Getting Started - Questions

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pwphoto

Member
Hi there

i would like to get started with aerial photography on multi copters

trying to get some feedback on some thoughts i have on this

Ultimately i would like to have a nice rig that can carry decent size cameras (video as well as stills) up to an SLR possibly. At minimum i want to carry a stabilized gopro on a gimbal.

One of the first things i am trying to figure out is if it is smarter to have a smaller one that can carry a gopro or other smaller camera and then add a bigger one later to carry larger equipment. Upside is that the first bird of course would be cheaper and the fact i would end up having two rigs to choose from depending on the need. Downside of course in the end two rigs cost more than one.

i would like to hear your thoughts on this

Also if i decide to go with a copter that can nicely carry a gopro with a stabilized gimbal what would you suggest? i dont mind and am capable of building this but would prefer something not too experimental (time is somewhat limited)

thanks in advance for your help

Mike
 

sixshooterstang

sixshooterstang

Bird's Eyes Aerial Media
If this is your first multi I would suggest buying a mini/micro first. Or just the larger copter itself and getting hours of stick time. Once you can fly nose in without any problem then I would say youre safe to be trying photography.
 

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pwphoto

Member
sixshooterstang said:
If this is your first multi I would suggest buying a mini/micro first. Or just the larger copter itself and getting hours of stick time. Once you can fly nose in without any problem then I would say youre safe to be trying photography.
Click to expand...

sorry i should have added more info. I am a very proficient giant scale rc airplane (gas / electric) as well as rc helicopter pilot. Also fly fpv planes for quite a while. Only thing new is to use a multirotor frame with photography/video.

thanks
 

E

Electro 2

Member
You'll want two rigs anyway. Build the little one first, and learn to fly manually, move into automated flight modes later. You'll learn a lot about these unique aircraft. Then .....move on to the high-dollar, big-rig, with confidence and knowledge of the ins and outs.
 

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pwphoto

Member
i am leaning towards that. Any suggestions on a good rig that will nicely carry a gopro with gimbal and FPV gear on it and be nice and stable?

thanks
 



kloner

kloner

Aerial DP
for an experienced pilot and somebody wanting to go pro is going to need a couple rigs. the 2 sizes we use most is 800mm and a skyjib=huge. we fly nex and gh3 on the 800 hex, but can go slr-red on the jib. if you were gonna try to get in cheap and stick with a hero, i'd either go with a 2 axis fpv frame with a built in brushless gimbal like TBS pro or QAV540, there a little more to repair and general cost more to build since they recommend and use a higher quality parts list. at the bare minimum on my list would be a f550 with a 2 axis brushless gimbal for a hero...... once you would get going and go pro, that might still get used, for sure a disco will be used again, there made for ff and fff like chasing stuff.....

the motors that come in a f550 kit would prevent me from recomending an arf. at the bare minimum get some decent motors
 

sixshooterstang

sixshooterstang

Bird's Eyes Aerial Media
Tmotors are a good place to start. A 4s lipo setup will do better than a 3s as you will have more power available and use less amps so longer flights
 

Benjamin Kenobi

Benjamin Kenobi

Easy? You call that easy?
I have a stock 4S DJI F550 and love it. If you put the new GoPro Zenmuse on it the footage would be lovely. Good starting kit.
 

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pwphoto

Member
slowly i am getting some ideas on frames. here are some i have come across or people have mentioned them here and on PM

RCT800
DJI 550
DJI S800

looking around i kind of like the 800's allthough i am sure the 550 wouldnt be a bad choice either.

Any comments on these or other suggestions ?

thanks
 

E

Electro 2

Member
pwphoto said:
getting some ideas on frames. here are some i have come across or people have mentioned them here and on PM

RCT800
DJI 550
DJI S800
Click to expand...

The RCTimer 800 is a lower cost clone of the DJI S800. The DJI F550 is a much smaller, less expensive frame and, in my opinion, a better starter frame. Much less expensive to repair after a crash. And there will be crashes, trust me. MR scale aircraft are not at the "appliance" level, probably never will be. There's a skills learning curve involved with flying that no automated gizmo or function will band-aid. All of these frames have loooong threads on the forums, with thousands of posts and years accumulated knowledge. Your next stop will be to read at least some of this stuff and get "educated". If you're not on RCG-MRA forum, too, I'd get there pronto. Love this one, but RCG has maybe a hundred times as many subscribers and is the default home base for many folks.
 


E

Electro 2

Member
I suspect this fellow will be looking at closed-source commercial FCs, not open-source ones. He's looking for some degree of sucess without getting too involved. This narrows it down to 3 manufacturers right up front.
 

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