cwood wrote: ↑Fri May 01, 2020 12:22 pm
I have had a Mavic for over 2 years. Have a lot of RC experience and photography is a big hobby. I got it as a way of getting different perspectives for photography. The below might seem negative but its the truth. Just my 2c
I can fly it and penetrate into the wind up to 20 kts but you must do proper flight planning and its tricky. Lighter wind is easier.
Getting good footage requires lots of practice and attention. You don't hand a controller to a friend or girlfriend that is not very practiced and expect to get capture anything or get the thing back safely.
You have to be VERY close to get good action footage due to the wide angle of the lenses. To get close, you have to be even more skilled because keeping the subject in the field of view is very difficult when close.
You have to be VERY smooth on the sticks to get cinematic footage that isn't going to give people epileptic fits to watch or an editing nightmare.
There is no such thing as autonomous use, tracking or the potential for good footage from such a thing.
It takes a lot of prep and focus to get good stuff
You have to love editing video for endless hours to have something that anyone but you or the actual subject of the video would want to watch. This is a key point, if you are not right into the editing process you will have gobs of large files and nothing to do with them
You will fly it a ton when you get it and over time only pull it out on very specific situations.
If you are with a group, they all like to have drone shots...as long as it doesn't slow the group down or they have to wait around for you....which is almost never. To put up a drone properly you have to plan, set up, plan flight times etc, manage batteries...this is not a good mix with "rush".
If you are not a photo or film enthusiast then they are expensive toys.
The rules for anything above 250g are now so restrictive that I'm breaking the law pretty much any time I fly it. There is a reason the mini is 249g.
If it were me again, I would probably buy a mini. The best drone is the drone you have with you.
I would not trade my $1500 back for the great images I have....but I would consider myself an expert in managing the flying side of it. Most other people I cross paths with are dreamy about the prospects but have no idea the true complexity of it all.
I wouldn't touch a startup or small company with a 10ft pole....so difficult to succeed as a small provider...hell, look at the gopro drone debacle and that was with potentially unlimited funds. DJI technology is incredible...and only getting better. If you are going to buy, Mavic 2 or Mini are the only choices IMO. They are the gorilla and will continue to be.
I use it as a camera platform for stills mainly and video to capture special times Notice no music, editing etc....because I just am not interested in dealing with hours of editing. Yes, there are tools and workflows that can make it easier....but I maintain.....you have to like doing it.
Kiting
https://photos.app.goo.gl/HWmBKncnYVTh9CzG9
https://photos.app.goo.gl/L7NTUy5rYXr8BHwo7
Non Kiting
https://photos.app.goo.gl/JTGL3qKRTbV5yGoB7
https://photos.app.goo.gl/5imU3YgHcojm8rpUA
same basically holds for a gopro it’s only worth kitesurfing with one if you are really good or love to see yourself otherwise it takes a lot of editing before it is worth watching by others
