Hello from NYC/Mass - first bird?

[adanac]

Hello! I'm a new user and new to multi-rotors. I'm a tv camera operator and I'd like to get into AV. I have purchased the Blade MQX for basic training and I also wish to start flying a camera.

These are the choices I think I have:

Phantom - Pros: fly a camera right away, reasonably inexpensive. Cons: I'll undoubtedly have to sell and upgrade if I stick with the craft (which I hope to do)

Build my own, like an F550 - Pros: learn to build, parts that will grow with me, better machine. Cons: more expensive, harder and longer learning curve, no immediate camera practice.

Any thoughts on these two, or other options would be most appreciated!

 

[Jim in Massachusetts]

DJI Phantom or F550

I built an F550 back in September of 2012. My first venture into RC.

I'm more into still photos, than video but I do make video. As you may be aware, video from a rigidly mounted GoPro can be less than optimal. But it can be 'OK".

See my favorite video (so-far) here:

Be aware that was made on a calm day AND I let Youtube do it's video stabilization, which impressed me.

Some of my aerial photography from the F550 is here:
https://plus.google.com/photos/104688579048759425474/albums/5800083779192696801
https://plus.google.com/photos/104688579048759425474/albums/5830140850514589025


Those needed lots of correction in Photoshop. Distortion from the GopPro lens is the price you pay for the super wide views. The distortion can be mostly eliminated in PS.

Toughest part of building the F550 for me was soldering, takes practice... and a my iron was not hot enough. Otherwise a fun build. There are several very helpful videos on the net about the F550 build and NAZA set up. You definitely want GPS. It makes flying easier and the return to home feature, I'm sure, has saved many MR from disappearing. It saved mine TWICE! In the wrong conditions, it can be easy to loose line of sight.

The experience of building your own craft can come in handy if you need to make repairs.

If I had it to do over, since I don't currently plan to bring anything heavier than the GoPro up, I might go with a quad over a hex. Longer flight times...

Hopefully........ a Cinestar 8 is in my future to carry my DSLR's aloft...but I'm in no rush.

 

[Highfive]

Hi to both adanac and Jim,
I am looking at the 550 as well. Jim, where did you buy the parts and roughly how much did the total build cost? There are no hobby stores near me that sell any dji products and when I look online the prices vary greatly and so does location, ie China, UK. I want to build one but it seems like its more expensive then buying one pre-assembeld from China. Any help would be great. Thanks, Highfive

 

[ChrisViperM]

Hi to both adanac and Jim,
I am looking at the 550 as well. Jim, where did you buy the parts and roughly how much did the total build cost? There are no hobby stores near me that sell any dji products and when I look online the prices vary greatly and so does location, ie China, UK. I want to build one but it seems like its more expensive then buying one pre-assembeld from China. Any help would be great. Thanks, Highfive

One good hint: stay away from imported stuff unless you know exactly what you are doing. Especially in the beginning try to buy from a dealer in your country (regardless if online or actual shops)...you might have guarantee or support issues which are much are easier to deal with a "local supplier". There are legions of people who wanted to save a few bucks and payed big time in the end (in terms of money AND nerves...)

Chris

 

[Roger Ramjet]

Greetings guys and welcome the the most amazing/addictive hobby in the world (my opinion anyhow... Ha! Ha!).

I totally agree with Chris. Through this forum, you will be able to see some of the most commun multirotors and get the experience of people who actually fly them. If you stick with popular models and radio control system, you can always get help and info on the net if you do not have a dealer offering customer service near you.

adanac, it all depends how much you are willing to invest initiallty. Since you already are in the field of video/camera handling professionally, I feel that you will rapidly outgrow the Phantom system which is quite limited in weight and camera. Furthermore, you state in your cons for the F550 that there is no immediate camera practice and a longer learning curve.

Let me assure you that a F550 is not harder to fly than a Phanton, if anything, it is easier to see due to its size and inherently more stable due to its higher mass. Also, with respect to camera practice, you would better forget about this until you are familiar with the operation of your multirotor and you can safely and repeatedly perform complete flights. Do not attempt to fly around, learn the radio control handling and shoot video at the same time at first! One has to learn to walk before running! Of course the NAZA flight controller and GPS (cost 400.00 here) makes the transition easier but you still have to spend a good 20 - 25 flights before you feel confortable enough to open up the camera dimension. Nice part about this initial training is that it is all fun!

Hoping this helps you out a bit.

Rodge

 

[Jim in Massachusetts]

I bought my everything from http://www.rchover.com/ in person. I've bought some replacements props from them via mail order and they shipped the parts out quickly. Highly recommended. Call Jeremy if you call RC Hover in Foxboro Massachusetts, and tell him Jim Harrington sent you! Not that that will help you, but tell him anyway!

Flamewheel kit was about $319
Naza and GPS , I forget the price. DX8 radio was $429? I also bought Fatshark goggles, FPV transmitter and small goggles based receiver. Never use stock DJI props. Too many have come apart in flight. I use Graupner props. Graupner props will break if you slam the craft into the scoreboard at the local football field :}

I bought the Blade MQX (great to learn to control a MR) and Pheonix Flight 4 RC software for like $129. I'm looking to sell the software if anyone wants to make me an offer?

If you can master a Blade MQX you can fly a 550 in manual mode!

Be aware that the NAZA gps postition hold makes flying a multi rotor very easy in my opinion. Let go of the stick and it stays in place (withing a few feet)

The 3 modes of the NAZA are something like this.

Manual Mode: As you sent the craft in forward for example, it'll keep going forward (from momentum) if you center the stick. To stop the forward motion, you'd need to counteract with a backward pull on the stick (presuming forward on the craft is facing away from you. Also, its very important to note that in manual mode, any tilt of the craft to send it in a given direction, will result in a loss of lift and altitude, unless compensated for with an increase in throttle.

Altitude Hold Mode: (incorrectly translated to "attitude" at DJI?) Lateral motion of the craft still needs momentum counteracted to stop, but tilting the craft should not cause significant loss of altitude. Altitude is adjusted with throttle. If properly calibrated, centering the throttle should keep altitude relatively constant.

GPS MODE: Altitude and lateral position are maintained if there is no altitude, aileron, or elevator stick input. (presuming throttle is centered) You can zoom the craft at high speed and it will counteract momentum and quickly and smoothly slow to a stop when you take away the right stick input. It's like freakin magic!

It's important to learn to control the craft in manual in the event you loose GPS during flight.

View attachment 10245

 

[Bartman]

we are waaaaayyyyyyy overdue for a Northeast/New England/Mid Atlantic get together. i'll have my April schedule in about three days, let's pick a weekend day and finally meet up.

Bart in NJ

 

[Jim in Massachusetts]

I wonder if another "fly in" is planned this year at the Mansfield MA location. It was a big event last year but only one guy was flying multi that I saw. RT12Ryder (who is a member here) Here's a shot of Ken's Cinestar 6.
View attachment 10246

 

[RTRyder]

I wonder if another "fly in" is planned this year at the Mansfield MA location. It was a big event last year but only one guy was flying multi that I saw. RT12Ryder (who is a member here) Here's a shot of Ken's Cinestar 6.
View attachment 13175

The NEHC Phenomenon will be held again at the New England Heli Crew club field in Mansfield Massachusetts in September, the tentative dates are Septemeber 13 - 15, 2013. We now have another multirotor pilot on the board besides myself so we're definitely going to try and hold a multirotor specific event this summer, well before the Phenom which is largely Heli centric with a number of pro pilots on hand doing crazy 3D flights.

There is also a lot of local activity gearing up both for FPV and multirotor racing. There is a group of FPV pilots in the eastern Massachusetts area that meets up almost every weekend at various places in southeastern and central MA, most of them hang out here and also post notices about meets and locations... http://fpvlab.com/forums/showthread.php?6872-Checking-in-from-Northeast-US&p=233334#post233334 they also have a meet planned for Monson MA, details here... http://fpvlab.com/forums/showthread.php?13480-New-England-Spring-FPV-Meet-2013

Taking it a bit further there's the third annual FPV/APV fun fly happening in Swansea MA, details here... http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1836300 I'll definitely be at the Swansea meet since it's only a 30 minute drive down the highweay from the house, Monson is a maybe depending on the date they decide on, it's a bit of a drive for me.

Anyone who holds a current AMA membership is always welcome to meet me at the field in Mansfield Ma for some FPV flying and multirotor tuning, just drop me a PM and we can arrange to meet up on day that I'll be there flying.

Here's a recent vid recorded with my Hoverthings FlipFPV/APM 2.5 combo flying FPV for the first time at the field. Still needs a minor tweak or two but pretty close to dialed in as-is. I was intentionally flying it aggressively to see how it handled it, did quite well, as good or better than my TBS Discovery. The RTH autoland still needs some fine tuning as you can see at the very end. If you want to learn to fly FPV like this or tune your current setup so it can fly like this, I try to get over there at least 2 or 3 weekends a month, usually on Saturdays weather permitting. Unfortunately I won't be there for the next week or two until the Graupner bite on my wrist heals up and the stitches come out...

Ken

 

[SamaraMedia]

There's a planned FPV meet up on the OpenPilot site for anyone interested - http://forums.openpilot.org/topic/19382-new-england-spring-fpv-meet-2013/

Alright guys lets start planning.

(original thread on FPVLAB)

ALL FPV VEHICLES WELCOME, fixed wing, rotor, ground!
This is FPV focused but your non FPV craft is definitely welcome!

DATE: Sunday MAY 19th - 8:00am till the batteries run out

Place: Westview Farms 111 East hill rd. Monson, MA

John

 

[Jim in Massachusetts]

That was some skilled flying Ken. Sorry to hear of your injury. Makes me want to invest in some safety sleeves.