We're off to the Scottish West Coast for July & I've been pondering buying a drone. I bought a Eachine (non gps) drone 2/3 years ago which turned out to be dual use plastic and now lying in the bottom of Loch Spelve - test flight went well, second flight the following day went at 50mph out to the middle of the loch before landing itself on the water...
Looking at Amazon - seems to be either a DJI drone (either a mini 2 @ £550 / air @£1k) or wide selection of cheaper drones available.
Are these cheaper drones still rubbish or is there a gps enabled, cheaper drone which may take some decent aerial photos? After my previous experience, I am hesitant to to turn a DJI into single use plastic.
We'll be on a boat so all flights will by over / next to the sea albeit launching & landing off from the shore.
Thanks
I love drones.... but hate them hovering over my garden 🙁
Have a look at Captain Drone (I think that's his channel name) on YouTube.
He tests tons of drones, including many of the cheaper drones & gives them a decent appraisal.
Like this - £200 with 2 batteries and a 4k camera with 3-axis gimbal:
Depending what your other ambitions are, sub 250g gives you a lot more freedom around people and buildings with the new drone laws. DJI have basically nailed that class of drone for flying ability and camera quality - there are cheaper clones but usually the cameras are naff and/or you can’t save footage on a card, only stream to your phone.
Surely a used mavic mini is better than something off banggood etc?
Sub 250g is your friend.
What's your budget? One man's "cheaper" is different to another's.
I have a Holy Stone H720E. Had it since Sept. To me, the video footage is excellent, the stability and range very good and its easy to use. The vid stability considering its not got a gimble (s/w stability) is also really good, although moving the camera is very noticeable in footage with a judder/sudden move. I wouldnt expect much from the follow me mode though. It is supposed to follow the phone, which doesnt work too well, although I've hardly tried it to be fair. The DJI looks far better, but was £200 more for similar spec. Mine was £300 with 2 batteries:
A vid I did last year
Please dont critique lol!
If you can stretch to it I'd get a used DJI Mini.
I started off with a Simrex X11 which was 'OK' because I didn't know better but in retrospect it was difficult to set up, difficult to link to phone/controller, difficult and unpredictable to fly and decidedly average photo/video. That was before it flew away never to return.
Then I bought a DJI Mini 2 and it is like night and day in terms of operation and image quality.
I sold a phantom standard for 250 to get a mavic mini 2, which is a great quad,range much further than i would ever need it, good picture quality and fast enough to follow mtbs down a hill whilst being very portable.
The phantom was great but huge..if you have space loads of them for sale at the moment for not huge cash.
As tempting as it is, the mavic mini2 still lacks collision-detection.
Worth considering with that fancy lens hanging in the breeze…
Mavic mini 2 is terrific.
This coming from someone who used a Mavic Pro 2 and Inspire 2.
Picture is pretty good, slightly oversharp but this is what happens with DJIs consumer stuff.
I used it in a built up area the other day on a small job. (Sub 250g makes it legal to fly.in certain locations)
Easy to fly, responsive and plenty of flight time.
Let me know of you've got any more questions.
if you have space loads of them for sale at the moment for not huge cash.
I'd suggest that is mainly because of the legal rigmarole associated with operating one anywhere near anything remotely person-shaped or building-like or road-ish and so on.
Far less of which applies to the new generation of sub 250g types.
Thanks all, the limitations of being around buildings / people etc is not of a huge concern - last year out of 16 nights away, there were only 3 nights where we weren't the only boat in the anchorage or near to any buildings. Getting properly remote it generally the aim of the game - pretty confident no one will encounter me flying a drone to get upset.
As to budget - ideally it would take >12mp Raw images with a good lens with no/minimal distortion, be able to fly in 15kt winds, get pretty high to capture some of the rugged majesty of the area and cost £100...
I think I'm describing a DJI Mini 2 really just need to up the budget a couple of notches
If you're lacking in budget just get the standard dji mini with one battery. You still get 25 minutes of flight time which is quite a lot. Pics and vids look amazing. Just read the instructions and understand it first. 99% of "fly aways" are due to user error, ignoring wind warnings or using return to home with objects in the way etc
There is the odd deal on a mini 2 on camera centre uk on eBay every now and again.
I Think I paid £379.
I had a mini one, despite that fact it's 2.7k v 4k - it's not a huge difference as the sensor is still the same just with slightly more final resolution.
But the picture is so over sharpened on both that the actual resolution is likely to be lower anyway in realty.
Data rate is higher on the Mini 2.
As for windspeed - as a pro flyer I find results start to get compromised at around 15mp/h windspeed.
So they may handle more but the stability of the shots and accuracy starts to get wonky around that speed .
Do any of these drones have good enough collision detection to follow an MTB down a woody trail? Think Dowies/Shutcastle/BPW wooded rather than off-piste, fighting your way through the undergrowth, wooded.
I think some have collision avoidance but it's quite basic, and as you are adding sensors, the are above the 250g weight limit so have more restrictions. Best for filming that sort of stuff is have someone fly FPV following you.
Do any of these drones have good enough collision detection to follow an MTB down a woody trail? Think Dowies/Shutcastle/BPW wooded rather than off-piste, fighting your way through the undergrowth, wooded.
The smaller jobbies also don't have a follow me mode either making that task significantly harder (even if it's following someone else not you).
Currently have an elderly spark. The drone I'd like is probably the new air 2s. But as it has not come with the new classifications markings (and no others do either yet) it will be a legacy drone with very draconian flying rules by 2023 unless they find a way to classify retrospectively I'll not be buying another >250g drone for the moment.
I does seem thoroughly balls up by officialdom and manufacturers that a new set of regulations started back in Jan and you can't get buy a drone that meets them. It's like buying a mountain bike this week that does not meet the standards that came out 6 months ago and in 18 months time you will only be able to ride around the carpark, because it's missing the right sticker.
I does seem thoroughly balls up by officialdom and manufacturers that a new set of regulations started back in Jan and you can’t get buy a drone that meets them.
Which part of the regulations can you not meet?
Do any of these drones have good enough collision detection to follow an MTB down a woody trail? Think Dowies/Shutcastle/BPW wooded rather than off-piste, fighting your way through the undergrowth, wooded
only the skydio 2 (a Drone from the USA) has that ability in spades.
Quite hard to get one, or was due to lack of supply.
You will pay 1-2K for that.
DC Rainmaker did a good comparison of the follow-me functionality on the Mavic Air and the Skydio:
I does seem thoroughly balls up by officialdom and manufacturers that a new set of regulations started back in Jan and you can’t get buy a drone that meets them. It’s like buying a mountain bike this week that does not meet the standards that came out 6 months ago and in 18 months time you will only be able to ride around the carpark, because it’s missing the right sticker.
Shelf life of drones is currently about 1-2 years, so the new category drones will come in time for that.
Currently you've got until Jan 2023 for the current transitional period. Then drones that are above 250g can be flown 'far from peope'.
The mini 1 & 2 as a legacy drone is under 250g so can still be flow on A1. Which is over people.
Which part of the regulations can you not meet?
Not sure what you mean.
For a drone not to be counted as legacy after Jan 23 it needs to have the new markings to show its new classification. Those classifications went live in Jan but as yet no drone is currently available to purchase that won't be legacy in 18 months. Not so much of a problem for the sub 250g jobbies but a massive problem for every other. No use on a beach (even an completely empty one) or a park and big distances from people and buildings.
The current DJI drone I believe would be easy to classify (C0-C4) but politics/covid/ineptness (everyone is blaming everyone else) means nothing is currently marked.
If you want to fly a >250g drone legally after Jan 23 buying one now would be a very risky punt on DJI managing to persuade the authorities to retrospectively classify your drone. DJI say they will, authorities say they won't. Make of that what you will.
Shelf life of drones is currently about 1-2 years, so the new category drones will come in time for that.
.
Bollox.
Apart from the total anoraks normal people who fly drones as a side project to having a life don't swap their drone every 1-2 years. No one (even the anoraks) should be ditching their tech after 1-2 years - from a sustainability perspective that is an appalling concept.
Spending £1500 on something now that will be legacy in 18 months time is (for most people) a nonsense.
Bollox.
Apart from the total anoraks normal people who fly drones as a side project to having a life don’t swap their drone every 1-2 years. No one (even the anoraks) should be ditching their tech after 1-2 years – from a sustainability perspective that is an appalling concept.
The drones are updated every 1-2 years
For sustainability perhaps don't buy into cutting edge tech in the first place.
*None of this means you have to throw your old one away* you can sell it to someone else on eBay etc.
The technology is still embryonic and changing. This is how it works. Drones no different to any other tech market.
There's usually a willing buyer for most stuff 2nd hand.
Whether you like it or not stuff is constantly improving, and the lifecycle of the more consumer drones is 1-2 years.
If you want to fly a >250g drone legally after Jan 23 buying one now would be a very risky punt on DJI managing to persuade the authorities to retrospectively classify your drone. DJI say they will, authorities say they won’t. Make of that what you will.
Bollox.
You can still fly a > 250g drone legally 2023. You will have to adjust to the A3 category.
The drones are updated every 1-2 years
For sustainability perhaps don’t buy into cutting edge tech in the first place.
*None of this means you have to throw your old one away* you can sell it to someone else on eBay etc.
The technology is still embryonic and changing. This is how it works.
Still bollox - you are talking shite.
It was embryonic - not so much anymore. Iterative changes are more subtle now. A 3 year old drone will still be relevant.
Re sustainability - agreed to an extent. No one needs a drone (or a mountain bike) but when we buy frivolities they need to be long lasting.
And the selling it on line is a total red herring. Who (apart from the ignorant of the law or those who plan to disregard it I guess) will buy a legacy drone? Prices will drop through the floor.
This situation was avoidable. No new models (like the recent air 2s) should be being launched with a usable shelf life of 18 months before being punted out legacy use.
You can still fly a > 250g drone legally 2023. You will have to adjust to the A3 category.
And how many consumer purchasers will appreciate that? Would you care to point me to the bit in the DJI marketing that points that out? Where I live A3 won't be the end of the world - but for many that will effectively junk their toy.
And how many consumer purchasers will appreciate that? Would you care to point me to the bit in the DJI marketing that points that out? Where I live A3 won’t be the end of the world – but for many that will effectively junk their toy
All consumers abide by the rules put out by the CAA.
Just like Ford aren't responsible for you speeding. DJI aren't responsible for the airways. Etc.
You are rather excitable.
I've got a PfCO so none of this is an issue. You can say bollox, shite all you want but everything I say is a matter of fact.
Enjoy your thoughts.
And the selling it on line is a total red herring. Who (apart from the ignorant of the law or those who plan to disregard it I guess) will buy a legacy drone? Prices will drop through the floor
Well I always sell my stuff after a good innings, and drones are pretty cheap to buy now.
I've just managed to sell a Mavic air 2 for 740. That's hardly dropping through the floor.
People who just get angry about the restrictions should know that a UAV is essentially subject to the rules set out by the CAA. We all knew they were changing and they got delayed, and it's nearly 18 months before the updates happens
Stop crying and figure it all out.
There has never been a better time to fly.
I’ve just managed to sell a Mavic air 2 for 740. That’s hardly dropping through the floor.
Sorry, have I been stuck in a time machine? Is it 2nd Jan 2023 already? That is when legacy drone >250g prices will drop through the floor.
I'm all for the proper regulation. If anything the new <250g regs look too lenient to me. And exactly where the fault lies when new models are being launch without certification now does not really bother me. I'm just not going to be one of the mugs shelling out now for something that should be certificated to get a good long useable life out of it.
The drones are updated every 1-2 years
So are mobile phones, but plenty of people hold onto them for a lot longer - my last one was five years old before I updated it, and iOS 15 will run on a 6s, encouraging people to hold on for longer, I see no reason for it to be any different for the average drone purchaser.
hate them hovering over my garden 🙁
THIS.
Noisy & intrusive. Hateful things.
If I still had my shotgun I’d use them for target practice!
I have a mini 2, great pictures/video
Stable in breezy weather, i paid £400, but I’d recommend the ‘fly more’ package which gives 2 extra batteries and a charger for the lot.
Don't know how amazing of a deal it is, but just seen the original Mini combo package on Prime day for £329. I have one & can't fault it (although no doubt the Mini 2 is better!)