To drone or not to drone, that is the question

I love the footage they provide but hate when they are flying overhead when i'm surfing or doing anything really, kind of annoying. I also think in the wrong hands these things are a baaaaad idea. I won't be getting one, but could care less if anybody else gets them as long as they don't fly one into my head.

 

Like most technologies, its not about the technology its about the user...i guess thats the yadda yadda part. There was a guy flying one over the surf break a couple of months ago in OC and i gotta tell you.....hearing that buzzing sound every time a set came through was annoying as fvck! The video he made was beautiful...completely different perspective. I think it would be really fun to get some nature stills and footage with one, and surf footage as long as the surfers are into it.

edit...haha i was typing this while DSUP was basically saying the same thing.

 

I got a an inexpensive one for Christmas. It has the camera and does pretty good vids for the price. I've been thinking about getting a bigger, waterproof drone. They are a lot of fun. I got some cool footage of my grandkids, (God I'm Olde) sledding this winter.

 

Just take off your leash and strap it to your iPhone

[video=youtube;aqncOP7OzMg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqncOP7OzMg&feature=youtu.be[/video]

 

Great minds think alike

 

Gaffer your marketing team does a great job, all the time. Love the logo.

 

Gaff,

In the early daze of E-Bay, there was a thriving enterprise in used underpants. I think your question mark fill in is Craig's list...

 

I love anything that flies, birds, planes, helicopters etc. Drones are awesome and I would own one right now if I didnt get scared away by the fly away issue. The thought of my $500 camera loosing gps and flying away on its first flight is too much for me to handle. Sams has the dji phantom for $499 which is crazy cheap compared to what they were a year ago. Funny I love everything that flies except me, i hate flying in airplanes.

 

I'm down with drones. They can't fly over my home break anyway. When I'm surfing somewhere popular, drones bug me as much as photogs on the beach; not at all.

 

If you're serious about getting into quadcopters you should start with the Hubsan H107C. Highly maneuverable, durable, and reliable. It's a great way to learn the ropes without destroying a several hundred dollar piece of tech. They are about $50 shipped with Amazon Prime right now. I have been working my way up the drone ranks, just started building a 250mm class FPV race drone.

 

DJI Phantom 3 standard is a great device. Very user friendly, but should not be the drone you learn to fly with. If you're familiar with RC helis you might be able to handle it.

I found an awesome video where a dude lost sight of his phantom 3 and then lost control link. He shut off the remote and 5 minutes later the drone was at his feet. Bad ass technology.

This will inspire you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2itwFJCgFQ

 

My first Amazon Drone: UDI U818A 2.4GHz 4 CH 6 Axis Gyro RC Quadcopter with Camera RTF Mode 2.

Very light. blade guards to save a... blades? pretty sturdy. bought extra blades and batteries for next to nothing.
The idea of flying it over the ocean is out of the question. Windy conditions make it very difficult to fly. Still a fun starter for under $75.

 

Why the F not Zero?!? That's like, Clown-Gold-Medal worthy. I'm all in favor of buzzing wave hogs, snakes and Brazilians.

On a related note, good buddy of mine and myself were surfing OC Md alone a few years back and a national guard chopper buzzed us -the door gunner was hanging out the side. My friend and I took off on the same wave at the exact moment (me going left him right) they passed overhead. I remember thinking -I bet those guys wish they were on this beach rather than on duty.

 

Did you drone it yet?? I think they are annoying as sh!t in buzzing around the lineup. They remind me of the little aliens from the old 80's movie "Batteries Not Included".

That being said i do have some pretty cool clips of me surfing some random guy with a drone took and later sent to me. Which the whole time i was commenting to other people in the lineup how annoying it was. Until he tracked me on a wave and i wanted to see the footage.