jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I purchased a DJI Mavic Pro Combo kit on 6/8/14 directly from DJI and got it 2 days later on 1/10/14. I've only flown it 3 times and I'm a total beginner. Lucky for me I've got an experienced friend that has invited me to join him and his dronies every Wednesday and Sunday mornings to fly with them. I also have an old friend that makes his own drones as a source of income and has been flying them since their infancy. With all this help I'm hoping that I don't have any mishaps or crashes.

By the way, if you are interested in DJI products, buying direct was a real pleasure. I was going to buy it from B&H but they were temporarily out of stock. DJI pays the tax and give free shipping. It so happens that their warehouse is local to me here in southern California. I have a lot of questions about my Mavic and when this new Drone Video and Photography Forum gets going I hope there are some experts here that can answer my questions. As I become more and more involved I'll be able to help other UHH members as well.

If you have a drone, tell us a little about it.

jayd Loc: Central Florida, East coast

I'm flying the DJIi Fantom 4 Pro, decided against the 4 Pro Plus as I like the IPad air as my moniter

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

That's a sound idea. Although, the monitor on the Plus is great from what I hear.

jayd Loc: Central Florida, East coast

You are stuck with their viewer software

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

windshoppe Loc: Arizona

Great to see this section up and running. Thank you for your efforts. I have been fortunate enough to have been gifted with a mavic pro-drone for Father's Day. Interesting technology and I'm looking forward to using it. My previous drone was a Phantom 2 which unfortunately came to a tragic end. I hope to do better with this one. Thanks again for getting this section up and running. I'll be visiting it very frequently.

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

I'm flying the P3A and use an LG 8.3 as a monitor. I'm considering adding a modified antennae to increase my distance. My video feed drops off at about a mile but I still have a good control signal up to about 1 1/2 miles. Here's a few captures from a video last night taken at about 400 ft. I'm glad there is finally a drone photography forum here. The hobby is growing like crazy. The picture quality on these photos is not great since it's just a screen capture but timing still shots just right is almost impossible. I had my Canon DSLR set up on a tripod but never had a chance to use it. With the drone in the air I had give it all of my attention.

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

My P2V ended up in a lake as far as I can determine so you're not alone. I've learned a lot of lessons along the way. Mostly the hard way.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Phantom 3 standard with Lichti app. Purchased it refurbished directly from DJI, and love it. I have my part 107 certification, and use it for commercial work, and haven't seen any issue with needing more resolution, or collision avoidance. I've flown an Mavic, but they are just too hard to see and keep line of sight for me.

Of course, been flying RC stuff in some form or other (including drones) for years, so I'm fairly used to not flying into stuff. LOL>

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

How are you able to fly within line of sight (legal) if you go that far? I'm lucky to see mine 1/4 mile away.

I don't want to be a stick in the mud, but I do think that we should strive to keep people legal, so the hobby doesn't end up like it is in Canada, where you literally can't fly drones legally, anywhere near any towns or cities, just the middle of nowhere.

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

I bend the rules a bit. Flying line of sight is too restrictive. I fly safely but flying strictly line of sight? I wouldn't waste the money on a drone. I would imagine very few drone pilots adhere to the line of sight regulation. Learning to use the telemetry and map overlay is extremely important. I also use Google Earth when planning a flight in an unfamiliar area. Another good source of information is the B4UFly app provided by the FAA even though I occasionally ignore it. It's too broad and has errors. For instance I've flown over a closed down airfield that is now used to store FEMA trailers. Now it's designated as a NFZ even though an aircraft hasn't used it in over 20 years. I fly by the rules mostly but have exceeded the 400 ft. level and of course line of sight. If you can't fly by instruments as regular pilots call it you probably shouldn't be flying a drone. That's just my opinion.

wmclark

Jeep D-
I know your post said 'if you have a drone then .....'
Well , I don't have a drone , yet , and am having a struggle choosing between a refurbished p3 standard $400 and a new Mavic with fly more kit about $1300.
I live in a rural part of Utah and the extra fly distance from the controller would really come in handy , almost a necessity.
I see you purchased a new Mavic - do you think a novice can handle the Mavic or is it better to destroy the p3 and then get a Mavic. What a question!!!
I don't want to reach the limits of the p3 and then wish I had purchased the Mavic. From using my son's p3 , I can see the limits being reached quite quickly.
Well , anyway , don't want this to be a Nikon/Canon thing. FYI my first digital was a point and shoot 2 mp and I reached that limit quite fast.
Thanks for starting this forum
BC

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

I would get the P3 as a trainer. That's what I considered my P2V after multiple crashes and finally drowning it in a lake. I didn't originally intend for it to be a trainer but I learned a lot and it cost me less. You WILL crash. Better to abuse the P3 learning to fly then move up to a better model. If you manage not to destroy the P3 you'll still have it as a backup. The P4 Pro is probably a better choice than the Mavic simply because it has a better camera and you're looking in the same price range. PM Dook who posts here. He chose the P4P over the Mavic. Nothing wrong with the Mavic. I like the compact design for carrying a backpack.