Quadcopters anyone?

Anyone with a P3 use the plastic gimbal lock that came with it? It is very difficult to get on and off (super tight fit) and I don't want to break anything. Are there any other ways to lock it in place for transport?

 

I always use it.
Thumb against the top of the gimbal and fore finger on the lock pops it off easily without stressing anything.

 

I used it pretty much for covering events at my firehouse and just usually showing off friends, car shows, stuff like that. It does have the following function but it follows the remote controller it DOES NOT have something on the screen you can tap like a live subject and have it follow like the mavic And P4 (active track)

 

A couple of pics from my first day with the P3 at a local state park. I have since adjusted some of the camera settings and fixed the slight horizon lean on the gimbal.

 

Nice pics, but I think they are illegal to fly in National Parks, not certain about state parks. I'm not trying to be that guy, just trying to possibly save you some headaches.

https://www.google.com/amp/www.nbcn...onal-parks-can-result-penalties-fines-n486206

 

Thanks man, appreciate the info, I wasn't aware of that restriction. I am pretty sure it is okay in VA state parks. A DCR ranger even came down and watched for a few minutes.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY8txhZQgFw

Just another edit job for fun

 

That looks awesome, nice job!!

 

Does anyone have any advice for the camera settings on the P3 standard (2.7K)? I keeping adjusting them but I can't seem to get a good balance between overly saturated and bleached out colors. Also, HDR or no HDR? Sorry for the simple questions, still new to this. Thanks!

 

Speaking of this, I got kind of angry when I watched a guy flying at VA Beach to capture sunrise pics the other day. I highly doubt that he notified the 6-7 airports/LZs within five mile radius of his location (as required by FAA regs), including the Naval airbase nearby. Looked like he took it above 400 ft too, but hard to tell.

 

Yeah if he took it above 400' feet he was definitely in the wrong. As far as airports go it's kind of a gray area. I fly my drone behind my neighborhood (wooded area) but my house is within a 5 mile radius of a small regional airport. Very little air traffic in the area and never over my neighborhood. The glide path for the main airport in the city goes near my neighborhood but the air traffic is still a few thousand feet up and a couple miles south of my house so I'm in no danger with that. That said, I never fly over 300' around the back of my house and usually it's much lower.

 

It's easy enough to notify now.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.airmap.airmap&hl=en

...

Also, my Mavic is pretty crazy awesome.

 

Thanks for the link. And yes, I love the Mavic.

 

Nice, thanks for the link! That app is 100% better than the one provided by FAA.

Below are the warnings for the area where I watched the guy flying his quad. It's a pretty sensitive area, I imagine that there would be hefty fines if he was caught.

 

I get what you're saying, it does seem that you can make some judgment calls with the smaller regional airports. Having situational awareness and staying below 400' is key, for sure.

 

Things have really been picking up for me and my business, Gunn Photography Services here in Cleveland. After getting my Part 107 last year, I received my 107.29 night waiver, then I received my 107.41 authorization for class D airspace in downtown Cleveland. I have my 107.41 waiver in right now and I expect it to come back approved very soon. I landed a large contract doing FLIR work for a roofing company, another large contract for an apartment developer, and recently started working with Quicken Loans Arena and the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the coming months, I'll start teaching a drone class at Tri-C community college for first responders and law enforcement. I'm hoping for a prosperous 2017!

Here's a video showing some motion tracking through After Effects:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdYaWwSWPTM

 

Have you checked out Phantom Pilots forum. Everything you need to know.

 

I haven't read a ton through here yet but I'll be in here a bit in the coming months I think. I'm a land surveyor and our office has a few uav's for surveying and a pilot who flies them. (Inspire and ebee) i am currently seeking my 107 for giggles. I don't have a huge urge to get a phantom because I love the raw flight too much. I may spring for a P4Pro when the p5 comes out and drives the p4 price down.

I am however set on building a impulse RC alien 5" ripper. I've got a parts list it's just down to pulling the trigger one of these days. I've been flying a ton of simulator with a real transmitter. FPV Freerider, DRL simulator, and hotprops are the three main sims I fly.

Anyone else in here build their own race quad?

 

Nope. Just film is all I do.

 

I think I've been flying the mavic almost every afternoon now. Compared to my old Quanum and XplusOne, it's just so ... rock solid and stable. Even with serious headwinds enough to make it barely move in non-performance modes, it just has a rock steady picture. And it's been good for 20 minutes per battery consistently, and then packs down tiny. I'm thinking we'll be running it pretty often as a trail scout.