Quadcopters anyone?

Yeah ive shot a few wedding videos. Drone footage was in it, but mostly just hand held footage so i didnt "charge" any extra for the drone footage. Just for the editing service. I have my drone registered for "fun" usage (which you don't have to do any longer since they passed the law saying you don't have to register your drone just to fly) but i do need to get my license to make $ off of it.

 

We all suck at video editing at first. It all depends on how much you get into flying and getting good shots that you would want to make a video out of. It's like any hobby. You start small, you get hooked, and the next thing you'll be buying is a new PC that is capable of rendering video at a fast pace and other photo / video equipment.

I had a guy at the station give me shit once about all the money I've got tied up with my camera, lenses, drones, MacBook Pro, etc... and I told him "wait a sec..." "Don't you have a $65,000 Ranger Bass boat that will run 72 mph??" "I didn't know fish could swim that fast?"

So it's all about what your interests are. Do I "need" all the equipment I've got since I don't make any money off of it? Absolutely not. But that said... did he "need" a $65,000 bass boat? Nope. But it's what "he" wanted and there's nothing wrong with that. It's all about what you're into.

 

Yeah it's no joke.

I thought about getting one for a while but I'm just afraid if I turn it into a business that I'll end up hating doing something that I really like to do. I'm under no obligation to anyone to get something done within a timeframe. Hell, I still haven't edited all the video from our trip to Colorado or all the pictures I took in D.C. earlier this year. I can't imagine actually having to get shit done in a timeframe. Being retired at 47 I kind of like my freedom right now.

 

Oh I know I'll get hooked. I just have never had that creative touch though. I have been thinking about buying new parts for my old MacBook since I've got a white screen of death on it, or just buying a used newer one for video editing cuz I know I will want to do it. Going to be taking a lot of surf footage and off road stuff.

 

You might surprise yourself. Again most of us suck at first. I know I did at least. It's all about trial and error, watching youtube videos that others have made, and picking up ideas along the way. Eventually you will be making good / interesting videos in no time. And once that happens you will start to want to buy that new Mac and other shit. At least that's how I did it.

 

I tried doing video editing before a few years back but didn't have the touch. Well see what happens now though. I really want to look in to parts to fix my old MacBook so I don't have to spend even more on a newer one. And then editing software too...

 

If you're going to use a Mac I would highly suggest Final Cut Pro X as it's not too hard to learn. It's also dropped dramatically in price from what it used to be. It's on the App store for $299 and worth every penny of that with all that you can do with it. I've also got Adobe Premiere Pro on my computer but I use it more for hyperlapse videos due to the Warp Stabilizer is much better than the stabilizer in Final Cut Pro. Adobe shit is expensive though.

 

I'll have to dig out my MacBook after work today and see if I can diagnose it. Last time I tried to turn t on I had a white screen of death. I'm pretty sure the charger doesn't work anymore either... might be best to just try and find a used one for cheap and upgrade the ssd in it

 

Agreed. I use iMovie if I want to make a quick edit also to show someone. But Final Cut Pro is my go to for drone footage since I've gotten to the point that I've learned it well enough that I can navigate around the software in no time. But it's more time consuming which I don't mind since you know your videos will turn out like you really want them.

 

How old is your Mac? What processor and how much RAM do you have? If you're running off a regular spin up drive rather than an SSD drive expect your videos to take a long time.

 

Yep... I think I've shown this before but this was a test video I made right in front of the house after I got my 3 axis gimbal for my DSLR. I love the drone but my true passion is timelapse. But you talk about something that takes up A LOT of time then do some time lapse shots.

This shot took a little over 30 mins IIRC with over 450 24MP RAW shots. That actually equals 30 secs. of 8k video which obviously nothing can actually display 8k video at the consumer level so I downgraded it to 4k.

 

I've got a GoPro 5 Black edition and it's actually a really good camera. I use it for a dash cam most of the time.

Here it is in the pool at the WWII Monument in D.C.



And being used as a dash cam (sorry you'll have to put up with mine and my daughter singing lol)

 

@mwc273 do you have that law handy that you sent me about the FAA not being able to regulate drones now? I couldnt find it where you sent it to me.

 

I do know that it's been rescinded. I still keep my numbers on my drone and keep the card with me though. I figure if someone asks it just gives me a little more to fall back on if anyone raises any questions when I'm out flying. But since most of the places I fly are remote things I'm not to worried about anyone giving me shit. Now... flying around the neighborhood? Nah. Everyone that lives around me and knows I have a drone but out of respect for them I don't fly here. Even though we all know that you can't spy on your neighbors (unless you want it to sound like a swarm of bees outside their window) I never leave my yard if I do some test flights at home.

 

I think it's a 2012 or 2013? It hasn't been touched in years though.

 

Depending on the hardware you may or may not be able to use that Mac. I bought mine last year loaded with everything. I ordered every option you could get and it renders video in a flash so it's worth it to me. My wife's MacBook Air won't and it's only a year old. I say hers won't... It will but much more slowly.

 

Sounds like I need a new one then haha. Why do all my hobbies have to be so expensive...

 

Lol. Everything we do as a hobby is expensive. Doesn't matter what you're into it will always turn out to be expensive.

 

Okay folks I'm thinking of jumping in and getting a quardcopter my budget is $1500/2000. What I'm looking for is a above average camera and stable plateform that is durable if there is such a thing? Recreational flying with the availability of above average photography. What I have looked at so far is a Inspire 1 V2.0 and Mavic Pro Fly. Am I'm going in the right direction with my choices?

 

Mavic

I had a Inspire 1 and although a very good craft it is very large and you literally have to plan your day around your shots. The Mavic you can have up in the air within a few mins. The Mavic has many many more options than the Inspire 1 and is cheaper and more portable. JMO from someone that has owned both.