bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Drones may become harder to get. So I bought one from my favorite New York camera store. To be fair to the camera store, I am not going break any seals on the box until I know more. My choice was the recently updated "Mini 2". It weighs under nine ounces, fits in a jacket pocket, shoots 4K video and 12 MP RAW stills.

To be fair to the camera store, I am not going break any seals on the box until I know more.

What do I need to know about owning, operating and shooting with a Chinese made drone?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Is/will the drone phone home?

(What's the reason they are black-listed?)

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I risk letting this drifting toward a discussion of political view points. I hope that doesn't happen. The topic will be become a waste of time.

The stated reason for the black listing is that we USA citizens are putting companies on it that we don't like. "DJI is just one of dozens of Chinese companies that were added to the blacklist. China's top chipmaker, SMIC, is being added too. The move is consistent with President Donald Trump's vows to be "tough on China."

One of the reasons we want to be touch is the view that we don't approve of there concepts of human rights.

Apparently there was a bill in congress last year that was going to ban DJI because our consumer drones were secretly sending our videos to Chinese headquarters. Their super computers were (are?) storing photos and video of everything and everyone in the USA. Technical forums dispute that because there is not enough bandwidth to do that.

But, what do I know about spying, commerce or human rights?

I started this topic, not for politics, but for informational and discussion "owning, operating and shooting" with a flying camera.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Then it was not necessary to indicate that you tried to order one before they were no longer available due to pending import constraints, or mention import constraints.
Simply discussing "owning, operating and shooting" with a flying camera would have worked.
Your post makes me infer that the post is about the government conflict regarding importing to the US.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

You are right Longshadow. I can't change the title, but edited my post while I still could.

I would like to stay focused on the owning, operating and shooting with a flying camera. Do you own one?

ELNikkor

Smart to get one under the weight limit. The US will make you get a pilot's license and add all kinds of restrictions if it is over 9 ounces. I'm more frustrated with the stifling, invasive, spying, regulated, paranoid US than I am with China. What does China care what my videos of a swamp look like?

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

For future reference, Bill, topic titles can be edited for an hour, the same as text. The link for the title editing will be visible just above your avatar in the opening post.

You posted this sentence twice: To be fair to the camera store, I am not going break any seals on the box until I know more.

Hard to follow your point. And comments like El Nikkor's + your first reply to Longshadow are likely to get this topic moved. Maybe try again tomorrow?

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I am a licensed commercial, instrument pilot. I had a flight instructor certificate for a couple decades too. My understanding is that they don't specifically apply. I'm figuring that out.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Linda,

It may not be that important anyway.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

You need to do some homework. There are MANY places you CANNOT fly them, and the list is growing. The following is a starting point, but there is a growing list.
https://3dinsider.com/airspace-classifications/

wildweasel

I own two DJI drones and in my opinion they are among the best drones out there. Just know that if you buy any drone you will be restricted as to where you can fly it, and if you want to use it to take photos to sell, you must have an FAA pilots license at a cost of $150 and pass a fairly difficult test.

User ID

Watch your back.

jgudpns Loc: Pensacola, FL

There are those concerned that the Chinese Government is using flight data and videos and effectively mapping our infrastructure. Ben no real prove that I've seen, and DJI is updating their DJI fly app to specifically not sent that data to DJI's servers in China. Could they have doing do? Don't know.

I love my DJI Mavic Pro, it is easy to fly and produces awesome videos and pictures.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

The Chinese get all of our infrastructure from images from our current satellites. There is no need for them to use drones they produce and sell to the US.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Not to worry. I have the Mavic mini and I use it all of the time for work. One of my projects is very close to an area airport. Still no problem. The photos I take for work do not fall under commercial use since I am not taking pictures for profit. Also, there is a cool little subroutine that informs you if you are near an airport or a no fly zone which pops up when you hit the "go fly" button. Both versions of the Mini do not need any special licensing for general usage since they are under the weight limits that the government has set as a baseline for such licensing. In addition, if you were to go with a heavier drone, there is a cheap license you need to get if you are just flying for the sport of it. I think it is around $5.00. I had to get one of these for my R.C. planes. The one time license covers all of my planes.

Just use common sense when flying. For example: when photographing my project that lies near this airport, I do go a mile up the road from me, but I stay at an altitude of around 5ft. since I do not need to go any higher. At that location. In addition, at that project, I set the max altitude at 150ft. for safety reason and for the "return to home feature".

In other words, don't worry about it and go have fun.