So I'm assuming everyone has seen the latest and greatest aerial shots of Chernobyl recently? If not:




Drones, swiftly rising in popularity in the commercial and now consumer levels, seem to offer a lot of new capabilities for filming and photography as a whole. This new technology offers broader new perspectives for large area explorations all at the ease of controlling with your fingertips.

What's everyone's take on drones? Do you guys think they're worth it for what they offer? Or is it more practical to give the technology time to mature before investing?

Going into more detail: Do any users have experience with any models or could offer any insight to the Pro's and Con's of these things?

The Pro's I can think of:

-Avoiding Security (cameras/guards)
-View Coverage
-Ease of Control

The Con's I can think of:

-Short Battery Life
-Controller Range (max distance allowed between controller and receiver)
-Over Integrity (I hear they are prone to a lot of damage)



Do you guys think drones will redefine urbexing? If so, for better or worse?

Cons:
Crazy loud as all fuck

They are a fun toy, and a different way to document places we visit, but not a chance they will redefine anything related to the hobby.

I feel like your pros and cons are kind of backwards, the controller range for an entry level quadcopter such as the DJI Phantom is already 1000m. They're also more durable than you'd expect, especially with prop guards on. I've seen quadcopters take some nasty crashes and still be fine.

I can't see how these would ever be used in a "tactical" manner for urbex as they would attract a lot of attention. As yokes mentioned, they're pretty noisy. And I've never flown one myself but I've heard they're not that easy to control at all.

I'd love to get a quadcopter for filming, but I feel like the technology isn't quite perfected for a consumer market yet. Give it a few years and we'll probably start seeing longer battery life and cheaper price tags on these things.

Posted by arsytee I feel like your pros and cons are kind of backwards..

They were simply based off multiple user reviews on different models. Some said they were very easy to control and I saw a lot of people telling of how theirs needed repairs from falling or flying inexperience (like crashing into things). And I read some of the cheaper ones having very limited ranges. Like the best range for the cheapest was about 185ft which sucks in my opinion.

And I would consider the DJI Phantom more on the commercial end of drones than consumer level with that steep of a price tag. But I can certainly agree with waiting. Prices will drop while overall quality will increase with time.

How the fuck am I gonna stagger through an abandoned shithole, enjoying beers and taking photos of rotted detritus if I'm on the perimeter playing with a toy?

I have a neighbor who is paranoid and thinks the government is spying on him.

I think the price would be worth it just to hover it outside his bedroom window at night.

In less than 10 years you'll "UER" something and have your own drone follow you everywhere you go taking HD video.
Drones are not going away.
They are getting quieter.
They are getting more durable.
They are getting cheaper every month.

Drones are fun. Pew Pew.

Posted by DevilC In less than 10 years you'll "UER" something and have your own drone follow you everywhere you go taking HD video. Drones are not going away. They are getting quieter. They are getting more durable. They are getting cheaper every month.

Quieter would be a major advance. They are crazy loud.

I loves me some drones... But man, so loud.

They're pretty loud, yeah. Which models have you used?
Give it a few years though.
I bet if we rewind 10 or 12 years, someone will be telling us about how digital cameras won't ever surpass film. etc etc etc

Drones are not going anywhere and they will just continue to be baked into every aspect of our lives.
Much like there is a thread asking about the merits of Instagram explorers, fun to consider where drones are going.
This is a good thread.
I am an amateur futurist, just like everyone else.

Posted by yokes Quieter would be a major advance. They are crazy loud. I loves me some drones... But man, so loud.

I'm planning on building up a quad drone specifically for videography purposes. Looking at the FliteTest "RotorBones" build video. A co-worker has a couple of large hex birds as well as a whole bunch of the minis. He's really into it so he's a good resource for me.

Abby Normal

Posted by turtl Drones are fun. Pew Pew. click to view

The flight simulator RealFlight 6.5 has the Predator as one of its aircraft. It even has air-to-ground missiles. Fun for hours....

Abby Normal

Posted by Abby Normal The flight simulator RealFlight 6.5 has the Predator as one of its aircraft. It even has air-to-ground missiles. Fun for hours.... Abby Normal

Oooooh I may have to look into that

No doubt about it. Drones are here and definitely a game changer - in regards to both exploring and photography.

Posted by DevilC They're pretty loud, yeah. Which models have you used? Give it a few years though. I bet if we rewind 10 or 12 years, someone will be telling us about how digital cameras won't ever surpass film. etc etc etc Drones are not going anywhere and they will just continue to be baked into every aspect of our lives. Much like there is a thread asking about the merits of Instagram explorers, fun to consider where drones are going. This is a good thread. I am an amateur futurist, just like everyone else.

I've only played with a DJI once. That shit is like a soccer stadium full of vuvuzelas. I wonder if there will be limits as to how quiet they can be made by basic limits in mechanical technology (and still be accessible to the public vs. military contracts). I presume there are.

Of course, now that the horse has left the glue factory, it might be time to start reigning them in a bit, given the problems of untrained idiots flying them near airports...

Even if these things get quieter, security will still most likely notice the thing flying around. I still stick to my spotting scope, hell of a lot quitter and works just as well.

I've been looking at drones strictly for adding another camera angle to our automotive videos. I never thought of using one for UE. I'm glad prices are dropping. Using one for UE in the country may be a bit easier than the city where security isn't as tight!

Posted by MustangGina I've been looking at drones strictly for adding another camera angle to our automotive videos. I never thought of using one for UE. I'm glad prices are dropping. Using one for UE in the country may be a bit easier than the city where security isn't as tight!

That's what I was thinking. Just like how they used it for the Chernobyl video, it gives a whole to new perspective to any area.

In related news (GoPro to release consumer level drones in 2015): http://www.cnet.co...-year-report-says/

I think the pictures look amazing as long as you're in a place where no one would be wondering what that thing is doing flying around and then come looking for you or something like that.