Author Topic: Drones Master Thread  (Read 91993 times)

Online Something Fishy

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Drones Master Thread
« on: September 27, 2016, 03:42:45 PM »
There's a lot of drone information spread around the forums, but no one place to discuss everything drone-related - until now :D. Use this thread to help figure out which drone to buy, what's a good deal, tips and tricks, etc.

For starters here are links to some existing drone-related threads and discussions:

Trying to figure out which drone to get myself
Some discussion on DJI's newest drone, announced today
Pictures/Video (*You've*) Taken from Drones
Important DJI warranty limitation



Current best options for general, typical use:

(See the above links for some deeper comparisons.)

- DJI Phantom 4: The newest version of the most popular drone family out there. Costs around $1200, very well-rounded bird. Obstacle avoidance (front only) and great range.

- DJI Phantom 3 Standard / Advanced / Professional: The older version of the 4. Quite similar, but lesser range and no obstacle avoidance. The 3 models are quite similar, but the camera quality goes up steadily as the price goes up. $499, $799, and $999.

- DJI Mavic Pro: Just announced today, this seems to be the drone for 90% of people. Same quality camera as the P4, and folds into, well.... not nothingness, but really really small. Like, fits in a water-bottle holder small. Remains to be seen how it performs in the real world, but being that DJI has tremendous experience in drones it bodes quite well. $999.

- GoPro Karma: Also just announced with nothing in customer's hands, this seemed to be the winner - until the Mavic was announced. It folds as well, but is still orders of magnitude larger than the Mavic. It uses a GoPro as the camera, and comes with an included hand-held stabilizer. Specs fall very short, with less than a mile's range, no follow modes, and so on. $799 without a camera, $999 with a Hero5.

- Autel X-Star Premium: Very similar to the Phantoms (it sits somewhere between the 3 and 4, spec-wise), it has many things that are actually better and a few that are worse. Overall I'd rate it as the best option out there at the moment, and I'll put my money where my mouth is: I ordered mine yesterday.



Current promos:

The only thing I'm aware of is that Autel will pay for your FAA Part 107 certification via MIR ($150), should you choose to go that route.
« Last Edit: September 27, 2016, 04:06:38 PM by Something Fishy »
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Re: Drone Master Thread
« Reply #1 on: September 27, 2016, 03:50:26 PM »
DJI also announced today DJI Care Refresh. For $99, you will get priority servise and up to two drone replacements in case of a crash. Needs to be bought and activated no later than 48 hours after using the Mavic for the first time and lasts for a year.

Considering Amex, is this actually useful?

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Offline whYME

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Re: Drone Master Thread
« Reply #2 on: September 27, 2016, 03:53:25 PM »
Considering Amex, is this actually useful?
CMIIW, but I don't think Amex will cover a crash after 90 days

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Re: Drone Master Thread
« Reply #3 on: September 27, 2016, 03:53:58 PM »
Seems that the Mavic won't take filters. Ouch.

ETA: DJI rep confirmed that they'll have proprietary ND filters available "in the doming days".
« Last Edit: September 27, 2016, 04:24:38 PM by Something Fishy »
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Re: Drone Master Thread
« Reply #4 on: September 27, 2016, 04:05:26 PM »
Mavic is $749 without remote, no? 

Offline tageed-lee

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Re: Drone Master Thread
« Reply #5 on: September 27, 2016, 04:08:33 PM »
Mavic is $749 without remote, no?

Its included... (Scroll down a little to "In the box")

http://store.dji.com/product/mavic-pro?site=brandsite&from=buy_now_bar#/box

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Re: Drone Master Thread
« Reply #6 on: September 27, 2016, 04:10:16 PM »
Mavic is $749 without remote, no?

Its included
http://store.dji.com/product/mavic-pro?site=brandsite&from=buy_now_bar#/box

$749 without the remote, $999 with.

But the range using the direct-to-phone Wi-Fi connection so bad, I highly doubt anyone here will get the no-remote option.
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Offline Alwayshappy0909

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Re: Drones Master Thread
« Reply #7 on: September 27, 2016, 04:14:47 PM »
I think that the Phantom 3 series comes without a camera, you have to add a gopro.

I bought the Phantom 3 4k that comes with a camera for $599
And I love it

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Re: Drones Master Thread
« Reply #8 on: September 27, 2016, 04:16:21 PM »
I think that the Phantom 3 series comes without a camera, you have to add a gopro.

I bought the Phantom 3 4k that comes with a camera for $599
And I love it

That was the Phantom 2, all 3s came with a camera.

The reason I didn't list the P3 4k is because it's discontinued by now.
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Re: Drones Master Thread
« Reply #9 on: September 27, 2016, 04:21:18 PM »
1 of my recent drone photos

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Re: Drones Master Thread
« Reply #10 on: September 27, 2016, 04:28:05 PM »
You must register your drone and get a "Small UAS Certificate of Registration" for a $5 fee @ faa.gov

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Re: Drone Master Thread
« Reply #11 on: September 27, 2016, 04:45:29 PM »
DJI also announced today DJI Care Refresh. For $99, you will get priority servise and up to two drone replacements in case of a crash. Needs to be bought and activated no later than 48 hours after using the Mavic for the first time and lasts for a year.

Considering Amex, is this actually useful?

It is. AmEx will not cover the Drone.

T&Cs exclude.
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Offline lfas25

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Re: Drones Master Thread
« Reply #12 on: September 27, 2016, 04:55:41 PM »
It is. AmEx will not cover the Drone.

T&Cs exclude.
They cover flying cameras not drones
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Offline noturbizniss

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Re: Drone Master Thread
« Reply #13 on: September 27, 2016, 04:58:26 PM »
It is. AmEx will not cover the Drone.

T&Cs exclude.
based on this?
Quote
motorized vehicles and watercraft, aircraft,
and motorcycles or their motors, equipment,
parts or accessories;
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Re: Drones Master Thread
« Reply #14 on: September 27, 2016, 05:02:01 PM »
Autel X-Star Premium: Very similar to the Phantoms (it sits somewhere between the 3 and 4, spec-wise), it has many things that are actually better and a few that are worse. Overall I'd rate it as the best option out there at the moment, and I'll put my money where my mouth is: I ordered mine yesterday.

Or you ordered it yesterday and have buyers remorse after seeing the mavic and don't want to see us little folk getting a better option than you! :P
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Re: Drones Master Thread
« Reply #15 on: September 27, 2016, 05:07:46 PM »
Or you ordered it yesterday and have buyers remorse after seeing the mavic and don't want to see us little folk getting a better option than you! :P

LOL ;D.

Or, I could just return it and order the Mavic, ya know.

Basically, for me, the only thing the Mavic has over the Autel is its size. The Autel has a better camera, stability, remote, no no-fly zones, and a whole bunch of other things over the Mavic. Of course, that size is absolutely incredible, but as a whole package the Autel works better for me.
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Re: Drones Master Thread
« Reply #16 on: September 27, 2016, 05:09:39 PM »
LOL ;D.

Or, I could just return it and order the Mavic, ya know.

Basically, for me, the only thing the Mavic has over the Autel is its size. The Autel has a better camera, stability, remote, no no-fly zones, and a whole bunch of other things over the Mavic. Of course, that size is absolutely incredible, but as a whole package the Autel works better for me.
So why not the phantom 4?#n00bhere
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Re: Drones Master Thread
« Reply #17 on: September 27, 2016, 05:11:23 PM »
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Re: Drones Master Thread
« Reply #18 on: September 27, 2016, 05:37:44 PM »
LOL

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Re: Drones Master Thread
« Reply #19 on: September 27, 2016, 05:47:48 PM »
Hey, I'm kinda hoping it gets a similar reception as the Session did, in which case they'll halve the price in two months.  I'd pick one up for $400.