(Part 2) Best products from r/drones

Get a hubsan or a syma as learner first. Both are cheap, pretty durable and good to learn to fly with. You will crash while learing. It is much better to do this with 30 dollar quad. I personally like the hubsan more. Once you or your dad is comfortable flying you can take a look at getting a bigger quad for a camera. For under 500 with a transmitter your options are somewhat limited I think.

Hobbyking has a phantom clone with an apm flight controller that looks interesting and is in your price range. I have not personally tried it, but I have a pixhawk flight controller running the same software and I like it. It has a lot of advanced capabilities such as waypoint flying. You can pair it with small canon point and shoot camera to have auto picture taking capabilities as well, though that may be a bit advanced for what you are looking for. It's useful for mapping where you want a picture taken every x meters.

You could also get an older phantom for a little less then 500. I have never flown one, but they do seem to be pretty easy to operate.

Whatever you get I would caution you to make sure you (and/or your dad) understand how to operate the quad properly(i.e. calibrating the compass, understanding the GPS lock etc...) and are capable of flying safely in manual mode should the need arise. I believe that many mishaps and fly-aways are the result of people not really understanding their systems and how to properly deal with issues when they arrive.

Also check /r/multicopter as they are a bit more active lots of good info.

I bought a Phantom 4 Pro+ a few months ago and I love it. Its incredibly steady in the air and the footage/pictures from the camera are fantastic. If this is your price range, then I highly recommend it. Make sure to get the Pro+ one, having the display integrated with your controller is nice.

The third link you posted is pretty much the same bundle I got, although I got the Obsidian model (the black one). I liked it because the stuff it came with was useful. Definitely price out buying bundle pieces separately if you go with one, most don't save you money.

I purchased this Case Club waterproof case and an extra battery. I really like this case because you can store the drone with the rotors still attached. It makes it a lot easier to pull out the drone for a quick shot.

> Hubsan X4 -- How is it "no camera, low res"?

H107P
$39


H107L $45

H502E $98

H107D $99


H502S $178


H501S $269

Hubsan X4 Brushless $319

So here are my reservations:
Amazon reviews are too suspect - too many payoffs for BS reviews, I can usually read pick up a BS review - but it looks like > 30% of these reviews are biased). [That is why I looked to Reddit but like every enthusiast type thing - you just can not get consistent, reliable feedback)
Product descriptions are poorly translated
No solid links to a good Manufacturers page; a clear table of models and features would help sell more product!

This is an interesting product space - they can go from ~ $30 for what may be a half legitimate product to of $3K for pro. In the Amazon Drone store there are like 2400 in the $50 to 100 space - granted there are many of the same product different sellers and different adders. But man this "space" is cluttered as hell - and that scares off buyers.

This is not really a knock on the drones, but the diversity of Drones - and the dark side of Amazon are just creating so much doubt. For my 2 kids - spending $200 for a gift that, if it is crap they will put in the closet and forget about is just too risky.

Despite this I am probably getting a Syma X5SW FPV... 2 units, batteries and props for < $200. haha

I think the Parrot BeBop is right around $370 new. It has a fairly decent camera, but it is forward looking only and not on a gimbal. Personally I think it is a great entry level camera drone. I have flown my buddy's and it seems to handle pretty well - though you obviously are not going to get jello free video (and it does have some fish-eye to it - which may or may not be the video style you like).

http://www.amazon.com/Parrot-Bebop-Quadcopter-Drone-Red/dp/B00OOR9060/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1458415134&sr=1-1&keywords=parrot+bebop

IF you want a gimbal rig - then you will be moving up into the DJI drones which you can likely find a Phantom 2 or 3 used for about $300-$400 on ebay. Might need some repairs, but you can get replacement parts direct from DJi (or send it in to them for repairs).

Dude, I do 3D Photogrammetry with drones as well!

I use Agisoft Photoscan and 3DF Zephyr for 3D Mapping. I actually pirated them and they work great.

Honestly, hands down the best bang for your buck has to be Phantom 3. There are apps where it takes specific photographs based on the GPS and it's great for aerial mapping.

However, I really suggest the Phantom 4. There's tap to fly, collision avoidance, better battery life(better for larger areas), you name it!

I have the FQ777 Pocket Drone 124. It's great. Low rate mode is good inside and you can fly in high rate mode outside pretty well actually. On top of that the controller is a case and charger.

https://www.amazon.com/FQ-FQ777-124-Quadcopter-Switchable-Controller/dp/B00ZR4PAUY

Put some cx10 props on it and it gets just a little more power for super cheap

I wish I was looking for a professional model. Looks like with the extra battery it's 1000 dollars on amazon. So I'd say that's a pretty good deal for what you are selling. My budget is about 500 so I'm looking for a standard model. Here is the link to the same drone on amazon and the price comparison if anyone was wondering.

https://www.amazon.com/DJI-Phantom-Professional-Quadcopter-Camera/dp/B00VSITBJO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1465516685&sr=8-3&keywords=dji+phantom+3+professional

Other than that I don't know diddly shit about drone value and depreciation.

if he's a tinkerer, something like the DJI F450 kit may be inline with his interests. its a basic platform, but can easily be upgraded/outfitted with a GoPro gimbal for aerial video. add an FPV system to it for first person view while flying. pretty much able to customize it to what you want to do with it. DJI is the same company that makes the Phantom drones, and the NAZA-M flight controller is the same system used in the Phantoms (at least in the early versions, that I know of). it's very beginner friendly.

to get the kit in the air, it would need a RC transmitter/receiver system, 4s LiPo battery/batteries, and a LiPo balance charger at the minimum. The only specialty tool needed for assembly would be a soldering iron.

https://www.amazon.com/DJI-Flame-Wheel-F450-ARF/dp/B00G4A2RBU

Nifty idea! I've never encountered troublesome seagulls, but I could see those birds being real assholes if they don't like a drone.

Another idea: Put a couple mega-bright LEDs on your drone. These small LED lights are so bright that I cannot look at my drone when they are turned on. They can be seen from miles away. I cannot adequately explain how absurdly bright they are.

The bonus is that these lights let you safely fly your drone at night as well.

I don't think you'd find follow me on a <$250 drone, but there's the DJI Spark which is, in my opinion, an excellent choice. It's only $350-$400. I know this is a little out of your price range, but I strongly recommend it

It's a bit on the pricey side but it feels very secure. I am able to store my P3A, all my phantom accessories, with a DSLR with a medium size lens attached (24-105mm), and a spare lens comfortably.

Manfrotto MB BP-D1 DJI Professional Video Equipment Cases Drone Backpack

Reviews mention the 4 fits just fine.

Amazon is sold out but adorama has it right now

http://www.adorama.com/MBBPD1.html

I have the p3 professional. 3dr is going to stop producing these not because they are worse but because they lost the overall consumer battle with DJI. Their aircraft is actually really fun to fly and a great platform. For $500 you get a great bundle with the camera.

https://www.amazon.com/3DR-SA11A-Solo-Drone-Quadcopter/dp/B00ZPM7BOG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478909246&sr=8-1&keywords=3dr+solo+drone+quadcopter

I bought this https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ND21KS8?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_pd_title to get my M2P and DSLR to Scotland recently. I carried the drone, five batteries, all the cables and propellers including a Fly More Kit along with my DSLR m, a couple of lenses and some other small accessories. There is a sleeve for a laptop and overall it’s very comfortable.

One thing that isn’t obvious from the procures is the back pack is actually a pretty hard shell so I always felt everything was very safe. I took it as carry-on with no issues. We had a layover in London and I carried it all day comfortably.

> https://www.amazon.com/Altitude-Camera-Remote-Control-Headset/dp/B01KYLA1KI/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1483474717&sr=8-19-spons&keywords=u818a+upgrade&psc=1

I would not recommend the 502s as I got it for my son for Christmas and it has some positives but mostly negatives. The pros are all the GPS hold/RTH, and FPV features, however the flight time on this things was only 5-6 mins tops. Also the receiver burns through batteries almost as fast at the drone itself. In 10 flights we went through 3 sets of batteries. The other thing I didn't like is all the spare parts have to be ordered from China and take 20 days to get. I could not find any USA based stores with parts for these things. On paper the 501s looks good but you will spend more time/money fixing than flying.

I did a bunch of digging and found out this for $60 is the exact same pack as this for $170. I bought one and it works great for my Autel XSP. Perfect size for a carry-on bag on most airlines too.

It's possible, though unlikely. Circuit boards don't have any moving parts, and they're buried inside the shell of the drone, so they're usually pretty safe. Replacing an arm will require soldering in 3 spots, but is otherwise very easy to do.

Front left arm: https://www.amazon.com/DJI-Mavic-Front-Left-Motor/dp/B06Y394951

Back left arm: https://www.amazon.com/DJI-Mavic-Pro-Repair-Part/dp/B074CQGVSJ

So I'm thinking $700-1,000 preferably, I'm fairly new with drones so I need something that is durable, with stable video, I was looking at the DJI 3 Professional, (DJI Phantom 3 Professional Quadcopter 4K UHD Video Camera Drone https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VSITBJO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_pTqkDbXQQMNRN)
Would that be a good option? Or should I go with something else.

I also noticed the DJI Mavic Air is going on sale for prime day, would that be a good choice?

This one could be a good option for a beginner: https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Stone-F181-Quadcopter-Headless/dp/B00SAUAP5C/ref=sr_1_7?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1484623897&sr=1-7&keywords=drone&refinements=p_72%3A1248963011


I can also personally recommend the u818 if you'd rather go lower in price. It drifts if you don't trim it, but it's real stable.

https://www.amazon.com/U818A-HD-RC-Quadcopter-Control-Headless/dp/B01IZ4BYDY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1484623771&sr=8-4&keywords=u818


Both of these have altitude hold will be stable indoors, and probably even in light wind outdoors.

This would probably fit best: a toy-grade indoor flyer with propeller guards:

Syma X11

https://www.amazon.com/Cheerwing-Control-Quadcopter-Altitude-Take-off/dp/B06WGVP9FG/ref=sr_1_12?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1527605811&sr=1-12&keywords=syma

spark is now 400 on amazon and is a black friday deal for many retailers - target, best buy, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/DJI-Spark-Portable-Drone-Alpine/dp/B07173X82D/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1510318533&sr=1-3&keywords=dji+spark

I don't see anything as far as replaceable batteries go, and I can guarantee you will be unsatisfied with a 5 min. flight time, if you come to enjoy it at all. I might recommend splurging an extra $50 and get a Parrot Bebop without the controller. you can always buy the sky controller later on to increase the range and maneuverability of it.

I bought a range extender for my phantom 3 off Amazon similar to this one. It has reduced the amount of strong interference warnings I am receiving an has boosted the maximum range of my drone by at least 30%, I haven't had an opportunity to fly further than that. Totally worth it for less than $15

I got this U818A Upgraded for Christmas and have been liking it so far. May end up removing the shield so it performs better in higher winds. Maybe get some extra batteries with it too.

https://www.amazon.com/Altitude-Camera-Remote-Control-Headset/dp/B01KYLA1KI/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1483474717&sr=8-19-spons&keywords=u818a+upgrade&psc=1

What do you think of the DJI Phantom?

http://www.amazon.com/DJI-Phantom-Aerial-Drone-Quadcopter/dp/B00AGOSQI8/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1417020623&sr=1-3

Looks like a good price $430 for the options.

3DR Solo. (I'm biased) Beware the company has gone upside down, and is only focusing on commercial survey applications. But for build quality and features it is the best deal on the market imho. It was selling for about $1,000 just one year ago. Open Source too

https://www.amazon.com/3DR-SA11A-Solo-Drone-Quadcopter/dp/B00ZPM7BOG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493218659&sr=8-1&keywords=3dr+solo

Programmable with the Tower app (free), or Solex app ($29) both on android.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.droidplanner.android&hl=en

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fognl.solex&hl=en

We use this Case Club and love it. Plenty of room for extras, it's got wheels, hasn't had any defects in the past year, and isn't too expensive.

Hate to say it, but you can't get anything better than a toy for $100. Sure, you could get some sort of 'drone' like this with an 'HD' camera, but you'd be better off saving up for something better. Heck, you'd be hard pressed to even get a decent HD camera for $100, let alone one that flies.

Thanks for the reply. I had actually gone ahead and bought some replacements. Specifically these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q2LHKFT

They seem to work very well, and only a gram more in weight.

This might be your best bet https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01GKSF69K/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478578218&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=hubsan+x4+h107d

I got this but it can only fit a 15.5” laptop...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ND21KS8/ref=psdcmw_3345931_t1_B06XGMZL8W

Maybe the company makes larger bags?

I was looking to build about the same thing one of these days, and that is some power shopping. Good work!

DJI offers a "RTF" version with props, motors and ESCs for $220.

https://www.amazon.com/DJI-Flame-Wheel-F450-ARF/dp/B00G4A2RBU

With this $15 range extender, I've gotten 2024m over lakes, and 1400m over land. Over urban areas, I get about 1km, which is supposed to be its max range. The important key is making sure you are always directly facing the drone and having the extender facing it directly.
https://www.amazon.com/SKYREAT-Parabolic-Standard-Controller-Transmitter/dp/B01DC0ZCN4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1469742363&sr=8-2&keywords=phantom+3+range+extender

Phantom 4 $1000

Phantom 3S $500

I think the Hubsan H107D fits the bill

Sorry on mobile

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01GKSF69K/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483136987&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=hubsan+h107d&dpPl=1&dpID=41-PHIWoDRL&ref=plSrch

This is absolutely true. However. The modifications required are a stick on light that can be had on Amazon for under $50:

https://www.amazon.com/Firehouse-Technology-Approved-Flights-Quadcopter/dp/B073PMGLXR/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?keywords=uas+night+light&qid=1556464058&s=gateway&sr=8-6-spell

People get 107 night waivers using those, never mind recreational flights.

As for the footage itself, it looks compressed, IE shot with a telephoto rather than wide angle lens. (I was thinking inspire here until someone mentioned class B... That is unfortunate and an Ins. pilot kinda should know better so perhaps a Mavic 2 zoom? ) That compression means it's hard to have a good idea of exactly where he was or what he was flying over. (Kinda why you're not supposed to fly FPV without a VO, ya know?) I agree that the general area is bad if it is class B but I don't think there's sufficient evidence that he's flying over people, including that highway.

My point here is that there is a degree of ambiguity about whether or not this was legal. I see people frequently rush to judgement on these flights- and my suspicion is that the "crime" may sometimes be SLANDER. Yelling about how other people are commiting crimes has the potential to be a crime itself, and is regardless a somewhat unwelcoming thing to do to new members of the community.

PS regarding that Class B business: Recreational pilots are still allowed to follow community based guidelines like those published by the AMA. Here's the whole guidance:

www.modelaircraft.org/files/100.pdf

He doesn't need to be in class G, write a letter for a waiver, use LAANC or any other shenanigans. He needs to be 5 miles from an airport. Fin.

https://www.amazon.com/DJI-Phantom-Professional-Quadcopter-Camera/dp/B00VSITBJO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1483121562&sr=8-3&keywords=phantom+3+professional

how long has he been using it? How many cycles has the battery gone through? Anything else coming with the sale other than the drone, controller, and battery?

Definitely want to know that before buying. A battery costs 120 - 160 right now.
https://www.amazon.com/DJI-DJI-P3-Battery-Intelligent-Battery-Phantom/dp/B00Y1W5EEU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483121628&sr=8-1&keywords=phantom+3+pro+battery

Not a bad deal, unless the battery is crap or some part is broken.