terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

Thank you your input is appreciated.

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

Will do

ramblinmen Loc: Manassas, VA

B&H photo sells numerous brands plus extras. Get a list then check google for reviews. Next, see if there is a drone group in your area and try to go watch them fly when they get together. You can learn a lot by talking to several pilots (just not while they are flying their birds). Keep in mind that drone manufacturers go out of business fairly often so if you find one you like it may be a good idea to load up on extra batteries, props and motor pods while you have the chance. As a drone owner/flyer I would stay away from a used device since you don't know what it has been subjected to by the previous owner. Things you might also consider: Will you be traveling with your drone? (get a backpack designed for the bird), are spare parts available? (Although they are not particularly hard to fly trees sometimes jump in the way), can you fly in an area identified by the FAA as restricted airspace? (Software may preclude your drone even starting if you are within the restricted airspace of a long since abandoned airstrip,
Does the manufacturer provide software updates in a timely fashion? Does it have an included camera or will you need to use your GoPro? What kind of tablet or phone can you use to view the video that camera takes?
At best a battery lasts 15-20 minutes depending on your style of flying and takes several hours to recharge each one.
Oh, take a look on Youtube for related videos about the drone you are interested in.

4OX

buy a Mavic and you will not have buyer's remorse! Get the $99- insurance! You'll need it, sooner or later. only able to buy it AFTER receiving it, AND within 14 days of arrival!

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

A friend of mine has a DJI Mavic Pro drone and I was really impressed with this piece. It folds up very small. It has a 4k video and still camera on board, uses your cell phone to fly, will go 4 miles away and stay connected, flies for 25 minutes on one charge, and DJI has been making them longer than most companies. The Mavic Pro by itself is about $999 but the Pro Combo is $1300 but comes with a case and 3 batteries and maybe more stuff.

I am seriously considering it.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1285010-REG/dji_cp_pt_000642_mavic_pro_plus_fly.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1285011-REG/dji_cp_pt_000500_mavic_pro.html

ramblinmen Loc: Manassas, VA

I know of no drone, presently manufactured, that will fly for 25 minutes on one battery. That is most likely the manufacturer's spec and may be "UP TO 25 minutes". Depending on the brand and age of your phone they may not be able to connect with the drone (iPhone 5 or older do not). Make sure you get a liberal return policy and stay away from a refurbished product. If the drone has ever been flown in dusty or dirty conditions grit in the motor pods will cause them to fail. If even one fails the drone may go down. Make sure the manufacturer sells replacement body shells, legs... any external body part.
All recent drone products have 4K video but, unless your replay device can take advantage of 4K, it is a waste of technology. The advantage of using a drone utilizing a GoPro is that you can remove it and use it elsewhere. The disadvantage is the additional cost and the older models (3 silver) may have difficulty connecting to the wifi. The 3dr solo used to cost $1200-1500 but now sells for around $250-350 new. Finding replacement parts may be an issue as that company is nearly out of business. There are web blogs for most of the major versions of drones. I would suggest doing some homework before any purchase.
Look at the reviews.

ramblinmen Loc: Manassas, VA

Big problem with any DJI product is after purchase support.
Look at the reviews.

russelray Loc: La Mesa CA

My Typhoon H is supposed to fly for "up to 25 minutes." However, if I don't do anything other than fly--no raising and lowering the landing gear, no rotating the gimbal, no taking pictures, no taking video, no turning other things on and off (like RTH, PTF, Smart flight, Angle flight), etc., I have gotten just over 32 minutes before the system warned me about low battery and to land as soon as possible.

If I do things, especially taking videos, I'm down in the 18-19 minute range. Because of that, I now have four batteries. I need an hour of flight time with pictures and videos.

As to drone flight failure due to losing a motor pod or propeller, Typhoon H, a hexacopter, is purported to be able to fly with 5. Since my mission needs are critical for real estate photography, I went out to test that claim. The Typhoon H has 3 clockwise-rotating propellers and 3 counter-clockwise. I simply left off a propeller to see if it would even take off. It did. I didn't push it, keeping it near me and about 10 feet off the ground in case of catastrophic failure. It continued to fly and do everything that it was supposed to do. So I believe that if one-rotor catastrophe happens while in the air, I'll be able to get it back home.

As to 4K video, one doesn't necessarily need a display for 4K video. One can simply take the 4K video into Wondershare Filmora (which I use) and probably Corel Video Studio and Adobe Premiere and convert them to YouTube quality. However, if one ever needs that 4K video, such as a Client wanting it, one has it. With GoPro, one doesn't have it at all.

For parts, I can highly recommend Carolina Dronez https://carolinadronz.com/ . I have no business interest in them and they do not pay me for an endorsement. I simply am an extremely satisfied customer, as are at least 14 of my compadres in the San Diego Drone Association that I belong to.

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

Thank for the advice hadn't thought about a local group.

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

looks like a nice one thanks for the links

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

Thanks I will keep this in mind when looking for one

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

I just looked at a couple reviews that said that. Thank you.

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

Thank you for your advice, and the link.

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

No longer a requirement (at least for now): http://amablog.modelaircraft.org/amagov/2017/05/19/faa-registration-requirement-struck-down/

Anyone flying any model aircraft (a "drone" is a model aircraft) should also join the AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) and follow their safety rules. The AMA is THE community based organization recognized by the FAA. Along with membership you get to become part of a great group of people, get a very good magazine and liability insurance just in case the worst happens.