Hi from the Peak District

[guest9656]

Hi,

Into DSLR photography and thinking of doing some drone photography/video/vlogging too.

I have looked at the Mavic Air as it seems to do what I want/need, but other than lots of YouTube and forum searching I dont have anything else to help make a decision.

So any help gratefully received.

cheers

simon

[Two-Six]

 Hello Simon,

This kind of thing (camera/photography multi-rotors) isn't really my bag but since I was logged in with itchy fingers, my advice is this, buy a 2nd hand phantom, the one that isn't the newest one, a phantom 3 is it?

There are loads of them about and they are pretty cheap.

It is supposed to be pretty good, has GPS, a good camera, talks to your smart phone and usually comes back home again.

Try it and see if you like it then if your still interested get a better one.

Also one thing I really would recommend is buying a Hubsan X4 or some other very small quad. One with ducted propellers is a very good thing, saves shredding your pot plants/curtains for a start.

Learn to fly a quad with a small one while you decide what to buy, they fly just like bigger ones.

https://www.banggood.com/New-Version-Upgraded-Hubsan-X4-V2-H107L-2_4G-4CH-RC-Quadcopter-RTF-p-71838.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=USA

https://www.banggood.com/Eachine-E010-Mini-2_4G-4CH-6-Axis-Headless-Mode-RC-Quadcopter-RTF-p-1066972.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=USA

Banggood have apparently stopped shipping things with LiPo's to the UK so perhaps you can't buy them from Bangood but lots of other vendors sell these things including Maplin for the Hubsan but I think they charge £99.99 ;-)

My advice in this area doesn't get better than this.

[guest9656]

Thanks for the feedback/advice...duly noted..

cheers

simon

[ChrisLX200]

I also live on the edge of the Peak District (South West) and today flew my Phantom 4 Pro for the first time. I bought that model for the excellent camera and the long flight duration (20min conservative, 30min before it falls out the sky..). The camera made the decision for me, the 1" sensor and ability to record 4k x 60fps means image quality is superb. The V.2 of this model came out recently but is suffering from 'teething problems' and I didn't want to be a DJI beta tester...

[Wallter12]

Well, Peak District is pleased to know it.

[Cheredanine]

Just be aware National Trust are not keen on drones, their default position is there is no permission to take off or land on Nation a Trust ground and they may prosecute you for nuisance if you fly over.

I know in a couple of places wardens have given permission, usually for electric models only. May be worth buttering up the local warden

[ChrisLX200]

I see RC planes flying in various places nearby, both powered and also gliders (near the A537 taking advantage of the wind rising up the hills). I would think you would have to make a real nuisance of yourself to get prosecuted, perhaps taking off from a crowded beauty spot or something like that. 

[Cheredanine]

May well not be a problem, just something to be aware of

[hoverfly]

The National Trust  allow non powered  gliders at lots of sites, subject to you being insured.  I have flown at Uffington White Horse hill  for years off and on and had no problems. I flew the Mavic there and the warden came over and told me they dont allow drones there because of their insurance doesn't cover them.  What i find really laughable is if i loose control  for what ever reason with a slope soarer  i don't have the ability to run a motor to get back in control.
Two kilos of carbon fibre hot liner doing  80 mph  is perfectly acceptable.
The warden who asked me to land the Mavic  was quite happy to watch the monitor as i brought it back, she  thought it  neat.

[ched]

I flew the Mavic there and the warden came over and told me they dont allow drones there because of their insurance doesn't cover them. 

That would suggest their insurance would cover your non powered glider! So why do they require you to have insurance!
Sounds like she was using insurance as an excuse when she didn't really need to. If NT don't want you on their land no problem, the wardens don't need to make up excuses.

As you say 2kg of carbon fibre is 2kg no matter what aircraft it is. Then again they are probably just concerned by noise.
People go to NT sites to enjoy them not have noisy things disturbing them. Oh hold on they allow children 

[hoverfly]

F/ked if i know if they allow me to fly my insurance covers them and me. The warden said she thought it was stupid but that it was the knee jerk reaction that people have to  DRONES :evil..
Getting tw@tted by a nob head going down a 1 in 2 foot path on a mountain bike  dosen't bother them.

[ched]

F/ked if i know if they allow me to fly my insurance covers them and me. The warden said she thought it was stupid but that it was the knee jerk reaction that people have to  DRONES :evil..
Getting tw@tted by a nob head going down a 1 in 2 foot path on a mountain bike  dosen't bother them.

Good point. The mountain bikes will do a fair bit of damage to footpaths. That must cost NT lots extra to repair. Yet 'drone' wont cause any more maintenance!!
Definitely a knee jerk reaction, hopefully in years to come this may change.

[hoverfly]

Hopefully when quads/drones are common place  normality will resume 
When I have been flying planks  on the hill jo public are only to happy to watch,even been complimented on minor  aerobatics ... Nowt so queer as folk