Phantom 3 Drone Photos

[mas1992bc]

Some nice leaf-peeping photos this past weekend.


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[Pine Island Guy]

Originally Posted by mas1992bc

Some nice leaf-peeping photos this past weekend.

That just looks like too much fun, soooo jealous!!

Please Santa, bring me one for Christmas!!!

(but until then still enjoying this beautiful weather at the lake) -PIG

[ishoot308]

Thanks to mas1992bc and the beautiful photos and videos he took with his Phantom drone, I just had to go out and get myself one!!

They are definitely a lot of fun and once you get by the learning curve and all the techy "updating firmware" downloads, etc, etc, you can certainly take some beautiful videos!! I am still learning all the features of the Phantom 3 as I am a slow learner when it comes to this stuff!!

Dan

[Phantom]

MAS1992bc ........ my wife begs you -PLEASE stop posting those awesome shots ....

Every time you post, Phantom raises a drone higher up on his list of "Toys needed to play with" !!



Love the shots .......... is it as easy to operate as all the you tubes indicate?

.

[mas1992bc]

Haha! Yes, they are super easy to operate. However, I highly recommend you watch all the instructional videos if you decide to get one. You will want to know how to use all the features properly, and follow the proper safety guidelines. Also, there are lots of FAA regulations - like you can't fly within 5 miles of a major airport, etc. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions. We can have a Phantom flying party at the lake!

Mike

Originally Posted by Phantom

MAS1992bc ........ my wife begs you -PLEASE stop posting those awesome shots ....

Every time you post, Phantom raises a drone higher up on his list of "Toys needed to play with" !!



Love the shots .......... is it as easy to operate as all the you tubes indicate?

.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by mas1992bc

We can have a Phantom flying party at the lake!

I'm up for that!!

Dan

[feb]

I believe GoPro stock is down because their newest release of their camera is not selling well and they dropped the price by $100 already. Also read that their traditional market of young enthusiasts is somewhat saturated and they are having issues selling beyond that demographic.

[Phantom]

Originally Posted by mas1992bc

Haha! Yes, they are super easy to operate. However, I highly recommend you watch all the instructional videos if you decide to get one. You will want to know how to use all the features properly, and follow the proper safety guidelines. Also, there are lots of FAA regulations - like you can't fly within 5 miles of a major airport, etc. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions. We can have a Phantom flying party at the lake!

Mike

Rot Roh ...... I knew there was height regulations but now you just splashed COLD water on my hopes (Phantom will DEFINATELY not show this post to the wife) as our Condo is essentially in the shadows of Laconia Regional Airport !

Is there a website with all the rules & regulations or do you have to hunt around and get the info piece meal ?


.

[mas1992bc]

Well, the FAA regulations are very old, and congress has actually given the FAA a deadline of September 2015 to finalize their new guidelines (a deadline which they have already missed). The FAA needs to act VERY quickly.

http://qz.com/516790/the-faa-expects...egal-they-are/

The new guidelines are much better for the consumer but not in effect yet. There is a LOT of confusion and controversy around this topic. Take a look at these 2 pubications/articles. Remember you could just drive a few miles away from your condo so you are safely away from the airport. Also, I'm not sure Laconia regional would qualify as a "no-fly" zone. Here is a link to the "current" guidelines, but you'll find lots of "interpretations" of their legal authority if you search for opinion articles.

https://www.faa.gov/uas/model_aircraft/

I usually look for the top of a hill with a good view over the lake and launch from there. The DJI Phantoms are programmed to not go higher than 400 feet from where you launch in the US. But of course you can launch from the top of a 400 foot hill and then fly over the lake - and then you are 800 feet up :-).

Originally Posted by Phantom

Rot Roh ...... I knew there was height regulations but now you just splashed COLD water on my hopes (Phantom will DEFINATELY not show this post to the wife) as our Condo is essentially in the shadows of Laconia Regional Airport !

Is there a website with all the rules & regulations or do you have to hunt around and get the info piece meal ?


.

[Merrymeeting]

So, the lake lover in me loves these pictures and unique new perspectives on the area I live in and love. The engineer/geek in me loves the technical aspects and would really like to play with one of these for awhile. But the private individual in me worries about where all this is going.

We had some renters in a house down the shore from us this summer. They had a drone. I have to admit that I found it quite disconcerting and invasive when it came hovering over our dock area and "watched" us for awhile (twice!). I'm sure it was innocent but it felt weird and violating all the same.

I don't have an answer to what to do about it, but I do believe that some new type of regulations will need to be developed as to who, how, and when these things can be used.

Sorry if this hijacks a a thread to be just about pictures and fun. Please feel free to move and start a new thread if needed.

[Winnisquamer]

The new gopro model is garbage in my opinion. I have owned most of them from the Hero original to this new Hero Session. The session is for people who "need" it to be that small. The video quality is subpar in compared to the Hero 3, 4 silver or black.

I want to get into drones badly however I bought a cheap one $89.99 to play with and now there is one hanging about 85 feet in a tree behind my house. I'm sure you can guess how it got there. I did hear the phantoms are much easier to fly and you can actually take your hands off the control and it will just hover right?

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by Winnisquamer

The new gopro model is garbage in my opinion. I have owned most of them from the Hero original to this new Hero Session. The session is for people who "need" it to be that small. The video quality is subpar in compared to the Hero 3, 4 silver or black.

I want to get into drones badly however I bought a cheap one $89.99 to play with and now there is one hanging about 85 feet in a tree behind my house. I'm sure you can guess how it got there. I did hear the phantoms are much easier to fly and you can actually take your hands off the control and it will just hover right?

That is correct. You center the controls and it will hover in place (in GPS mode). The professional comes with lightbridge - which sends video back to a phone or tablet running the software with little to no lag - so you can watch your flightpath/images directly on the screen mounted to the controller. Pretty cool technology.

[mas1992bc]

The P3 Advanced ($999) also comes with Lightbridge for extended range (2+ miles). Worth it to pay the extra $300 over the standard ("only" half mile range) if you are going to get into the hobby seriously. That being said, the P3 standard at $699 is a fantastic deal.

Originally Posted by Ryan

That is correct. You center the controls and it will hover in place (in GPS mode). The professional comes with lightbridge - which sends video back to a phone or tablet running the software with little to no lag - so you can watch your flightpath/images directly on the screen mounted to the controller. Pretty cool technology.

[mas1992bc]

Merrymeeting,

You are absolutely right, and that's how lots of people feel. Because I really love the hobby and the photography, I go out of my way to explain how it works to people, and I also go out of my way to be respectful of people's privacy. I don't want a few irresponsible people out there to ruin the hobby for the rest of us who are trying to follow the rules.

For example, I wanted to so some pictures/filming at a local golf course. Instead of just flying, I first went into the club house and got permission and showed them what I would be doing (and offered to share the media). They REALLY appreciated me checking with them first, and allowed me to take whatever pictures and video I wanted to take.

As for neighbors, I try to alert my neighbors as well, and show them and explain my purpose (NOT to spy on people). A lot of people don't realize that once you get 100 feet up, since these cameras (at least my camera) do NOT have zoom capabilities, so you can't see anything meaningful that high anyways (unless you are buzzing 20 feet away from someone's face - which is obviously not cool).

It will be VERY interesting to see how this technology unfolds. Until then, I will continue to post pictures and videos here - and I hope you all continue to enjoy them!

Thanks for the thoughtful post!

Mike

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

So, the lake lover in me loves these pictures and unique new perspectives on the area I live in and love. The engineer/geek in me loves the technical aspects and would really like to play with one of these for awhile. But the private individual in me worries about where all this is going.

We had some renters in a house down the shore from us this summer. They had a drone. I have to admit that I found it quite disconcerting and invasive when it came hovering over our dock area and "watched" us for awhile (twice!). I'm sure it was innocent but it felt weird and violating all the same.

I don't have an answer to what to do about it, but I do believe that some new type of regulations will need to be developed as to who, how, and when these things can be used.

Sorry if this hijacks a a thread to be just about pictures and fun. Please feel free to move and start a new thread if needed.

[mas1992bc]

Sorry for all the posts, but after all the "drone" discussion, I felt compelled to share one of my favorite pictures I got of my kids and friends on the waverunner.

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

So, the lake lover in me loves these pictures and unique new perspectives on the area I live in and love. The engineer/geek in me loves the technical aspects and would really like to play with one of these for awhile. But the private individual in me worries about where all this is going.

We had some renters in a house down the shore from us this summer. They had a drone. I have to admit that I found it quite disconcerting and invasive when it came hovering over our dock area and "watched" us for awhile (twice!). I'm sure it was innocent but it felt weird and violating all the same.

I don't have an answer to what to do about it, but I do believe that some new type of regulations will need to be developed as to who, how, and when these things can be used.

Sorry if this hijacks a a thread to be just about pictures and fun. Please feel free to move and start a new thread if needed.

Very neat. However, these are inexpensive so what happens when there are 20 of them flying around Wolfeboro Bay, or a similar venue, on a hot summer night? It will be interesting to watch this unfold.

[wifi]

For those concerned with privacy and security:

http://www.alloutdoor.com/2015/10/16...ingle-bullet/#

[HellRaZoR004]

Originally Posted by wifi

For those concerned with privacy and security:

http://www.alloutdoor.com/2015/10/16...ingle-bullet/#

And you will find yourself in a lot of trouble with the FCC.

Jamming devices are radio frequency transmitters that intentionally block, jam, or interfere with lawful communications, such as cell phone calls, text messages, GPS systems, and Wi-Fi networks.

Jammers are illegal to market, sell, or use in the United States.
A single violation of the jamming prohibition can result in tens of thousands of dollars in monetary penalties, seizure of the illegal device, and imprisonment.

Source: http://www.gps.gov/spectrum/jamming/

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by HellRaZoR004

And you will find yourself in a lot of trouble with the FCC.

Jamming devices are radio frequency transmitters that intentionally block, jam, or interfere with lawful communications, such as cell phone calls, text messages, GPS systems, and Wi-Fi networks.

Jammers are illegal to market, sell, or use in the United States.
A single violation of the jamming prohibition can result in tens of thousands of dollars in monetary penalties, seizure of the illegal device, and imprisonment.

Source: http://www.gps.gov/spectrum/jamming/

And an out of control drone would be a physical danger to all within it's flight range.

[wifi]

First I want to thank the OP for many beautiful videos. Yes, these drones have good purposes. I have several large tracts of land that are hard to get to, especially in the winter. These would be great for areal surveillance to see if something is wrong, or somebody in squatting where they shouldn't be, etc.

I can also see the bad side, where stalkers (yes, they do exist) can have their way, and there is little one can do about it. The purpose of the link on the jammer was to show that there is technology out there that could be used for to handle a bad situation, other than, say birdshot.


Peace, and tranquility, it is the will of Landru...

[SAB1]

All I can say is the day someone hovers one of those around my yard for more than it minute it ain't gonna be pretty.

[mas1992bc]

Originally Posted by SAB1

All I can say is the day someone hovers one of those around my yard for more than it minute it ain't gonna be pretty.

I started this thread to share some beautiful pictures of the lake we all love. To assume all drone operators are stalkers is offensive and irresponsible. And, to suggest people start shooting them down is even worse. Like any technology and/or any hobby, people need to do it responsibly, and follow the rules and laws. But please don't group me into a stereotype because of a piece of technology I own. Like it or not, this technology is growing for photography enthusiasts and hobbyists and it is not going away any time soon. If a person is using them to fly near airports, or near the White House, or to peep in someone's windows, then they should be arrested just like any other crime is treated. How is it any different than people using a full zoom camera on the ground inappropriately? Because it happens to be able to fly? The bottom line is - as technology changes and improves, people need to learn how to use it responsibly, and we need to create new laws and rules to make sure those who don't are controlled and dealt with accordingly. I can assure you that "shooting them out of the sky" is not a solution, and if one happens to be flying 400 feet over your property, it is no different than a plane or glider flying 400 feet over your property. Would you shoot that down too?

Come on folks. Please be reasonable. "We" are not stalkers. We just like taking breathtaking pictures.

Mike


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[SIKSUKR]

I really enjoy seeing your drone footage Mike.Dont let a few sour grapes ruin your well intentioned thread.

[codeman671]

I am not hating on you, honestly I want one! Kinda jealous Dan beat me to the punch.

I have been doing some research myself on what to get. I had a photographer come a few weeks ago to do some real estate pictures with his drone. He has a few different ones but took mine with a Phantom 3 (regular version I think, not the pro). Pretty impressive toy.

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by wifi

The purpose of the link on the jammer was to show that there is technology out there that could be used for to handle a bad situation, other than, say birdshot.


Peace, and tranquility, it is the will of Landru...

Add on one of these and birdshot will work just fine



https://silencerco.com/products/salvo-12/

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by Phantom

Rot Roh ...... I knew there was height regulations but now you just splashed COLD water on my hopes (Phantom will DEFINATELY not show this post to the wife) as our Condo is essentially in the shadows of Laconia Regional Airport !

Is there a website with all the rules & regulations or do you have to hunt around and get the info piece meal ?


.

Laconia is not a towered airport. The software you use restricts 'blacked out' areas around airports. Laconia does not have that restriction on the app (due to reason above) and works fine in that area. There are plenty of low flying craft in that area, so you need to be careful and always fly line of sight.

I got the Phantom 3 professional after I saw a renter with a DJI Inspire 1 (same company, different drones, different price points). My wife (read: accounts payable dept) saw it and immediately green lighted the purchase. It's a cool toy that combines many hobbies - R/C aircraft and photography/videography.

As far as the intrusive nature of the drones - they do NOT have zoom on the cameras. I'd have to be flying directly overhead and close to get 'improper' footage (disclaimer: not why I bought a drone) and you'll certainly hear my drone before you even see it.

[Phantom]

Originally Posted by Phantom

MAS1992bc ........ my wife begs you -PLEASE stop posting those awesome shots ....

Every time you post, Phantom raises a drone higher up on his list of "Toys needed to play with" !!



Love the shots .......... is it as easy to operate as all the you tubes indicate?

.

Okay --

Well it FINALLY happened !

I am now the owner of a Phantom 3 Standard !!

What amazes me is the lack of "Instructions" ---- not saying it's difficult, but all of the initial set up protocols I have learnt from "You Tubes" .... there is absolutely nothing printed anywhere.

Still haven't taken off for the Inaugural fight yet .... still making sure I understand it before getting underway.

My dilemma is that I have to find a location to fly it as I literally live in the shadows of Laconia's runway.




.

[Rich]

Congrats on getting your drone.

I suggest you don't try to even turn it on with the propellers on inside at all. Also, do not try to fly this near the glideslope of any airport at all.

Go find a large open field, that is not under the glideslope of the airport at all, and keep all test flights low. Don't attempt to go too high, it's easy to get disoriented.

When you are operating it, keep the front (nose) of it away from you at all times, because when it is facing you, the controls will seem reversed and you will crash it.

I could go on and on, but I suggest you find a drone or RC specific web site for help

Good luck, have fun, be safe!

[Phantom]

A couple of "tech" questions for those experienced Phantom 3 Std users.

(Things I'd like to know before I try)


(1) With my FTH (fly to home) set to 100ft, if I manually fly the drone back to the approx. initial take off/landing area hover at say 10' and then hit FTH to allow the drone to automatically land ------ will it first climb to the preset 100' and then land ? or simply descend from the 10' hovering height? (me thinks it will go up - which is a potential problem if I were under tree branches)

(2) What are your experiences with battery life

(3) Follow me mode -- this one I think I have a clear answer but will ask anyway -- If I put the drone in follow me mode, let it chase me for a bit, then hit FTH -- I am presuming the drone will fly home/ land in the spot that it initialized (took off from) not the relative proximity of the joystick/ controller..............

Which, in the case of a boat launch, would send the drone back to some unknown spot in the water for a swim


First short test flight accomplished --- and it is STILL in one piece -- but I must admit it came in with a "Hard Landing" ..........as nothing was broke (props), I gave up while I was ahead !! ........ there's gotta be some trick to shutting those engines off .... be great if there was a simple "red" button somewhere


.

[Rich]

Questions like yours are why I said to go to a drone specific forum, you'll get much better answers.

Don't ever take off under a tree, or any other obstruction, be sure to have a clear area, and around the area, as the RTH function needs some fudge factor.

I don't have a P3, so I can't tell you specifics, but you can test your questions easily, but be ready to go into manual mode if you need to take over any automatic functions. Because of this, it's very important to do a lot of practice to be capable of flying in a manual mode, in case it ever screws up and starts doing something you don't want it to when in an auto mode.

Yes, flying from a boat has many unique problems to think about! RTH is one of them. Even if you set the home location when you are anchored, what if the boat drifted on the anchor? At least it will come close to where you are. Also, if things go wrong, it will end up in the water, at least on Winni that is fresh water, but drones don't float! Also, those propellers can cause damage to people, isinglass and perhaps canvas, plan and be safe!

Follow me mode hopefully will do that (follow you), but what if something goes wrong, it probably will go to your home location, but if a drone was designed properly, when in follow me mode, you may want the drone to come back to a place where you were recently, OR you may want it to go home (every flight could be different). You also may want it to do a "hover and wait" on RTH, so if you have to get your boat into position before it lands in the water before you land manually.

I've been flying a drone for a while, but not a P3. Good luck!