Dji Phantom UAVs

[MX5_Nuts]

GetCarter said:

DJI customer service is terrible. You have to fight to get any response.

However, Phantom 3 is piss easy to fly and gets good photographic results. Just don't crash and expect DJI to help. (It's REALLY difficult to crash unless you are a prat. I looked today and have more than 2 tb of footage from 300 flights, without a crash (that was my fault).

Out of curiosity with 300 flights, what's your battery cycles at? I was told that the batteries can last as little as 50 cycles before severely impacting flight times.

[GetCarter]

MX5_Nuts said:

Out of curiosity with 300 flights, what's your battery cycles at? I was told that the batteries can last as little as 50 cycles before severely impacting flight times.

I generally only fly for 10-15 mins, and they are still fine with that. I was up for just under 20 mins for this in June

>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7bqkMgw87Y

..and was down to about 3% when I landed (phew)

[MX5_Nuts]

Ha great video! Wish I had the highlands to play with Will try and get up there again in October.

[Dermot O'Logical]

MX5_Nuts said:

Out of curiosity with 300 flights, what's your battery cycles at? I was told that the batteries can last as little as 50 cycles before severely impacting flight times.

At £125 for a battery I would be a bit disappointed if it didn't last a bit longer than that!

[MX5_Nuts]

Dermot O'Logical said:

At £125 for a battery I would be a bit disappointed if it didn't last a bit longer than that!

I think that must be absolute minimum WITHOUT maintaining the battery ie. running it low when new, not fully discharging every 20 cycles and leaving it "empty" weeks on end. Those LiPos need looking after.

[rottie102]

Dermot O'Logical said:

Suppose, for example, someone had been tipped over the edge by all of the wonderful and stunning drone footage and stills on this, and other threads, and now wishes to purchase a drone, what would you knowledgeable chaps recommend?

For background, I live on the edge of the New Forest and although I actually live in a "no-fly zone" there are plenty of flying opportunities within easy reach. I have photographic experience, but a drone would add a whole new dimension (see what I did?).

Sensible budget, say £400-£500 and very user-friendly. So far I've come up with the Parrot Bebop and Phantom 3. Any other recommendations?

Let me know if you are interested in a barely used Phantom 3 4K. Bought from Jessops a month ago, will be supplied with receipt so you get the warranty.

As for a choice between Bebop or Phantom - it's all about choice between image/video quality vs portability.
I have both - Bebop 2 is fun to fly using your phone, it's tiny and light and I take it with me often "just in case". With Phantom, the setup time, the bulk of the backpack etc make it much less convenient. But the image/video quality on Bebop 2 is average at best. So I wouldn't use it for any serious... use.

[slartibartfast]

Last week I bought my son a Quattro x
looks like a Phantom 3 and flies really well with 12mins flight out of a 2200mah 3c lipo.

we even tested the return home which worked a treat!
comes with a holder for gopro's, bargain at £200

[andrewrob]

MX5_Nuts said:

Dermot O'Logical said:

At £125 for a battery I would be a bit disappointed if it didn't last a bit longer than that!

I think that must be absolute minimum WITHOUT maintaining the battery ie. running it low when new, not fully discharging every 20 cycles and leaving it "empty" weeks on end. Those LiPos need looking after.

They shouldn't be left full when not using them for a few weeks. They should be at storage voltage which is about 3.8v per cell

[maccboy]

rottie102 said:

Let me know if you are interested in a barely used Phantom 3 4K. Bought from Jessops a month ago, will be supplied with receipt so you get the warranty.

Is your Phantom still for sale? I'm looking to get a drone. I'd be interested to know why it's for sale and why it's 'barely used'.

[Davie_GLA]

One thing that constantly comes up about the phantoms without Lightbridge is that owners regularly regret the lack of range and end up buying an advanced.

[MX5_Nuts]

Really liking the look of DJI's new "Mavic" available in a few weeks time!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1d_ptE6yrc

http://store.dji.com/product/mavic-pro?site=brands...

[anonymous-user]

MX5_Nuts said:

Really liking the look of DJI's new "Mavic" available in a few weeks time!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1d_ptE6yrc

http://store.dji.com/product/mavic-pro?site=brands...

It looks like a fantastic piece of kit.

[MX5_Nuts]

Maybe time to sell the Phantom 3 pro

[dudleybloke]

Looks good.

[rottie102]

I ordered one. Judging by how slow the DJI shop worked I wasn't the only one...

[Caruso]

Does look good, although it sounds like the form factor is the only difference from the P4.

[rottie102]

Caruso said:

Does look good, although it sounds like the form factor is the only difference from the P4.

Plus the biggie for me - the controller... Plus being able to fly it without the controller at all.

[RobDickinson]

wowzers that looks awesome. control by phone over wifi will have limited range of course.

gopro must be gutted lol

[Emeye]

Very tempted by a Mavic to replace my Phantom 2 Vision plus, but there are questions about the quality of the camera having read plenty of discussion and posts - it seems it may not be as good as the 4k camera on the Phantoms, but I am willing to reserve judgement until more footage and photos get uploaded.

[burton_ii]

GetCarter said:

So. Good news.

P3 fell out of the sky, I sent it back... DJI in China looked at the log and said I'd shut down the engines and wanted £575 to repair. I argued the toss with them saying the log proved that it was an electrical issue, and not me being a tt. After much prevarication, China finally decided I was right and have repaired FOC under warranty.

Worth fighting them if you ever have an issue... don't roll over!

WEX were very good through all this.

Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 26th January 15:06

good news! and also good to hear as my P3 4K too fell out of the sky about two weeks ago.

I was flying it and had no issues with GPS nor compass, while I was flying it the P3 decided to almost barrel roll and stall then props would start again and would fly fine. Did this a second time when i decided not all was well and started to lose height to bring it into land. while bringing it into land all power was lost and it fell approx 40ft. damage was minimal bar the whole gimbal and camera hanging by just a ribbon and the battery flying out of it's houseing.

P3 was purchased from Fast Boys and is now apparently over in Germany being examined. Just hope it is good news when it comes to repair/replace.