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I thought it might be useful to start a drone thread as there seems to be quite a bit of interest. I've wanted something like this for years having hung my Canon SureShot under a parafoil kite I made triggered with RC gear from my model gliders many years ago. The results were very random and mostly blurred. Camera drones are now getting very good. I was tempted by the new DJI Mavic 3 with its 4/3 sensor main camera, but it's very expensive, and was released prematurely to catch the Christmas market. There seem to be a lot of crashes, and it has a lower quality tele camera bolted on top, making the gimbal large and vulnerable. Firmware updates are already improving it though.
I decided to get the DJI Air 2S with its 1" sensor and 22mm equivalent f2.8 lens. It gets great reviews including on DP Review, and recommended as the best camera drone for most people, including beginners. The Fly More combo is great value at the moment for around the same price as the Sony RX100 Mk VII with its 1" sensor, and that doesn't fly! It does have a zoom lens though. It's a difficult time to spend on drones, as the regulations are in flux after various idiots have endangered aircraft near airports etc. There will be new class-marked drones needed to fully meet the new regs coming at the start of 2023, but new drones like the Mavic 3 still can't have the mark, as it's not finalised yet! (Edit: Looks like the scheme won't be ready, so likely to be delayed.) It and others may get them retrospectively, otherwise they become legacy drones limited to A3 flying - 150m from civilisation, 50m from uninvolved people basically. At present, drones under 250g are partially exempt from some restrictions, so can be flown from your garden and near people. The DJI Mini 2 is a great example, but of course has a smaller sensor, but still very capable. Many controllers use your smartphone as a screen, so make sure your phone is compatible. DJI are slow to add Samsung phones. Autel make some powerful drones too, and the market changes every year of course. Ian has a Parrot Anafi. (Edit: The DJI Mini 3 Pro is now out, and a compelling, if expensive choice for the under 250g class. Further edit: and now the DJI Mini 3, cheaper as it has 4K 30p max, and no obstacle avoidance.)
Before buying anything, it's worth researching on the legalities, and check reviews for reliability and any known issues, which are sometimes fixed with firmware updates. Drones are incredibly complex and capable bits of kit now, but have lots of clever software to make much of it easy. DJI drones and some other makes are geo-fenced, stopping you take-off in restricted areas near airports etc. The first thing to read for the UK is the CAA Drone Code: https://register-drones.caa.co.uk/drone-code Everyone needs an Operator ID, renewable annually, which must be displayed on the craft, unless it's a toy or has no camera. For drones over 250g, you need to pass a simple multiple choice test to get the Flyer ID which lasts 5 years. The Drone Code tells you the basics of where you can fly, but there are many extra by-laws for places like national parks, the National Trust etc who generally try to forbid flying! It's a grey area though, as the CAA control the airspace, so unless you are invading privacy, disturbing people or wildlife, it's debatable whether they can stop you. They may give you a permit for specific purposes if you give then some dosh of course! With drones generally having a bad rap in the public mind, it's best to be cautious and considerate at all times. Everyone loves good drone footage (huge amounts as fillers on programmes these days), but most people hate drones!
I did lots of research on forums before buying. In the UK, the Grey Arrows is quite useful: https://greyarro.ws/ and for DJI drones, this is a great worldwide resource: https://mavicpilots.com/ with drone specific forums, and a UK one: https://mavicpilots.com/forums/united-kingdom.39/ DJI have their own forums too: https://forum.dji.com/
Drones are expensive and complex bits of kit, and prone to the occasional crash. They are mostly operator error, but sometimes the software can cause them. I got DJI's Care Refresh package for a year, which gives you a couple of cheap replacements. Worth considering third party insurance too. I may join the BMFA for theirs, along with other benefits: https://bmfa.org/ and specifically: https://britishdroneflyers.org/ If you plan to shoot professionally, that needs extra qualifications and insurance.
Do add your drone shots, questions and knowledge here...
I decided to get the DJI Air 2S with its 1" sensor and 22mm equivalent f2.8 lens. It gets great reviews including on DP Review, and recommended as the best camera drone for most people, including beginners. The Fly More combo is great value at the moment for around the same price as the Sony RX100 Mk VII with its 1" sensor, and that doesn't fly! It does have a zoom lens though. It's a difficult time to spend on drones, as the regulations are in flux after various idiots have endangered aircraft near airports etc. There will be new class-marked drones needed to fully meet the new regs coming at the start of 2023, but new drones like the Mavic 3 still can't have the mark, as it's not finalised yet! (Edit: Looks like the scheme won't be ready, so likely to be delayed.) It and others may get them retrospectively, otherwise they become legacy drones limited to A3 flying - 150m from civilisation, 50m from uninvolved people basically. At present, drones under 250g are partially exempt from some restrictions, so can be flown from your garden and near people. The DJI Mini 2 is a great example, but of course has a smaller sensor, but still very capable. Many controllers use your smartphone as a screen, so make sure your phone is compatible. DJI are slow to add Samsung phones. Autel make some powerful drones too, and the market changes every year of course. Ian has a Parrot Anafi. (Edit: The DJI Mini 3 Pro is now out, and a compelling, if expensive choice for the under 250g class. Further edit: and now the DJI Mini 3, cheaper as it has 4K 30p max, and no obstacle avoidance.)
Before buying anything, it's worth researching on the legalities, and check reviews for reliability and any known issues, which are sometimes fixed with firmware updates. Drones are incredibly complex and capable bits of kit now, but have lots of clever software to make much of it easy. DJI drones and some other makes are geo-fenced, stopping you take-off in restricted areas near airports etc. The first thing to read for the UK is the CAA Drone Code: https://register-drones.caa.co.uk/drone-code Everyone needs an Operator ID, renewable annually, which must be displayed on the craft, unless it's a toy or has no camera. For drones over 250g, you need to pass a simple multiple choice test to get the Flyer ID which lasts 5 years. The Drone Code tells you the basics of where you can fly, but there are many extra by-laws for places like national parks, the National Trust etc who generally try to forbid flying! It's a grey area though, as the CAA control the airspace, so unless you are invading privacy, disturbing people or wildlife, it's debatable whether they can stop you. They may give you a permit for specific purposes if you give then some dosh of course! With drones generally having a bad rap in the public mind, it's best to be cautious and considerate at all times. Everyone loves good drone footage (huge amounts as fillers on programmes these days), but most people hate drones!
I did lots of research on forums before buying. In the UK, the Grey Arrows is quite useful: https://greyarro.ws/ and for DJI drones, this is a great worldwide resource: https://mavicpilots.com/ with drone specific forums, and a UK one: https://mavicpilots.com/forums/united-kingdom.39/ DJI have their own forums too: https://forum.dji.com/
Drones are expensive and complex bits of kit, and prone to the occasional crash. They are mostly operator error, but sometimes the software can cause them. I got DJI's Care Refresh package for a year, which gives you a couple of cheap replacements. Worth considering third party insurance too. I may join the BMFA for theirs, along with other benefits: https://bmfa.org/ and specifically: https://britishdroneflyers.org/ If you plan to shoot professionally, that needs extra qualifications and insurance.
Do add your drone shots, questions and knowledge here...
Sounds like the motors might have been damaged. Any repairers locally? How does it avoid the props doing a 360? I guess yours must be able to hold a steeper angle on the body. Mine has a fairly wide dead area above, but not too noticeable if sky.
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