Gaui New to a REAL quad copter

[biffstephens]

Hello all,

I mostly joined here because the responses are all pretty nice.

I have a little experience with Quad copters but not a REAL one....I have an AR drone (first gen) and a micro one that did not stay working near long enough..

I am looking for something to take me from the beginning (where I am at now) and to the expert area.

I have been looking for a long time....I have so many model numbers in my head and virtually no real (sorry I keep saying that) experience. In some aspects I have done enough research to talk me out of a beginner and talk me into something bigger.

My needs...I do some volunteer work for a group that wants to do some aerial photography...I have no ambitions about putting my 5D MKIII on this copter but I have a GoPro...a few actually.....they want the aerial shots...(slower moving people, running and biking).

I want a spring board...something that will be great with GoPro but also help me learn to fly really well. Not interested in flipping and loops or what not....the footage is what I am looking for. They are going to split the cost with me so I figured I would buy a controller and receiver and have them buy the copter. ~400 for there half is the budget...I have the skills to assemble one...

I have been looking at the 330xS and the 500X...the 500 seems to be easier to find info on....

Opinions please!

Also I know nothing about transmitters...suggestions would be welcome as well. Not really looking at Ready to Fly options to save cost...as mentioned above ~800 would be the total for this run...

thanks to everyone for there help and opinions!

 

[Muhkuh]

My first quad was the 500x with a DJI Naza. I had a lot of fun with it and mounted a GoPro on it (without gimbal). But after a few month I was fed up with it. Spare parts are quiet cheap but motors and ESCs are extremely expensive. And the motors are rubbish.

In my opinion you can save the money for the 500X frame and get a frame with 10x10 mm alloy arms (Flyduino, Mikrokopter, Quadframe). I also like the DJI frames, especially the F550 (just the frame...not the motors). Then get some efficient motors with balanced props and simonK flashed ESCs.

For example:
Frame: DJI F450 / Flyduino (Warthox) Quad Frame with 25 cm arms
Motors: T-Motor 2216-11
Props: 9x5 (CW // CCW)
ESCs: HK F-30A (can be flashed with simonK FW)
LiPo: 4s 3300 mAh (you already have a charger?)
FC: Naza (expensive but very good for a beginner)
TX/RX: Turnigy 9X

 

[Kougarok]

I just started flying a quad copter. I picked the GAUI 500X because everything was integtrated. The motors and props aren't the best but the frame is nice. I am easily getting 11+ minutes with a 2100 mah 3S batt. I will probably use the 500 as a trainer and get something better later as I intend to get into commercial aerial photography.