, but just as a pointer (forgive me messing without permission) :Still need a bit more practise though!
If taken in RAW you could save all the blown highlights and bring back the colour and light to the foreground :0)
SlowStig said:
It was shot in jpg&RAW, I just haven't been near my computer with LR/PS installed so that was a jpg download from the drone to my mobile.
I will try and get the RAW version uploaded later to flickr if you fancy another play with the image!
Feel free to e mail raw to Steve @ SteveCarter.com I will try and get the RAW version uploaded later to flickr if you fancy another play with the image!
Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 12th July 15:56
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