Spec me a GO-Pro / Drone setup please

Dirk Diggler

Dirk Diggler

Dirk Diggler

Soldato
Joined
6 Jan 2013
Posts
22,354
Location
Rollergirl
Hi,

I'm hoping one of you knowledgeable people can point me in the right direction. :)

I need a Go-Pro camera with a chargeable light to illuminate poor/low lighting areas that I'm filming. It needs to come with an extendable pole (8M?) and tablet that will allow me to view the footage in real time via Bluetooth from the GoPro unit.

I also need a drone for areas that are beyond the reach of the GoPro extendable pole.

Budget is generous as I need some quality kit.

TIA
 
I use a DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro which is excellent. Been a while since I had a GoPro but this is way better. Really nice footage and low light is decent.
 
For a drone you can't really go wrong with the DJI Mini 4 Pro, it's the standard for lightweight drones (<250g so you can fly them pretty much anywhere).
 
mid_gen said:
For a drone you can't really go wrong with the DJI Mini 4 Pro, it's the standard for lightweight drones (<250g so you can fly them pretty much anywhere).
Click to expand...

I've got a decent enough budget for a drone, so could spend £1k+ if it brought some bells and whistles. I think the camera facility will probably be fine no matter what model I go for, and I'm actually more focussed on a drone that could fly in 15-20Kt winds if possible, and the lightweight units I'm assuming wouldn't be best fir for that?
 
Dirk Diggler said:
I've got a decent enough budget for a drone, so could spend £1k+ if it brought some bells and whistles. I think the camera facility will probably be fine no matter what model I go for, and I'm actually more focussed on a drone that could fly in 15-20Kt winds if possible, and the lightweight units I'm assuming wouldn't be best fir for that?
Click to expand...
Bigger drones will be more stable in higher winds, but they are a lot more money, and you are much more limited where you can fly them. You can't fly >250g near any buildings or people, not without getting a full license and insurance etc.

The 249 drones can be flown pretty much anywhere (I used mine to inspect my terraced house roof and gutters, which is totally legal, which it wouldn't have been with >250g).

The mini 4 pro is pretty good in winds, I've flown one along the coast. It gets through batteries more quickly in strong winds, and if yuo're fighting a headwind to return, you need to bear that in mind.

The DJI drones hold their value well, so if you bought used you could sell it on again without losing much. I bought a refurb unit from DJI.

The DJI Air 3s, and then the Mavic 4 Pro would be the steps up from the Mini, but they are getting into serious money, for serious photography, and require a license to operate etc.
 
mid_gen said:
Bigger drones will be more stable in higher winds, but they are a lot more money, and you are much more limited where you can fly them. You can't fly >250g near any buildings or people, not without getting a full license and insurance etc.

The 249 drones can be flown pretty much anywhere (I used mine to inspect my terraced house roof and gutters, which is totally legal, which it wouldn't have been with >250g).

The mini 4 pro is pretty good in winds, I've flown one along the coast. It gets through batteries more quickly in strong winds, and if yuo're fighting a headwind to return, you need to bear that in mind.

The DJI drones hold their value well, so if you bought used you could sell it on again without losing much. I bought a refurb unit from DJI.

The DJI Air 3s, and then the Mavic 4 Pro would be the steps up from the Mini, but they are getting into serious money, for serious photography, and require a license to operate etc.
Click to expand...
The DJI Mavic 3 probably sits within budget at £2k.

I take it the licence you're referring to is the CAA Operator ID? - https://register-drones.caa.co.uk/individual/register-and-take-test-to-fly
 
Dirk Diggler said:
The DJI Mavic 3 probably sits within budget at £2k.

I take it the licence you're referring to is the CAA Operator ID? - https://register-drones.caa.co.uk/individual/register-and-take-test-to-fly
Click to expand...
No, it's more complex than that, well you need an Operator ID regardless of the size of the drone. If it's over 250g then there are a lot of limitations. Not within 150m of buildings, not within 50m of people, etc. etc.

Where you can fly drones | UK Civil Aviation Authority

Find out about height limits and distances from people, buildings, crowds and vehicles. Restrictions on flying drones and model aircraft near airports.
register-drones.caa.co.uk register-drones.caa.co.uk

Honestly if camera quality is not a priority, there's no point getting a Mavic, they are so much more restrictive in the UK. The camera on the Mini 4 pro is still very good, 4k video, good stills. Plus when you crash it into something you can't retrieve it from, you don't lose as much.
 
Dirk Diggler said:
Hi,

I'm hoping one of you knowledgeable people can point me in the right direction. :)

I need a Go-Pro camera with a chargeable light to illuminate poor/low lighting areas that I'm filming. It needs to come with an extendable pole (8M?) and tablet that will allow me to view the footage in real time via Bluetooth from the GoPro unit.

I also need a drone for areas that are beyond the reach of the GoPro extendable pole.

Budget is generous as I need some quality kit.

TIA
Click to expand...
You do know its illegal to spy in peoples apartments!! :D
 
mid_gen said:
No, it's more complex than that, well you need an Operator ID regardless of the size of the drone. If it's over 250g then there are a lot of limitations. Not within 150m of buildings, not within 50m of people, etc. etc.

Where you can fly drones | UK Civil Aviation Authority

Find out about height limits and distances from people, buildings, crowds and vehicles. Restrictions on flying drones and model aircraft near airports.
register-drones.caa.co.uk register-drones.caa.co.uk

Honestly if camera quality is not a priority, there's no point getting a Mavic, they are so much more restrictive in the UK. The camera on the Mini 4 pro is still very good, 4k video, good stills. Plus when you crash it into something you can't retrieve it from, you don't lose as much.
Click to expand...
This is the part I was missing, thanks for that.

My criteria just simplified; I need the best I can get that's under 250g, with the main factor being the ability to fly in open/exposed locations where the wind speed could be just above 20Kts. Great camera quality would be a bonus, but not the main consideration.

Basically, imagine you were on a boat 150mi out to sea, and you didn't really fancy losing your done. :)
 
I don't know that there's any better drone in the <250g category than the Mini 4 Pro. Although I think it's due a refresh some point.

I found it pretty good at handling wind, the main thing to be aware of is that fighting the wind uses more battery.
 
Dirk Diggler said:
This is the part I was missing, thanks for that.

My criteria just simplified; I need the best I can get that's under 250g, with the main factor being the ability to fly in open/exposed locations where the wind speed could be just above 20Kts. Great camera quality would be a bonus, but not the main consideration.

Basically, imagine you were on a boat 150mi out to sea, and you didn't really fancy losing your done. :)
Click to expand...
Something to bear in mind, the CAA Regulations for drones will be changing from 1st January 2026, some of the distance regulations from buildings and people for heavier drones will be reduced, also Remote ID on the drones will be a requirement.

I fly a DJI Mini 4 Pro and also an Air 3S, both of these will support remote id via a firmware update.
 
Dirk Diggler said:
I'm going to go for a Mini Pro 4. Thanks for the help with this. :)
Click to expand...
Good for you !

Make sure you take out the DJI Refresh cover when you setup your drone, you will then be covered for flyaways and also damage to the drone, its a next day replacement service, if you claim the charge you pay for the claim is £29 for a replacement drone.

I had to claim on one of mine it was two days from contacting support for the replacement to turn up, fantastic customer service.

Don't forget to register with the CAA to get your user and operator id :)
 
Last edited:
Dirk Diggler said:
Are there any accessories I should be thinking about, or would the Mini Pro 4 Drone be pretty much ready to rock?
Click to expand...
Personally I went for the Mini 4 Pro Fly More Combo, you get the RC2 controller with the built in screen (no need to use a mobile phone as its display) 3 batteries in total including the fast charger, which is good value for money as the batteries and charger are not cheap.

I also purchased a landing mat and lanyard for the controller, the mat will protect your props landing and taking off and also keep grit and dirt away.

You could also look at ND filters for the drones camera.

I have just ordered a DJI Osmo 360 camera this afternoon, which I am looking to have a good play with when it arrives tomorrow ;)
 
Another vote for the Mini Pro 4, when I get round to rebuying that's what I'll be getting to replace a Mini which drowned :cry: It served me well for a few years and survived half a dozen trips to Iceland.
 
Last edited:
I have the Mini 3 and agree, MP4 the best as far less considerations with it being <250g. 3 batteries and a charger should do you good.

Don't forget to get your flyer/operator IDs and insurance (~£25 pa).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom