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Posts Tagged ‘drone’

DJI unveils the Matrice 300 RTK drone platform and Zenmuse H20 series camera systems

07 May

DJI has lifted the veil on its latest commercial drone platform and its first hybrid camera series, the Matrice 300 RTK (M300 RTK) and the Zenmuse H20.

While the M300 RTK and Zenmuse H20 are both packed with features designed specifically for commercial use-cases, the systems feature a number of groundbreaking technologies and features that will inevitably make their way into more consumer-centric drones.

M300 RTK

The M300 RTK features a unique design with a top-mounted body and bottom-mounted blades, opposite of its 210 predecessors. This unique design allows advanced AI-powered technologies to get a more expansive overview of the environment for less obstructed viewing. The chunky array atop the drone features a six directional sensing and positioning system that offers a maximum object-detection range of up to 40m (130ft) horizontally, as well as an Anti-Collision Beacon for making the drone more visible in low-light environments. DJI has also included its AirSense (ADS-B) technology that will alert pilots if other aircraft or drones are nearby.

DJI has also improved its OcuSync Enterprise technology to enable triple-channel 1080p video transmission up to 15km (9.32m) thanks to its 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz connections, which will switch in real-time based on what offers the clearest connection.

Together these systems work together to power the Primary Flight Display (PFD) that ‘merges real-time flight and navigation data into one integrated display.’ Aside from the usual flight telemetry, the pilot will also see obstacle data and other details to ensure a proper flight path in tricky conditions.

The M300 RTK also features DJI’s new Advanced Dual Operator Mode, which gives two separate pilots equal access to flight controls, telemetry and other data. ‘Now, if one pilot becomes compromised or their controller loses battery or connection, the other pilot gains full control over the M300 RTK and its payloads,’ says DJI. This feature can also be used for training new pilots, where the teacher can take over control of the drone if need be.

When paired with the new Zenmuse H20 camera system, the M300 RTK will also offer two new means of syncing the drone’s location with objects of interest for more precise location tracking in coordinated missions, such as search-and-rescue operations and critical infrastructure repairs. The first is PinPoint, ‘a function that allows users to mark the subject of interest and instantly share the precise location data to a second operator or if necessary to ground teams via DJI FlightHub.’ The second method is Smart Track, ‘which allows users to automatically detect and track a moving object, even at extreme distances, while synchronizing the subject’s dynamic location in real time.’

The M300 RTK is capable of carrying up to three payloads—two on the bottom of the drone and one on the top. Below are a few product photos, including a trio of images showing one-, two- and three-camera setups.

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Additional data collection tools include Live Mission Recording, AI-Spot Check and Waypoints 2.0. Below is a description of each of the three systems from DJI:

‘Live Mission Recording [is] for recording sample automated missions in real time; AI-Spot Check which enables data collection from exactly the same location every time, greatly improving the accuracy of automated missions. After photos from a sample waypoint inspection mission have been recorded, operators are able to mark the subject of interest. During subsequent automated flight missions, AI algorithms perform a comparison between the marked subject and current live view, thus correcting the camera orientation accordingly to deliver accurate and consistent results; and Waypoints 2.0 [is] an improved mission planning system offering up to 65,535 waypoints, while supporting an array of consecutive actions, 3rd party payloads, and more.’

DJI says the M300 RTK offers up to 55-minutes of flight time on a single battery, offers AES-256 Encryption of its data between the drone and its connected controllers, has IP45 Protection with an operating temperature window of -20 to 50° C (-4 to 120° F) and a self-heating battery when running in the lower temperatures.

Zenmuse H20

While the M300 RTK can be used with other payloads, including previous camera systems from DJI, the Zenmuse H20 series is designed to make the most of the new technologies inside DJI’s latest drone. The H20 series comes in two versions: the H20 and the H20T.

The H20 is a triple-sensor unit with a 20MP, 23x Hybrid Optical Zoom Camera, a 12MP Wide Camera and a Laser Range Finder that covers distances from 3–1200 meters (3–1312 yards). The H20T, on the other hand, adds an additional Radiometric Thermal Camera (640 x 512 pixels), that ‘allows operators to see what is invisible to the human eye thanks to high thermal sensitivity.’

DJI has also updated its Pilot app to make it easier to switch between the various sensors onboard the H20 series payloads and added a few new modes to make the most of the multi-camera array. One-Click Capture will capture photos or video from all three cameras simultaneously without having to switch between cameras mid-flight, as well as a Night Scene mode that will capture better low-light images when lighting conditions are less than ideal.

Both the M300 RTK and Zenmuse H20 series payloads are available to pre-order from authorized DJI Enterprise dealers. the first units are expected to ship in the second quarter of 2020.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Review: The DJI Mavic Air 2 is the best all-around drone for most people

01 May

DJI Mavic Air 2
$ 799 ($ 998 with ‘Fly More’ kit) | dji.com

DJI just released the Mavic Air 2, the successor to the original Mavic Air that arrived in 2018. Notably, it’s the first Mavic drone to offer 48MP stills, 8K HyperLapse and 4K/60p video at 120 Mbps. It’s also the first consumer drone equipped with AirSense, DJI’s alert system that receives automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) signals from nearby manned aircraft and displays their location on the remote control’s screen

Whereas the original Mavic Air comes in a variety of colors and resembles the DJI Spark, the Mavic Air 2 falls between the Mavic Mini and Mavic 2 Pro with regards to appearance, size, performance, and weight. DJI told us it did a lot of testing to determine the best balance between size, portability, and features, and determined that 570g (1.25 lbs.)—the weight of the Mavic Air 2—overwhelmingly felt right.

Arriving at an ideal weight and size apparently wasn’t the only priority for DJI when crafting the Mavic Air 2. Adding features found in more sophisticated drones, including the Inspire 2, to a model 337 grams lighter than the Mavic 2 series, DJI also aimed to make this its smartest drone to date. Did they pull it off? Let’s take a look and find out if the Mavic Air 2 is the right drone for you.

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Key features

  • 570g (1.25 lbs.) total weight
  • 1/2″ 48MP CMOS image sensor
  • 24mm equivalent lens (84º FOV), fixed F2.8 aperture
  • 12MP and 48MP photos
  • 4K/60p and HD/240p video at 120Mbps
  • H.264 and H.265 codecs
  • HDR video and panorama
  • 8K HyperLapse
  • Spotlight 2.0 subject tracking
  • Advanced Pilot Assistance System (APAS) 3.0
  • 34-minute max flight time
  • 68 kph (42 mph) max speed

The compact, feature-packed Mavic Air 2

When folded down, the Mavic Air 2 is 180x97x84 mm and fits in the palm of your hand. This is slightly larger than the original Mavic Air, but it’s still quite a bit smaller than the Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 2 Zoom models in the line above it.

The Mavic Air 2 is larger than the minuscule Mavic Air, but it still fits in the palm of your hand (mostly).

A more dramatic change is found in the design of the controller; it’s larger and boxier than other remotes in the Mavic series, and is designed to mount a smartphone on top rather than on the bottom, like past Mavic models. The phone is secured with a clamp similar to DJI Phantom series remotes, though it doesn’t extend far enough to hold a tablet. The clamp on the controller is quite difficult to adjust and securing the smartphone is a struggle at times.

Remote pilots can easily toggle between Tripod, Normal, and Sport flight modes as the mode switch is featured front-and-center on the controller. Similar to other Mavic remotes, Return to Home and Power buttons are on the front. The upper-right button allows you to alternate between still photos and video.

The Mavic Air 2’s controller is larger than others in the Mavic series and mounts the smartphone to the top, rather than the bottom, for better visibility. It also works with a case on your phone, unlike previous Mavic controllers.

The upper-left button features a ‘Fn’ button that activates the auxiliary light and additional sensors that assist with several functions, including smoother landing in low-light conditions. There’s also a controller wheel on the top left that tilts the camera up and down. Two joysticks are stored at the bottom and can be screwed on for flying or removed for storage.

When first unboxing the Mavic Air 2, you’ll notice stickers labeled ‘A’ and ‘B’ on the top and bottom arms of the foldable drone. The legs unfold in the same manner as the Mavic 2 and Mini, and the labels are affixed with a beginner pilot in mind. Two bags labeled ‘A’ and ‘B’ contain 3 propellers, 1 extra for each type if a replacement is necessary.

The Mavic Air 2’s controller is designed to mount a smartphone on top rather than the bottom.

Attachment points for the props are color-coded, with a silver ring where the ‘A’ props attach and plain black for the ‘B’ props. It’s a subtle touch to help ensure that all components are properly affixed, and if a propeller is incorrectly placed the drone will not take off. This might confuse consumers new to flying a drone, but it’s a good safety feature. The props have an aerodynamic design that allows for quieter flight, and the Mavic Air 2 is quieter than the Mavic Mini – which is less than half its weight.

The camera sits snugly on a 3-axis gimbal. The sensors at top are part of the obstacle avoidance system.

Photos and video

The camera, which uses a 1/2″ CMOS Quad Bayer sensor, is mounted on a 3-axis stabilized gimbal. It can capture Raw images, JPEG images (at either 12MP or 48MP resolution), as well as Raw + JPEG. In addition to standard movements, the gimbal can tilt upward up to 24º.

The Air 2’s camera boasts a 24mm (equiv.) fixed-aperture F2.8 lens with an 84º FOV. DJI’s Fly More combo includes 3 neutral density filters that appear to twist and snap on and off like those for the Mavic 2 Pro. (Our review unit didn’t include filters so we were unable to test them).

DJI has also added SmartPhoto modes, similar to computational photography techniques used by many smartphones, to improve photo quality. These include:

  • HDR photos: the camera automatically captures 7 different exposures and combines them for greater dynamic image.
  • Hyperlight: images taken in low-light conditions, especially on DJI drones, tend to be grainy and contain noise. Hyperlight takes multiple photos and merges them for a clearer image.
  • Scene recognition: this mode allows the drone to recognize 5 major components of a photo – sunsets, blue skies, grass, snow, and trees. It will analyze these objects and maximize tone, clarity, and colors.

SmartPhotos are captured at a resolution of 12MP

One thing I noticed is that 48MP images are a bit darker relative to Single or SmartPhotos. The latter feature worked quite well when capturing a sunset, and the HDR photos I was able to capture are quite good for a 1/2″ sensor and could be passed off in professional situations.

In Single and 48MP mode, the sky and sun were blown out while the foreground was practically pitch black. SmartPhoto recognized these components. Both photos are unedited.

I was surprised at how well Hyperlight and Scene Recognition worked, as evidenced in the photo above. Panoramas could be improved, as stitching doesn’t always match up, though the app I’m using is still technically in beta and some of these bugs will likely be ironed out with subsequent firmware updates.

The Air 2 is the first drone in the Mavic series that can capture 4K/60p video at 120 Mbps using the H.265 codec. This is impressive for a drone that retails under $ 1,000. Additionally, there’s 4K/30p HDR video, and HD/120p and HD/240p will deliver some serious slow-motion footage — up to 10x on a 24p timeline.

The Mavic Air 2 shoots impressive 4K/60p video, thanks to its support for the H.265 coded at bit rates up to 120 Mbps.

I was quite impressed with the quality of the 4K/60p and even 4K/30p video. However, objects in my slow-motion clips were a bit more blurry than I expected, even at a 240p frame rate. Does the 120 Mbps bit rate make a difference here? Yes, for this particular camera. The quality of video footage I was able to gather in various lighting scenarios is exceptional.

DJI’s normal color profile has been optimized for the ideal amount of saturation and detail, but its D-Cinelike profile is also included for more advanced shooters. 8K HyperLapse video will be available when the Air 2 ships in mid-May, 2020.

These video clips, captured at HD/120p and HD/240p are slowed down 4x and 8x on a 30 fps timeline. At 8x slow motion, movement of the tennis players in the second clip is barely noticeable.

Odds and ends

The Mavic Air 2 comes equipped with obstacle avoidance sensors on the front, rear and bottom of the aircraft. There aren’t any sensors on top. An auxiliary light with additional sensors, which can be activated from the controller, is located on the bottom to assist with landing in challenging conditions such as low-light environments.

DJI claims a maximum 34 minutes of flight time for the Mavic Air 2, a significant increase from the 21-minute life expectancy of the original Air model, though this figure is derived from flying in ideal conditions; DJI states that 33 minutes is more likely when performing a typical flight. I flew in moderate winds and found the figure to be closer to 30 – 31 minutes, on par with the Mavic 2 series.

The bottom of the drone includes obstacle avoidance sensors and an auxiliary light.

A microSD card slot, which supports up to 256GB, is located below the battery portal. 8GB of internal storage is provided as backup should the memory card become full (or if you forget to bring a card along). Photos or video captured internally can be accessed through the micro USB portal on the opposite side of the card slot. Two cables that connect to a laptop are included with the Mavic Air 2.

This model is also equipped with DJI’s Geo system, which prevents drones from entering prohibited areas including airports. For those unfamiliar with drone laws, this feature will come in handy. Geo zones, as well as ADS-B, can be deactivated in the Fly app.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Photographer cited, had drone confiscated for documenting Hart Island mass burials with his drone

17 Apr
A drone shot of the New York skyline. Hart Island is located east of Manhatten at the western end of Long Island Sound.

George Steinmetz is a regular contributor for National Geographic and The New York Times. Over the span of his 30-plus-year career, he has received numerous accolades for his aerial photography work including three World Press Photo Awards. Steinmetz started out by piloting a foot-launched motorized paraglider to capture his aerial perspectives. These days he uses a drone.

This past Tuesday, while documenting a burial ditch located on Hart Island, due to the alarming number of COVID-19 fatalities in New York City, Steinmetz’ drone was confiscated by the New York Police Department (NYPD) and he was issued a Desk Appearance Ticket. He was cited for violating NYC Administrative Code § 10–126, which prohibits the takeoff and landing of drones within New York City (NYC).

A screenshot of Hart Island, captured in Apple Maps.

‘I’m not trying to be an advocate, but my encounter with the NYPD [on Tuesday] was not about any safety or privacy considerations that I assume the law was designed for. The officers who cited me were not local, and appeared to be working in conjunction with city employees involved with Hart Island interments. It was a clear example of a law being used for petty press intimidation. It doesn’t look good to see the city’s poor treated like toxic waste,’ Steinmetz tells DPReview.

‘Preparing for burials of what appear to be more COVID-19 victims this morning on Hart Island, New York City. For over 150 years this island with no public access has been used to bury over a million souls (whose) bodies were not claimed for private burial. With the morgues of NYC strained, the pace of burials on Hart Island has increased dramatically. I was cited by NYPD while taking this photo, and my drone was confiscated as evidence, for a court date tentatively scheduled for mid-August,’ reads the quote from Steinmetz’ official Instagram account.

View this post on Instagram

Preparing for burials of what appear to be more COVID-19 victims this morning on Hart Island, New York City. For over 150 years this island with no public access has been used to bury over a million souls who’s bodies were not claimed for private burial. With the morgues of NYC strained, the pace of burials on Hart Island has increased dramatically. I was cited by NYPD while taking this photo, and my drone was confiscated as evidence, for a court date tentatively scheduled for mid-August. #keepthememorycard

A post shared by George Steinmetz (@geosteinmetz) on

The post, documenting the mass burial site, currently has over 30,000 likes and 813 comments as of publishing this article. It has also ignited an online debate over ethics in photojournalism and the need to overhaul existing drone laws in NYC. While some online commenters criticized Steinmetz for invading the privacy of those being buried, and others questioned the legality of his flight, many more are supportive of the image he was able to capture.

‘This one hits close to home – George Steinmetz does incredible work and this photo is important. I hope some photojournalist groups will step in to defend him. There is a rough NYC working group forming to revise the avigation law. But it got stalled with COVID from what I understand. NYPD is supposed to get first crack at the rewrite which was scheduled for May before this happened,’ states Scott Harrigan in a comment on the Commercial sUAS Remote Pilots Facebook Group.

When asked to elaborate, Harrigan shared the following information with DPReview:

‘As of today, NYC currently has the ‘avigation’ law still on the books. NYC has recently shown interest in overturning this law after an architect was tragically killed last December by falling debris from a facade that went un-inspected.

As a result, detailed in that article above, NYC council members outlined three goals:

1. That the 1948 avigation law would be revised to allow commercial drone use.
2. That a bill would be proposed requiring a facade inspection within 48 hours following any NYC 311 complaint of an unsafe facade
3. That a study would be performed determining the efficiency of using UAVs to inspect NYC owned buildings (performed by DOB)

An informal working group has been formed, to address this law – a coalition of local architects, real estate developers, drone pilots, and drone manufacturers. Mr. Steinmetz’ ticketing highlights how the avigation law is being used inconsistently by NYPD to penalize drone flights at the officer’s whim with no enforcement guidance, rather than in a standardized manner that takes into account public safety. This particular flight posed no threat to public safety, was conducted in compliance with existing federal UAV regulations and was an important act of newsgathering.

It is my hope that this event will spur NYC policymakers to create a consistent legal framework that allows drone operators to perform the many tasks that benefit the public, such as newsgathering, facade inspections, search and rescue, construction progress monitoring, etc.’

‘I could be misinformed but I don’t believe anyone flying a drone has actually been held to the 1940 statute. The prosecutor may not feel it is applicable. This is a reason to clarify and reform the provision so that there is actual accountability for things that matter in New York,’ adds Brendan Schulman, DJI’s Vice President of Policy & Legal Affairs, followed on the same comment thread as Harrigan.

New York City Mayer, Bill de Blasio, has confirmed unclaimed COVID-019 victims are being buried on Hart Island, but not en masse, saying ‘everything will be individual and every body will be treated with dignity.’ Below is the first of a thread of tweets wherein he addresses the subject:

This isn’t the first time a drone has been used to capture images on Hart Island, which hosts numerous gravesites and is accessible by appointment. Melinda Hunt, who founded the Hart Island Project, which documents the information of those buried on the small island located Northeast of the Bronx, insists that the burials aren’t disrespectful.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Analysis predicts drone Remote ID will cost 9X more than expected, DJI urges FAA to reconsider ruling

06 Mar

After numerous delays, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for the Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft Systems at the end of last year. The 60-day public commenting period closed this past Monday, March 2nd, with over 52,000 comments submitted during that time.

DJI, the world’s leading drone manufacturer, has supported the need for Remote ID since 2017. In the interest of moving the industry forward, a proper ruling would allow flights at night, over people and beyond visual line of sight. When the NPRM was released, however, DJI publicly chastised the FAA for not incorporating recommendations submitted by the 74 stakeholders that make up the Aviation Rulemaking Committee.

In its 89-page comment to the FAA, DJI cites independent economic analysis that was prepared by Dr. Christian Dippon, Managing Director at NERA Economic Consulting. The study concludes that the societal costs associated with the Remote ID NPRM would total $ 5.6 billion. This makes it 9 times more costly than the $ 582 million the FAA predicts for the next decade.

“I worry about an impact on innovation, with fewer people interested in using drones,” – Brendan Schulman

The long-term ramifications, should the Remote ID NPRM pass in its current form, will extend beyond financial burdens. ‘I worry about an impact on innovation, with fewer people interested in using drones. Our economist’s survey found at least a 10% drop in drone activity if the proposal were implemented, but I think it could be much higher as the full impact is felt by operators,’ Brendan Schulman, DJI’s Vice President of Policy & Legal Affairs, tells DPReview.

Remote ID, simply put, is a digital license plate for drones. It allows authorities to identify the location, serial number, and a remote pilot’s identity in near real-time. The FAA is proposing that almost all drones should transmit that information over wireless networks to a service provider’s database. NERA’s study concludes that the monthly cost of a network-based service for a remote pilot would be $ 9.83 instead of the FAA’s $ 2.50 estimate.

A few vocal critics have suggested that DJI’s involvement in drafting Remote ID rulemaking has served their own interests, and that regulations will amount to a multi-billion dollar gain for the company. ‘The critics missed the context and history. Since 2017 we knew Remote ID was inevitable as a government mandate, and have been advocating for the best possible result for all drone users: low costs and burdens. Everything we have done on this topic has been focused on those goals. Keep costs low and respect drone user privacy. For example, in March 2017 we released a whitepaper strongly advocating for pilot privacy,’ Schulman explains.

DJI has advocated for a ‘drone-to-phone’ solution that provides Remote ID information on common smartphones without burdening drone operators with any extra costs or effort. DJI says that its solution is cheaper and easier than what the FAA is proposing. Any new ruling on Remote ID will not likely take effect until 2024.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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A Photographer’s Guide to Buying a Drone – Getting it Right the First Time

05 Mar

The post A Photographer’s Guide to Buying a Drone – Getting it Right the First Time appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Matt Murray.

photographers-guide-to-buying-a-drone

In this photographer’s guide to buying a drone, I’ll share with you some invaluable tips for buying a drone for the first time.

Seven years ago, my employer wanted a photo of a local lighthouse from an elevated viewpoint. It sounds ridiculous now, but very early on a winter’s morning, I was loaded into a cherry picker with two cameras and hoisted 15 meters in the air to take photos. I’m a little bit scared of heights, so I really had to concentrate on getting the images and not looking down!

With the introduction in the last few years of many relatively low-cost good quality drones (also known as UAVs – unmanned aerial vehicles), that whole scenario seems laughable.

So why should you think about buying a drone if you haven’t already?

Here are some of the key considerations.

Image: By chance, I saw this boat sailing past when I was taking aerial images of fishing boats in Y...

By chance, I saw this boat sailing past when I was taking aerial images of fishing boats in Yamba. Taken with the DJI Mavic.

A photographer’s guide to buying a drone

Why buy a drone?

The main reason for buying a drone is the unique viewpoints that it will bring to your photography that you couldn’t achieve easily otherwise.

Sure, you can take elevated images from buildings, planes, helicopters – or even a cherry picker. However, those options are unlikely to be suitable or cost-efficient, depending on what you’d like to photograph. Having a drone in your kit opens up new possibilities and viewpoints like never before.

How else would you be able to take images from viewpoints like this? Boats at the seaside taken with the DJI Mavic Pro 2.

What kind of photographers would benefit from having a drone?

The short answer is – all kinds of photographers. I’ve seen or heard of aerial images from UAVs used in many industries.

Travel

Aerial images have been a stable of Instagram travel accounts for years now. Many Instagrammers take a compact drone with them on their travels to add to the range of shots they can take at a destination. They can use the images for both posting on social media or as deliverables for clients.

These images are often featured by large national and regional travel accounts to showcase destinations.

A Photographer's Guide to Buying a Drone

Real estate photographers

Drones are widely used amongst real estate photographers and seem to be essential kits these days.

Aerial images are common on many listings here in Australia to show the boundaries and layout of a property and its location to nearby landmarks and amenities.

Fine art

This is a small but very well paid niche. Some photographers make thousands of dollars for breathtaking fine art aerial images taken with UAVs.

Stock photographers

There’s been an increasing number of aerial images and videos sold on stock photography sites recently. Using a drone is one way to add to the range of images you have for sale in your portfolio.

A Photographer's Guide to Buying a Drone

A stock photography library I shoot for had a call out for images to illustrate bad parking. This is an image I sold them for the campaign.

Wedding and portrait photography

Aerial images are becoming increasingly popular for weddings, engagement shoots, and portrait sessions.

Images for your family archive

When I’m out and about taking photos for stock or travel, my family often accompanies me. I love taking aerial images of them; it certainly makes for a different type of shot in the family photo archive.

Tips before buying a drone

If you’re thinking about buying a drone, it pays to do your research first. Take a look at photos taken by drones on Instagram using hashtags such as #dronephotography, #dronestagram, and #droneoftheday.

Which make and model of UAV took these images? Looking at the photos will give you a good indication of the quality you can expect from each model.

Join some drone-related Facebook groups. Have a read through the discussions and ask questions. People will often be happy to share how they took a photo, what equipment they used, and what post-processing they did on the image.

Image: My daughter taking her board out for a surf in northern New South Wales, Australia.

My daughter taking her board out for a surf in northern New South Wales, Australia.

Try before you buy

Do you know a friend who has a drone? Ask if you can go along with them next time they fly it and learn the basics. You could also see if a local drone Facebook Group has meetups where you can learn the ropes. Maybe you’ll love it, but maybe you’ll hate it. Handy to know before you shell out for such a high cost.

Buy cheap, buy twice

I’ve heard many people buy a cheap toy drone to see if they’ll like it. The truth is, many of those cheaper drones are a complete nightmare to fly, and people are put off when it crashes. Typically, the more expensive a UAV, the easier it is to fly.

I’d recommend the “try before you buy” approach over this.

Which drone should I buy?

Ultimately, this is down to two different factors: the first is your budget, the second is what you want to do with your aerial images.

If you want to sell your images for stock, weddings, or fine art, go with the drone with the best image quality. However, if you want to travel with your drone, take family photos or only post to social media, perhaps you’d value a compact, lighter offering.

Pros and cons of some popular drone models

Below are some of the pros and cons of popular drones.

The Mavic Pro

The Mavic Pro is one of the best-selling drones of all time. It’s capable of taking photos in both horizontal and landscape orientations, which I found very handy when I owned it. The 12-megapixel camera has a fixed f/2.2 aperture, which compared to newer offerings, is a bit limiting. The good news is, you should be able to pick up one for a good price secondhand.

Image: DJI Mavic Pro

DJI Mavic Pro

Mavic Pro 2

I sold my Mavic Pro when they released the Mavic Pro 2. It has a significantly better 20-megapixel camera with a 1-inch sensor, which suited me better for taking larger images for stock libraries.

It also has an f/2.8-11 variable aperture, which gives you the potential to be more creative with your aerial images.

The one potential downside is that when facing the horizon, the gimbal doesn’t rotate the camera so you can capture vertical images like you can with the Mavic.

Read a full review of the Mavic Pro 2 here.

A Photographer's Guide to Buying a Drone

The Mavic 2 drone.

Mavic 2 Zoom

The Mavic 2 Zoom came out at the same time as the Mavic Pro. Its main advantage over the Pro 2 is the ability to zoom the camera. Combined with movement, you can use this to achieve the dolly zoom effect. The downside is that its camera is only 12-megapixel, and the aperture is f2.8-3.8.

Read a review of the Mavic 2 Zoom here.

A Photographer's Guide to Buying a Drone

DJI Mavic 2 Zoom

Mavic Mini

The Mavic Mini is a very small and light drone with impressive specifications. The Mavic Mini is the cheapest I’ve covered and would be ideal for many people wanting to take aerial images as they travel. It has a 12-megapixel camera. Unlike the others listed, it is only capable of taking images in JPG format for stills.

A Photographer's Guide to Buying a Drone

DJI Mavic Mini

Also, read a review of the DJI Spark here, and the Mavic Air here.

What else do I need to consider?

Is your device up to scratch? To fly a DJI drone, you’ll need the DJI GO app on your smartphone or on a tablet.

Is your device good enough to support the latest app? You’ll need to look into this before you get started.

A Photographer's Guide to Buying a Drone

Make sure your phone or tablet is powerful enough to run the drone app.

How will you edit your image?

If you’re a dPS regular reader, no doubt you’ll know all about the various ways you can post-process your images. I use Adobe Lightroom and occasionally Adobe Photoshop to edit my JPG and DNG drone images.

Insurance

UAVs are an expensive investment. Make sure that your camera insurance or home contents insurance adequately covers your new kit.

DJI have their own insurance product – DJI care. Whichever option you go for, make sure you understand the limits of the policies, so you don’t get caught out.

Flying legally

This is very important. You don’t want to find yourself on the wrong side of the law, especially if you take your drone overseas.

It’s good to learn all the rules when you’re considering buying one or while you’re waiting for it to arrive.

Rules differ from country to country, region to region, so always make sure you know the correct laws to fly at your destination.

For example, in Australia, you’ll need permission to fly a drone in a National Park in the state of New South Wales, but over the border in Queensland, you do not.

Image: Early morning view of South Stradbroke Island, Queensland. DJI Mavic.

Early morning view of South Stradbroke Island, Queensland. DJI Mavic.

Flying safely

Investing time learning the rules and regulations is just one part of things. You also need to learn to fly safely.

A major part of this is learning to identify hazards, whether they be trees, powerlines, buildings, weather, or as I found out once, a swooping bird in my local park.

It’s always a good idea to have a pre-flight and post-flight-check routine in place.

Conclusion

Buying a drone is a fantastic way of adding new viewpoints to your photography. The latest offerings from companies such as DJI have given photographers the ability to capture scenes that were not possible a few years ago without chartering a plane or helicopter.

However, there are many things to consider before you dive in. Consider what you want to use the images for, which model to buy, and how to edit your images. You also need to learn how to fly safely and legally.

I hope this photographer’s guide to buying a drone has been helpful if you are currently looking at adding a drone to your photography kit.

What other considerations do you think are important when considering buying a drone? Tell us below.

 

The post A Photographer’s Guide to Buying a Drone – Getting it Right the First Time appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Matt Murray.


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The latest LEGO Collectable Minifigure series includes a UAV operator complete with drone, controller and battle wound

27 Feb

At the Toy Fair in New York City, LEGO unveiled its latest collection of minifigures, consisting of 16 themed characters, each of which has costumes and props to boot.

The collection, which is the 20th of its kind since LEGO started the series back in 2010, features a number of fun and playful characters, but one in particular stands out—a drone pilot. One of the collectable minifigs is an enthusiastic drone pilot that comes complete with a LEGO drone, a LEGO controller and even a bandage on their face to suggest they’ve been nicked by the propellors of the drone.

The drone operator minifig, along with the other 15 characters, is set to start shipping April 19, 2020 for $ 4.99.

Image credits: Photos by The Brothers Brick, used with permission

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US Judge rules against county seeking to ban drone flights in their parks

18 Feb
The Michigan Coalition of Drone Operators celebrates their victory outside of the Genesee County courthouse.

On February 10th, the Honorable Judge Joseph Farah handed down a ruling in favor of the Michigan Coalition of Drone Operators (MCDO) after Genesee County, in Flint, tried to establish an ordinance banning drones in their parks. The three-month-long legal battle was ignited after R. Jason Harrison was arrested in December 2018 for flying legally in a park. Harrison’s drone and accessories were confiscated and he was issued a misdemeanor.

Even though the ticket was dropped, Harrison sought the counsel of Dean Greenblatt, an aviation attorney licensed in both Michigan and Florida. Greenblatt had the following to say to DPReview regarding the situation:

‘I understand that this case is the first to attempt enforcement of statewide preemption statutes regarding drones. It is the first legal challenge in Michigan, and presumably the first legal challenge to a preemption statute anywhere in the country.’

What happened to Harrison isn’t unusual for remote pilots operating in a majority of states across the US. 33 of them don’t have the proper State Legislation in place. This allows local governments to establish their own laws regarding drone use. Even though the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has jurisdiction over national airspace, local municipalities in these 33 states can override the government agency by passing rules that regulate the land. Many public parks in California, for example, prohibit people from launching an unmanned aerial vehicle on their premises. This creates hassles for commercial drone operators and confusion for casual users less familiar with local ordinances.

Even though the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has jurisdiction over national airspace, local municipalities in these 33 states can override the government agency by passing rules that regulate the land.

There isn’t a central database or uniform resource dedicated to city-specific rules surrounding drone use. It’s not uncommon for someone to check in with an airspace application like Kittyhawk, AirMap, or UASidekick and believe they’re conducting a legal flight….only to be approached by a local law enforcement officer and told to land immediately. Conducting a Google search with the name of the city you plan to fly in along with the terms “drone” or “UAV” is necessary to find out if they have any UAS laws in place.

Michigan is one of the 17 states with a law that specifically prohibits local governments from creating or enforcing their own drone ordinance. MCL 259.305, which is part of Act 436 passed in 2016, specifically states the following about drone use: ‘[e]xcept as expressly authorized by statute, a political subdivision shall not enact or enforce an ordinance or resolution that regulates the ownership or operation of unmanned aircraft or otherwise engage in the regulation of the ownership or operation of unmanned aircraft.’

Genesee County argued that it was exempt from state law and amended its park rules in response to the charges brought against them by the MCDO. Newly-created legislation, to justify their ban of drones, stated the following:

‘Section P910615-Aircraft and Drones

No person shall, upon the property administered by the Commission: Make any ascent or descent, operate or possess any balloon, airplane, parachute, drone, manned or unmanned aircraft on Commission properties or waters, except in designated areas, without first obtaining written permission from the Commission or except as may be necessary in the event of an emergency.’

Judge Joseph Farah signed off on his ruling against the illegal banning of drones in Michigan state parks.

After a series of hearings that took place in October and November, Judge Farah ruled that the state of Michigan’s legislature was clear, binding, and could not be overridden by local lawmakers. Another person who would agree with this sentiment, and even take it a step further, is the FAA’s former Administrator, Daniel Huerta.

In a 2017 keynote address for the InterDrone conference, Huerta stated “legally, the (FAA) has regulatory authority over all U.S. airspace. But successfully blending unmanned aircraft into busy airspace will require state, local, and tribal governments to build upon existing federal efforts to develop and enforce safety rules.”

In a recent development, Genesee County made the decision to override Judge Farah’s ruling and risk being in contempt of court. This stems from their new claim that drone flights within the Class C airspace of KFNT, a ‘no-fly zone’ covering some of the county’s parks, were unlawful. This particular airport participates in the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) making it possible for professionals and hobbyists to fly up to a certain altitude with real-time approval.

Greenblatt had the following to say about Genesee County’s newfound defiance: ‘any attempt to enforce a drone ban or “no-fly zones” as labeled in the “Amendment” will be met with a motion to hold the County in contempt and to enforce the injunction.’ Inaccurate and incorrect interpretations of airspace rules is the exact issue that led the State Legislature to enact the drone preemption statute; that is, to prevent a patchwork of local regulations by non-experts.

The MCDO did not seek out any monetary damages from Genesee County. Instead, the group hopes that Judge Farah’s ruling sets a precedent not only for the state of Michigan, but the other 17 states with similar preemption laws should someone find themselves in legal trouble. The final goal is for the remaining 33 states to take up similar legislation to prevent a patchwork of confusing local ordinances and protect the rights of those looking to legally operate drones in national airspace.

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Opinion: New rules proposed by the FAA are a threat to drone pilots – including photographers

15 Feb

The FAA is proposing new rules related to flying drones in the US, and if you fly drones – including for photography – these rules WILL affect you. In this article, I’ll look at the implications of the proposed rule changes and how you can comment on them before the FAA makes them final.

The day after Christmas, the drone industry was finally gifted the long-awaited Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for the Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (drones), and what the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) presented was a shock to many commercial and recreational remote pilots, alike. The government agency completely ignored recommendations from all 74 industry stakeholders that make up the Aviation Rulemaking Commitee (ARC), which is concerning.

The drone industry needs Remote ID, the concept that every drone should have a digital license plate, to move forward. Having a uniform system in place to identify unmanned aerial vehicles in national airspace is imperative for the safe operation of every aircraft sharing the skies. It will also enable more complex operations including flights at night, over people, and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). Remote ID is a step in the right direction but, unfortunately, the FAA has proposed costly, privacy-violating rules that will at first stifle, and then eventually crush, the potential of a burgeoning industry.

The FAA is proposing new rules related to flying drones in the US, and if you fly drones – including for photography – these rules WILL affect you.

I’m not going to summarize every section of the 87-page (the original was 319) document in one article as it goes far beyond the scope of what most DPReview readers want to digest. Instead, I’ll cover some of the main points of concern and, finally, offer suggestions and resources for leaving an effective comment for the FAA if you’re one of the nearly 1.2 million registered drone users in the U.S. If you’re prepared to make your voice heard, comment HERE.

What will potentially change?

The NPRM proposes that both manufacturers and UAS (unmanned aerial system) operators will be responsible for meeting Remote ID requirements. The main purpose is to connect a UAS with its owner. Capabilities are divided into two categories – “Standard Remote ID” and “Limited Remote ID.”

  • Standard Remote ID ‘would be required to broadcast identification and location information directly from the unmanned aircraft and simultaneously transmit that same information to a Remote ID USS (UAS Service Supplier) through an internet connection.’ Most flights would be conducted under these terms.
  • Limited Remote ID ‘would be required to transmit information through the internet only, with no broadcast requirements; however, the unmanned aircraft would be designed to operate no more than 400 feet from the control station.’
New rules under consideration by the FAA would have wide implications for drone operators in the US, including a requirement to broadcast personally identifying information when flying.

Let’s pause for a moment and acknowledge that a drone will need a SIM card to operate under these new guidelines. Leading carriers such as AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile charge between $ 10 and $ 20 per month to add a device like a tablet or smartwatch to your data plan, so we can probably expect similar costs for a drone. If you’re operating more than one UAS, like many small businesses and some hobbyists, this adds up quickly. Major carriers also have gaps in the data coverage they provide. Many rural areas don’t get any signal, which will effectively limit where drones can be operated.

Key data, including the control station’s latitude, longitude, and altitude can be accessed by anyone from takeoff to landing, not just law enforcement. This is concerning because the general public will know exactly where a remote pilot is operating. If someone gets angry or doesn’t understand the nature of drone operations, they could easily harass or even attack the pilot. What’s more, the FAA estimates the remote pilot will be paying an additional fee of $ 2.50 per month to be connected with a USS.

The general public will know exactly where a remote pilot is operating. If someone gets angry or doesn’t understand the nature of drone operations, they could easily harass or even attack the pilot.

Drones need to be equipped with Remote ID in order to comply with the above draconian restrictions. The FAA is confident that most commercial aircraft can easily be outfitted to meet new requirements. Where things get especially cost-prohibitive involves equipping hobbyist or ‘amateur-built’ unmanned aircraft with Remote ID capabilities. The FAA doesn’t provide a solution for an affordable Remote ID kit. This means any UAS that is at least 50% constructed by a person will either need an independent solution constructed by that builder (a process that could potentially cost upwards of tens of thousands of dollars) or it will be restricted to an ‘FAA-approved identification area’ or FRIA.

Remote pilots have 12 months to suggest areas where drones can operate without Remote ID. The issue is many of these designated areas could be located tens to hundreds of miles away from your front door. There will likely be a charge similar to the Academy of Model Aeronautic’s (AMA) $ 75 current annual membership fee. Speaking of, the FAA also wants to overhaul the current registration process by requiring hobbyists individually register each drone instead of as a pilot. Some hobbyists own dozens of model aircraft. At $ 5 a piece, registration fees could potentially add up to hundreds of dollars.

What can you do?

The FAA is gathering comments from the public until March 2nd. The good news is, officials are required to read each and every one submitted by the deadline. However, if you take the AMA’s terrible advice, cut and paste one of their boilerplate comments into the form, and pass it off as your own, it will be disregarded. Unfortunately, I’ve already seen too many of the 12,000+, and counting, comments start off with ‘I am writing in response to the FAAs notice of proposed rulemaking on remote identification of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). I am deeply concerned…’ Please, do not do this. Take the time to craft an original response.

Image shared with permission from Ryan J. Latourette

As I mentioned earlier, I am basically summarizing some of the more pertinent concerns this NPRM brings up. If you’re looking to leave an impactful comment, I highly recommend checking out this in-depth resource from Pilot Institute. Skyward, a drone operations management platform, has a group of policy experts answering common questions in a webinar scheduled for Tuesday, February 18th. Joining drone-related Facebook Groups and forums and asking for guidance is another avenue to pursue, especially if reading and interpreting a lengthy legal document feels like a cure for insomnia.

It’s important to remember that this is a proposal. Nothing has been finalized. This is why every person that flies commercially, or for fun, must comment. It will still take the FAA several years to implement any changes. The more we, the public, can convince them that drones are beneficial, and provide viable alternatives to what has been suggested for Remote ID, the better chance we have of devising solutions that will work out for everyone.

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Yuneec launches E30Z 30x optical zoom camera for H520 Hexacopter drone

04 Feb

Drone company Yuneec has launched its new E30Z 30x optical zoom camera for the H520 Hexacopter drone. The camera features a 2.13MP 1/2.8in CMOS sensor capable of capturing 1920 x 1080 video at up to 60fps, as well as JPEG still images. The model features 1/30 – 1/6000s shutter speeds, 100 – 6400 ISO, 30x optical zoom, 6x digital zoom, pan/tilt support and both auto and manual white balance controls.

According to Yuneec, users can fully zoom the E30Z camera in 2.55 seconds. Drone operators get access to the camera’s various settings directly through the ST16S controller’s touch display. As the images show, the E30Z camera features a built-in 3-axis gimbal with 360° rotation support and accuracy of ± 0.02°.

The E30Z is one of the multiple camera models that can be used with the H520 Hexacopter drone, which Yuneec says it built for professionals and industrial purposes. The drone features six rotors that the company says are able to keep the drone stable even in high-wind environments.

The E30Z 30x optical zoom drone camera isn’t yet listed in the Yuneec online store; its price and availability remain unclear. The H20 Hexacopter, meanwhile, is available from Yuneec now in multiple bundle options starting at $ 3,999.99.

Via: Newsshooter

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The V-Coptr Falcon is a bi-copter drone that has a 50-minute battery life

16 Jan

The company that created the self-flying Hover 2 is back with a new, uniquely-designed unmanned aerial vehicle. Inspired by the V-22 Osprey military aircraft, the V-Coptr Falcon is a compact, foldable, first-of-its-kind V-shaped drone that boasts only 2 propellers. A reduced number of rotors, coupled with a more aerodynamic design, means less power is consumed during operation. As a result, the Falcon can fly up to 50 minutes.

The Falcon has a 12MP, 1/2.3-inch Sony sensor with a 77º FOV on a 3-axis gimbal. Video can be recorded up to 4K/30p, 2.7k/60p, and 1080/120p. Photos can be captured in both RAW and JPEG format while video is limited to MP4. There is 8GB of internal storage available onboard though adding an external microSD card with up to 256GB storage is recommended.

Front-facing stereo cameras provide obstacle avoidance that functions at a speed of up to 7m/s. The BlastOff controller can operate for 2.5 hours, fully charged, and it gives the Falcon a range that extends up to 7,000 meters (4.3 miles). Autofollow mode is available and users can also take advantage of the pre-programmed flight paths and post-editing templates found in Cinematic Shots.

Similar models from DJI, Autel, and Parrot boast a flight time of up to 30 minutes, maximum. Slower rotation of aerodynamically-designed propellers help the Falcon stay airborne for up to 20 minutes longer. With its 12MP, 4K/30p camera, the Falcon is most similar to DJI’s Mavic Pro Platinum. The V-Coptr Falcon retails for $ 1000, with a required $ 100 deposit, and will start shipping in February 2020.

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