astrostu
New Member
Last week, I was introduced to something I had never ever considered via a CNET link to a video where a guy took a DJI quadcopter and a GoPro camera and flew over Niagra Falls. I'm a semi-pro photographer and I mainly do landscapes and ... wow.
I had never thought of something like it and it got me thinking that this could be a whole different kind of photography considering that I like to do (and mostly do) landscapes, and I enjoy the grand vistas that you can walk up to and see, but can't usually "go into" ... for example, off-path at Yellowstone or into the Grand Canyon.
But, I have a rule: Get infatuated with something? Wait 1+ month before buying ANYTHING.
Talked with my dad about it and he said that he had been thinking about it for awhile, too. He used to fly model airplanes and helicopters, though I have no experience except playing with his when I was five or so. He said that the biggest issue was really learning how to fly them and that I should really join a forum or two and ask the pros. So ... um ... pros?
For me, the flying is not the interest, it's the tool (sorry purists). I'm interested more in the photography and videography that can be done. Also, for that reason, the process of building it doesn't appeal to me unless it's considerably cheaper (maybe >25% cheaper?). This would not commercial, it's hobby, though I put my stuff out there and have made money off my photography (just not enough to break even on equipment yet).
I don't need something that can support my DSLR equipment. I'm okay with buying a cheap(er) camera, such as the GoPro HERO3 Black, to use in this kind of situation (and when I go swimming in Australia in Dec/Jan). I have read about the "Jell-O Effect" with filming from a quadcopter, but I've also read on ways to mitigate that. Obviously because of the article, the DJI Phantom is at the top of my list. Reviews also seem to indicate it's pretty easy to fly, relatively speaking. I'd like to come in somewhere under $1.5k, preferably closer to $1k.
So with all that very lengthy preamble, are there any suggestions or recommendations?
I had never thought of something like it and it got me thinking that this could be a whole different kind of photography considering that I like to do (and mostly do) landscapes, and I enjoy the grand vistas that you can walk up to and see, but can't usually "go into" ... for example, off-path at Yellowstone or into the Grand Canyon.
But, I have a rule: Get infatuated with something? Wait 1+ month before buying ANYTHING.
Talked with my dad about it and he said that he had been thinking about it for awhile, too. He used to fly model airplanes and helicopters, though I have no experience except playing with his when I was five or so. He said that the biggest issue was really learning how to fly them and that I should really join a forum or two and ask the pros. So ... um ... pros?
For me, the flying is not the interest, it's the tool (sorry purists). I'm interested more in the photography and videography that can be done. Also, for that reason, the process of building it doesn't appeal to me unless it's considerably cheaper (maybe >25% cheaper?). This would not commercial, it's hobby, though I put my stuff out there and have made money off my photography (just not enough to break even on equipment yet).
I don't need something that can support my DSLR equipment. I'm okay with buying a cheap(er) camera, such as the GoPro HERO3 Black, to use in this kind of situation (and when I go swimming in Australia in Dec/Jan). I have read about the "Jell-O Effect" with filming from a quadcopter, but I've also read on ways to mitigate that. Obviously because of the article, the DJI Phantom is at the top of my list. Reviews also seem to indicate it's pretty easy to fly, relatively speaking. I'd like to come in somewhere under $1.5k, preferably closer to $1k.
So with all that very lengthy preamble, are there any suggestions or recommendations?