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Posted on 02/04/14 7:32:34 PM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 4019 Reply  |
New Camera platform
I've been thinking about doing this for the last three years - finally took the plunge and bought one of these for aerial photography! It carries a Go Pro 3+ camera and is fantastic to fly.  _________________ If at first you don't succeed then skydiving is not for you. |
Posted on 02/04/14 7:37:22 PM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 4019 Reply |
Re: New Camera platform
 _________________ It only seems impossible. |
Posted on 02/04/14 7:39:06 PM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 4019 Reply |
Re: New Camera platform
 _________________ If at first you don't succeed then skydiving is not for you. |
Posted on 03/04/14 07:58:23 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7040 Reply  |
Re: New Camera platform
That looks fantastic! What a great toy! And very fine example pictures, both from the drone and of you using it. But be careful: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/02/uk-first-drone-conviction |
Posted on 03/04/14 09:12:44 AM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 4019 Reply |
Re: New Camera platform
Thanks Steve. Yes the Guardian article does illustrate one of the big problems with drones being used by people who don't understand the environment that they are operating in or the legislation surrounding it. The CAA has been working on UAV legislation for a few years now in an effort to prevent these problems but generally has handled it with a light touch except in circumstances where there has been blatant mis-use of a UAV. It should be incumbent on sellers to inform buyers that there is legislation that affects the use of UAVs and where to find it. Whilst it might seem like a toy it is, in fact, a serious working tool for photography. Many film producers, including the BBC, are using these UAVs for some spectacular imaging that cannot be obtained by any other means. Once I am fully qualified by the CAA for 'aerial work' I am planning to upgrade to a much larger machine that can carry a large video camera. The investment required puts these firmly in the 'working for its living' category. Loved The Guardian's caption to the video "footage from the 'runaway' drone, showing the moment it NEARLY MISSES the Jubilee Bridge on the Walney channel"! Whatever happened to the English language? _________________ You're never too old to learn something stupid. |
Posted on 03/04/14 3:38:05 PM |
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Mariner
Renaissance Mariner Posts: 3109 Reply  |
Re: New Camera platform
Wow! Gordon, what a marvellous tool. I wish I had one. I hope the neighbours don't get one. |
Posted on 03/04/14 6:42:53 PM |
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Deborah Morley
Makeover Magician Posts: 1319 Reply  |
Re: New Camera platform
I think we should all come and visit and have a play with that - and not have drinks until after! |
Posted on 04/04/14 08:54:42 AM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 4019 Reply |
Re: New Camera platform
Everyone is welcome  _________________ You're never too old to learn something stupid. |
Posted on 08/04/14 02:36:21 AM |
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vibeke
Kreative Kiwi Posts: 2166 Reply  |
Re: New Camera platform
What a great new toy. Great photos too. Shows you know what you are doing. _________________ Perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize. |
Posted on 08/04/14 05:14:44 AM |
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Trevor Dennis 2
* Posts: 11 Reply  |
Re: New Camera platform
Wow indeed, and I bet everyone is green with envy. It looks like a serious quadcopter as well. No messing with Phantoms for you. Have you seen the Russell Brown tutorials? http://tv.adobe.com/show/take-flight-into-the-adobe-creative-cloud/ He impressed me with one of them where he got completely radical with Adaptive Wide Angle. I think most people would have given up because you have to go through a very weird stage to get to the end result. Fingers cross that we don't see you staring in a YouTube outtake. |
Posted on 08/04/14 09:53:00 AM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 4019 Reply |
Re: New Camera platform
Thanks Vibeke and Trevor. Trevor, yes I have seen some of the videos and I do use the lens correction on occasion but you have to choose your image as the corners, particularly the bottom corners can get very distorted and the pixels are stretched out causing a lot of smearing. It's then that I prefer to stick with the fish-eye effect. As I use Autopano for panoramic images I shall be giving that a try out as well. I have already attempted one as a test and it worked beautifully. With Autopano I don't have to go through Photoshop's lens correction filter as Autopano does its own correction even with a fisheye. The GPS hold on the hexacopter is amazing and allows highly stabilised position holding while you rotate the 'copter about its axis and tilt the camera to get all the images needed for a panorama. It's almost like having a 150 feet tall tripod! - But try moving that to a slightly different location quickly. I toyed with the idea of a Phantom for some time but quickly began to realise its limitations. Eventually the logic of buying the DJI550 won the day. One good thing about the '550 is that you don't get the propellers showing in the photographs. My biggest problem is whether or not to go for the DJI800 and go commercial - big bucks but the potential for some spectacular images and video. _________________ It only seems impossible. |
Posted on 13/04/14 07:21:10 AM |
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tooquilos
Wizard of Oz Posts: 2899 Reply  |
Re: New Camera platform
Hi Gordon. What an ingenious idea! Crystal sharp images. What is the range of the drone? My son has a GoPro which he uses when he surfs. His pics are nowhere near as good as yours though lol Anna  _________________ Wicked Witch of the West: I'm melting! I'm melting! |