Recommend me a drone
Discussion
I'm wanting to get a drone for taking video / photo's of work sites, houses we work on and just having fun with. I'm keen on photography and mountain biking so like the idea of having the drone follow me along. Got a budget up to about £500 so not a toy type kids unit. I've had experience with RC helicopters / planes etc.
New Fimi X8 is a good effort in this price bracket.
Or 2nd hand Phantom 4.
Both have long range for the fun element and both have gimbles and GPS for stable HQ video.
Fimi X8 can only be bought from Hong Kong it would seem, the likes of GearBest and BangGood websites will sell them
2nd hand Phantom 4 can be bought from ebay in the UK.
(So may be bare that in mind given the current troubles in that part of the world).
Or 2nd hand Phantom 4.
Both have long range for the fun element and both have gimbles and GPS for stable HQ video.
Fimi X8 can only be bought from Hong Kong it would seem, the likes of GearBest and BangGood websites will sell them
2nd hand Phantom 4 can be bought from ebay in the UK.
(So may be bare that in mind given the current troubles in that part of the world).
Rider007 said:
I'm wanting to get a drone for taking video / photo's of work sites, houses we work on and just having fun with. I'm keen on photography and mountain biking so like the idea of having the drone follow me along. Got a budget up to about £500 so not a toy type kids unit. I've had experience with RC helicopters / planes etc.
You need to go careful making comments like this as in theory you require a pfco for photography of work sites.My suggestion would be a second hand unit and go for either a Mavic or a Phantom 4. The Mavic is more the sort that can track you on your bike and if you go with Mavic 2 you will be able to get better sensors so you dont crash the UAV whilst following.
Is it actually worth owning a drone in Britain at the moment?
I have just picked up a Zerotech Dobby for GBP 60 - being light weight it means I don't need any kind of licence and can fly it sensibly where ever I like.
I believe DJI are coming out with a lighter Spark to meet the same criteria as 250g seems to be the common tipping point for needing a licence etc
I have just picked up a Zerotech Dobby for GBP 60 - being light weight it means I don't need any kind of licence and can fly it sensibly where ever I like.
I believe DJI are coming out with a lighter Spark to meet the same criteria as 250g seems to be the common tipping point for needing a licence etc
V10leptoquark said:
New Fimi X8 is a good effort in this price bracket.need to
Or 2nd hand Phantom 4.
Both have long range for the fun element and both have gimbles and GPS for stable HQ video.
Fimi X8 can only be bought from Hong Kong it would seem, the likes of GearBest and BangGood websites will sell them
2nd hand Phantom 4 can be bought from ebay in the UK.
(So may be bare that in mind given the current troubles in that part of the world).
Thanks , I'll look at those. One thing is puzzling me .Looking at dronesafe.uk it say's all drones over 250g from 30 Nov need to be registered and you need a licence, yet another website heliguy.com says if it's for hobby purposes you don't need a licence ?.Or 2nd hand Phantom 4.
Both have long range for the fun element and both have gimbles and GPS for stable HQ video.
Fimi X8 can only be bought from Hong Kong it would seem, the likes of GearBest and BangGood websites will sell them
2nd hand Phantom 4 can be bought from ebay in the UK.
(So may be bare that in mind given the current troubles in that part of the world).
Rider007 said:
V10leptoquark said:
New Fimi X8 is a good effort in this price bracket.need to
Or 2nd hand Phantom 4.
Both have long range for the fun element and both have gimbles and GPS for stable HQ video.
Fimi X8 can only be bought from Hong Kong it would seem, the likes of GearBest and BangGood websites will sell them
2nd hand Phantom 4 can be bought from ebay in the UK.
(So may be bare that in mind given the current troubles in that part of the world).
Thanks , I'll look at those. One thing is puzzling me .Looking at dronesafe.uk it say's all drones over 250g from 30 Nov need to be registered and you need a licence, yet another website heliguy.com says if it's for hobby purposes you don't need a licence ?.Or 2nd hand Phantom 4.
Both have long range for the fun element and both have gimbles and GPS for stable HQ video.
Fimi X8 can only be bought from Hong Kong it would seem, the likes of GearBest and BangGood websites will sell them
2nd hand Phantom 4 can be bought from ebay in the UK.
(So may be bare that in mind given the current troubles in that part of the world).
Not saying you can't, just saying be careful.
A few things here:
1) if you own a drone weighing 250g or more, hobbyist or business, you will need to be registered with the CAA from November this year.
2) Seperately from above, if you wish to use one irrespective of weight for commercial purposes, you must have permission for commercial operations from the CAA. It's not a licence as such but a granting of permission.
3) regardless of those, you should try to adhere to the drone code and the rules about land permissions, crowds etc
Those are very loose interpretations of the rules from me as a novice and I'm sure the better educated will set me straight shortly.
As others have mentioned, permission to fly even as an amateur for leisure purposes in the UK is a bit of minefield as many areas are blanket restricted under model aircraft byelaws and there is no one true map for permissable areas. The drone assist app is ok but it misses national trust, forestry commission and country estates to name a few.
That's before you get into the issue of wind conditions being more unpredictable at differing altitudes which will have a detrimental effect on battery flying time and stability etc.
1) if you own a drone weighing 250g or more, hobbyist or business, you will need to be registered with the CAA from November this year.
2) Seperately from above, if you wish to use one irrespective of weight for commercial purposes, you must have permission for commercial operations from the CAA. It's not a licence as such but a granting of permission.
3) regardless of those, you should try to adhere to the drone code and the rules about land permissions, crowds etc
Those are very loose interpretations of the rules from me as a novice and I'm sure the better educated will set me straight shortly.
As others have mentioned, permission to fly even as an amateur for leisure purposes in the UK is a bit of minefield as many areas are blanket restricted under model aircraft byelaws and there is no one true map for permissable areas. The drone assist app is ok but it misses national trust, forestry commission and country estates to name a few.
That's before you get into the issue of wind conditions being more unpredictable at differing altitudes which will have a detrimental effect on battery flying time and stability etc.
eltawater said:
A few things here:
1) if you own a drone weighing 250g or more, hobbyist or business, you will need to be registered with the CAA from November this year.
2) Seperately from above, if you wish to use one irrespective of weight for commercial purposes, you must have permission for commercial operations from the CAA. It's not a licence as such but a granting of permission.
3) regardless of those, you should try to adhere to the drone code and the rules about land permissions, crowds etc
Those are very loose interpretations of the rules from me as a novice and I'm sure the better educated will set me straight shortly.
As others have mentioned, permission to fly even as an amateur for leisure purposes in the UK is a bit of minefield as many areas are blanket restricted under model aircraft byelaws and there is no one true map for permissable areas. The drone assist app is ok but it misses national trust, forestry commission and country estates to name a few.
That's before you get into the issue of wind conditions being more unpredictable at differing altitudes which will have a detrimental effect on battery flying time and stability etc.
Are they including model aircraft/helicopters/gliders under this as well? They are trying something similar over here, but there's been some pushback by model aircraft clubs 1) if you own a drone weighing 250g or more, hobbyist or business, you will need to be registered with the CAA from November this year.
2) Seperately from above, if you wish to use one irrespective of weight for commercial purposes, you must have permission for commercial operations from the CAA. It's not a licence as such but a granting of permission.
3) regardless of those, you should try to adhere to the drone code and the rules about land permissions, crowds etc
Those are very loose interpretations of the rules from me as a novice and I'm sure the better educated will set me straight shortly.
As others have mentioned, permission to fly even as an amateur for leisure purposes in the UK is a bit of minefield as many areas are blanket restricted under model aircraft byelaws and there is no one true map for permissable areas. The drone assist app is ok but it misses national trust, forestry commission and country estates to name a few.
That's before you get into the issue of wind conditions being more unpredictable at differing altitudes which will have a detrimental effect on battery flying time and stability etc.
Brother D said:
Are they including model aircraft/helicopters/gliders under this as well? They are trying something similar over here, but there's been some pushback by model aircraft clubs
Probably not, because an RC plane wasnt shown on the news shutting down an airport, and terrorists dont use gliders. /sarcasmoffIn reality you could load a much more dangerous payload onto a plane and fly further for longer. But when has common sense been part of the government.
The_Jackal said:
Brother D said:
Are they including model aircraft/helicopters/gliders under this as well? They are trying something similar over here, but there's been some pushback by model aircraft clubs
Probably not, because an RC plane wasnt shown on the news shutting down an airport, and terrorists dont use gliders. /sarcasmoffIn reality you could load a much more dangerous payload onto a plane and fly further for longer. But when has common sense been part of the government.
blueg33 said:
The_Jackal said:
Brother D said:
Are they including model aircraft/helicopters/gliders under this as well? They are trying something similar over here, but there's been some pushback by model aircraft clubs
Probably not, because an RC plane wasnt shown on the news shutting down an airport, and terrorists dont use gliders. /sarcasmoffIn reality you could load a much more dangerous payload onto a plane and fly further for longer. But when has common sense been part of the government.
https://www.caa.co.uk/Consumers/Unmanned-aircraft/...
blueg33 said:
The_Jackal said:
Brother D said:
Are they including model aircraft/helicopters/gliders under this as well? They are trying something similar over here, but there's been some pushback by model aircraft clubs
Probably not, because an RC plane wasnt shown on the news shutting down an airport, and terrorists dont use gliders. /sarcasmoffIn reality you could load a much more dangerous payload onto a plane and fly further for longer. But when has common sense been part of the government.
The first one is history, RC planes, helicopters and gliders have been around for a long time.
The second is skill level. RC planes, helicopters and gliders take a long time to learn to fly, and can't easily be done in a casual or crowded environment. A drone can be buzzing around an airport or stadium or someone's bedroom window on its first battery charge.
CubanPete said:
RC planes, helicopters and gliders take a long time to learn to fly, and can't easily be done in a casual or crowded environment. A drone can be buzzing around an airport or stadium or someone's bedroom window on its first battery charge.
Not strictly true on the helicopters, there's an argument brewing on one of the local facebook groups as someone's kid has crashed theirs into a neighbour's garden .....
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