What's really amazing is that they used a $2,000 drone, not something super super high end and specialized and out of reach. Plenty of hobby photographers have camera bodies, or combinations of camera body and lens, that cost that much.
I have waded into the drone space recently. I had my eye on them (specifically DJI; they're clearly the leader) for a while (hobby photographer; lover of tech toys), but every time I looked in the past they were too expensive for me to justify. My uncle had one that as $1200 or so, and then a friend had one at like $600, and then just before we were going on vacation to Scotland I looked again and -- HOLY CRAP -- there's a model at $299.
Sold.
It's the DJI Mini SE, and you DO give up some stuff vs. the next level (about $500), but most of it is the drop from 4K video to "merely" HD. (There's also reduced range, which might end up mattering more.) OTOH $299 is for me a point where, if I fuck it up, I can be sanguine about it.
It's INSANELY easy and fun to use. I got comfortable enough to send it far out over lochs, and to learn to trust its "return to home" function when flying in places where line of sight might obstruct the signal. If you haven't played with one you probably wonder how it handles losing a solid connection with the operator, and the answer is that, at least at this level, it remembers where it launched from, heads to a previously-set height (to avoid obstacles) and then comes home. At some point en route it'll re-acquire a connection and you can take back over.
(Higher-end models (like the one they took to Everest) are able to navigate around obstacles and fly a more complex path home, but hey, this is the $299 model.)
I'm happy to share the video I shot but not publicly here. PM me (is that a thing?) if you want a link. And if you plan to travel somewhere beautiful where drone flight isn't severely restricted, I strongly suggest you consider getting one, China or not.
The smaller drone is awesome for me, small form factor, low enough price and good enough camera. I use a mini 2 and my best use case has been flying and having it follow me while I'm paddleboarding, great footage that I'd never thought I'd get before I got the drone.
I have a Mavic Mini. With a small drone, and a windy environment "return to home" can be scary given that the drone flies to max altitude first before returning home. It makes sense, but a little terrifying.
I agree with this sentiment. The first time it happened the drone was fighting its way back home against a strong head wind. It was nerve racking to watch the battery level dropping almost to zero…. Just before the drone landed.
you can do this with a custom built drone too for under $400 for just the drone. large props, high kv motors and your good to go. Mr Steele was flying at one of the everest base camps not long ago
I have waded into the drone space recently. I had my eye on them (specifically DJI; they're clearly the leader) for a while (hobby photographer; lover of tech toys), but every time I looked in the past they were too expensive for me to justify. My uncle had one that as $1200 or so, and then a friend had one at like $600, and then just before we were going on vacation to Scotland I looked again and -- HOLY CRAP -- there's a model at $299.
Sold.
It's the DJI Mini SE, and you DO give up some stuff vs. the next level (about $500), but most of it is the drop from 4K video to "merely" HD. (There's also reduced range, which might end up mattering more.) OTOH $299 is for me a point where, if I fuck it up, I can be sanguine about it.
It's INSANELY easy and fun to use. I got comfortable enough to send it far out over lochs, and to learn to trust its "return to home" function when flying in places where line of sight might obstruct the signal. If you haven't played with one you probably wonder how it handles losing a solid connection with the operator, and the answer is that, at least at this level, it remembers where it launched from, heads to a previously-set height (to avoid obstacles) and then comes home. At some point en route it'll re-acquire a connection and you can take back over.
(Higher-end models (like the one they took to Everest) are able to navigate around obstacles and fly a more complex path home, but hey, this is the $299 model.)
I'm happy to share the video I shot but not publicly here. PM me (is that a thing?) if you want a link. And if you plan to travel somewhere beautiful where drone flight isn't severely restricted, I strongly suggest you consider getting one, China or not.