Upgrade or Syma Add On?

T

Thomas in Niagara

Member
Hey folks, I'm looking towards an upgrade. I currently fly a Syma X5C-1 and am realizing its limits as a stable camera platform for video work. As it stands, it won't do what I need it to. So here's the thing; I could purchase the Syma X5C FPV outfit which is about$55-$175 depending on where you look. All up, I'm into this quad to the tune of $132 with the crash kit, batteries, quad and 5 port charger. Add the FPV kit and it's hitting $200.

My dream quad after all the searching, poking around Ebay, Amazon, YouTube and suppliers websites is the Yuneec Q500 or the Q600 if I wanted to go commercial. My wife... well she's still proclaiming the cost virtues of Matel and Leggo kits. So here's my dilemma.
  • Do I upgrade my X5C with the new FPV kit and suffer the poor video but with the ability to see the shots I should be getting with the Q500? [shoulder shrug and strange grimace] I'm just not sure if I want to settle for FPV in a $50 [currently $200 plus] quad. And why would I want to add FPV to a quad that I need to keep in line of sight anyway. or;
  • Do I spring [now that I have some semblance of control] for a DJI style in a higher price point to allow for the video quality that I want.
    • At this point in time I'm not that interested in the build side of it. Sorry.
I'm a photographer and videographer so this is where I look for satisfaction. Racing quads in and out of buildings and through forests.... yupper that rocks but at the end of the day, I'd rather watch some of that graceful panning footage of some of my local scenes you can only get with a GoPro quality camera.

Would love to hear from NE1 who has used or is using the Syma FPV kit. Or just anyone with a suggestion or opinion on this.
Cheers!!!
Thomas in Niagara
 
Thanks Jackson. I had thought and should have added to the above that I do want to enter the FPV arena and that would be an inexpensive way to do it but do I just keep adding up the costs on this quad? Thanks again for the input.
 
Well Jackson I'm still looking so that may be the case with many who drop in ask and never stick around for the replies. I'm a little disappointed in the response to this thread. The X5C is a fairly popular quad, FPV is a popular subject. The two go together and I thought the thrust of my post would open a larger dialogue on the subject. Go figure.
 
You can get a much better fpv set up than the low quality entry level syma x5 kit but cost is a factor and so is the x5c's lift capacity.

The x5c quad is recommended as a way to learn to fly and not so much as an upgrade platform.

If you want a much better platform to upgrade video wise or, capable of handling a real fpv system then the syma X8C would be a much better choice...We still have toy grade quad here but one capable of handling the added weight of a better quality camera or fpv system.

If you keep things simple like choosing a nano or micro fpv kit and using your imagination to mount it all and keep it as light as possible, it can work very well for you as far as flight times and longevity of the motors.

Look at the Eachine TL700 fpv kit on youtube and see what you think of it.

In any case youre looking at about another $200 or more for a different set up.

Im not sure what the best "Nano" fpv system is but, they are light enough to use with the syma x5c..you wont have very long flight times however..maybe 3 to 4 minutes.

With the x8c you are looking at well over 10 minutes per flight with a light weight fpv system.
 
If this was in stock, i would try this..This would be a dream in a x8c...A nice clean "in body" installation...I cant vouch for video quality but, its gotta be better than the x5c fpv setup...I dont see why an x5c-1 couldnt carry this set up as well...Its not super long range at only 10mw but, its enough to handle whatever transmitter range you would have with the quad itself....Now you just need a monitor. ..sadly out of stock however http://www.fpvhobby.com/221-rtf-58ghz-1-gram-camera-combo-set-2.html
 
Jackson said:
That's a rather half ass way to do it. You can line up shots, I guess, but you'll won't be able to do any real FPV flying without spending even more money.

But I've found in many cases when people ask for buying advice often they have made up their mind already. :)
Click to expand...
Just want to know what model of gopro would work best with an x8g there doesn't seem to be much info for that it just brings up stuff about the camera that comes with it. I was hoping that putting a different camera that isn't powered by the quads battery in hopes of getting more flight time out of it.
 
i recommend eachine falcon, best setup fpv setup for the price from what i have seen, though u gotta add goggles which isnt hard or too expensive if you go with quanum v2 setup! top speed at 150kmh, you can't even build a faster drone, if you buy all the parts yourself and make it faster, it will cost wayy more!!

i got annoyed with my x5c-1 very quickly though mine may have been defective. my u807 should come tomorrow, but im not even excited for it, all i want is my falcon ASAP!!

i truly believe that this is the coolest thing that exists on the planet that non military/billionaires can enjoy as of march 4, 2016


1:12 blows my mind everytime
 
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I have a buddy who just bought the syma fpv kit for his x5c. Imo, its not much better then the little wifi camera that came with my x5sw. The color of the picture is better but breaks up and the range is actually worse. Unless he got a crap unit, was a waste of money.
 
So to paraphrase: You're asking this here group of mis-fit 'enablers' whether you should spend less money on what you have, or more money on something shiny and new?

C'mon now - you already know the only correct answer to your own question… quit looking for someone else to blame and tell your wife already! ;)

(I'm just a couple of hours around the lake from you - let me know if you need a hand moving your belongings out post-purchase…!)
 
Zentg said:
i recommend eachine falcon, best setup fpv setup for the price from what i have seen, though u gotta add goggles which isnt hard or too expensive if you go with quanum v2 setup! top speed at 150kmh, you can't even build a faster drone, if you buy all the parts yourself and make it faster, it will cost wayy more!!

i got annoyed with my x5c-1 very quickly though mine may have been defective. my u807 should come tomorrow, but im not even excited for it, all i want is my falcon ASAP!!

i truly believe that this is the coolest thing that exists on the planet that non military/billionaires can enjoy as of march 4, 2016


1:12 blows my mind everytime
Click to expand...

You got a falcon? Report back when you get it. Ive been looking at those. I heard the racer 25o is on back order.
 
CaptinUndies said:
Just want to know what model of gopro would work best with an x8g there doesn't seem to be much info for that it just brings up stuff about the camera that comes with it. I was hoping that putting a different camera that isn't powered by the quads battery in hopes of getting more flight time out of it.
Click to expand...
The XG camera is quite light @ 32 grams. Replacing with an action camera would add about 50 grams. You'd probably end up cutting your flight time.
 
So a little update on my buddie's syma fpv kit. We took it apart and found out that two of the antenna solder points were broke. It's kind of in there weak and with the weight of that flat antenna it was destined to break. We wraped black duck tape in there to make it more sturdy. After we repaired it the system works much better. Still not great range, maybe 50 yards or so before it picks up screen fuzz, but it is much clearer than my x5sw.
 
Well, it's "only" 1/2 the price, the Yuneec Q500 is $799 with the coupon I posted and the Minivet is $444.
Said that I've checked the review from Quadcopter 101 and the video quality isn't comparable, look at this:
vs this:
 
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