Newbie looking for some aerial shots

C

climber_01

Member
Hi:
I´m a camera operator and I´m looking for expanding my shootings tools
Never flown an rc quad/hexacopter
I´m looking to get the same capabilities of the DJI Phantom regarding GPS/autopilot.
I want to spend the less money I could (I live in Argentina and imported parts are really expensive for us)
I don´t want to become an aerial shooter specialist, just to have the chance of getting good aerial footage in the projects I´m involved (I shoot a lot of documentaries): I want the copter in the backseat and use it when the situation calls for it only (and for some fun for myself. Sure!)
I have seen some cheap quads and hexacopters complete kits in e-bay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/350822505435?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251057394725?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
I would add a gimbal. I think 3 axis would be ideal (I intend to fly a GoPro)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261261328921?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
And I´m thinking in adding a ardupilot+gps for preset fights and altitude hold control...(cheaper than the NAZA)

Would this be a right choise? I don´t know about component differences...
Or should I go for a DJI F450 or F550?...
I just want some steadi shots. I don´t want to fly heavy cameras for now
I´m assuming right if I think that for a quadcopter you need a four channel radio TX/RX? (6 for an hexacopter?)
would this give me 3 free channels to control the gimbal in a 7 channel system?
If I want to make a two person flight: one on the copter and one on the camera: Do I need two separate TX/RX sets?
Thanks!
 


T

tombrown1

Member
There is a lot involved in your endeavor. You mention you want small and cheap, but then you mention you want stable video for documentaries. Not sure those are very compatible.

First thing is to learn how to fly. Get a Blade MQX and fly it until you can fly it very well with the nose pointing towards you.

You will need a minimum of 6 channels, but 8 would be better. Controlling the gimbal will be very difficult with this setup - but possible if it has a dial.

You will need two TX/RX sets for a two-man crew.

Ignore the stuff on eBay.

The Phantom is a decent machine as long as you get a good brushless gimbal for it. It would be best to build your own quad though. It's a little intimidating at first, but buy a solder gun and ask a lot of questions. You'll have it built in no time.

3-axis gimbal is nice, but more expensive and heavier - and not really necessary unless you have a 2-man crew (this is debatable).

I hope this answers some of your questions.

Best,

Tom
 

sixshooterstang

sixshooterstang

Bird's Eyes Aerial Media
I suggest a small quad like the blade nano qx or the blade mqx to learn to fly. Cheaper to crash and will get you used to flying. The nano qx has 6 axis gyro accelerometer like most larger quadcopters and the mqx has only a 3 axis gyro meaning it does not level itself.

Arducopter is a sharp learning curve to set up unless you buy the ready to fly models from 3d robotics. In my opinion arducopter is more reliable and better tested than the DJI phantom and DJI Naza copters.

You will spend about 6000 pesos on the ready to fly 3d robotics quad with gps, radio, cheap charger and three batteries and about 4000 pesos on a DJI f450 arf with naza lite, gps, radio and three turnigy batteries with a cheap charger. I suggest a 2 axis gimbal as 3 axis gimbals are expensive and pointless unless you have a two man controlled heavy lift craft with video downlink.
My favorite gimbal, the Tarot T-2d, is ready to use out of the box with the Gopro Hero 3. It is 1150 pesos from China and runs on 3 cell lipo or any 12v power source.
 
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C

climber_01

Member
Thank you!
I will have it in mind...
I´m an electronic technician, so I´m not afraid about soldering and programming stuff...
Thanks!
 

C

climber_01

Member
will I build a quadcopter RTF for the same price than a Walkera QR350 RTF? This what I meant when I said "small and cheap". But if I can build a better quadcopter for the same price, better.
which setup would this be?
Are that bad the quadcopters offered in e-bay? I heard that are similar quality than DJI. Manufactured in China too.
Would you please suggest a kit? (you named the f450 and 3D copters but I´m thinking in searching fot the parts)
frame
motors
cheap but reliable radio
gps/autopilot
Thank you!
 

sixshooterstang

sixshooterstang

Bird's Eyes Aerial Media
A cheap and reliable frame would be the f450 or f550. Cheap motors can be found from Hobbyking.com. The best brand of motors on their website seem to be the NTM prop drive motors. The FRSky radio modules along with a turnigy 9x are cheap and pretty reliable. For autopilot arducopter is the cheapest and the dji naza is more expensive and a little less complicated.

If you want a cheap ready to fly model, people have been saying the new Walkera QR X350 is a good model. The Blade 350 QX is supposed to be as well.
 


C

climber_01

Member
Hi!
So I started my journey to multirotors
I already ordered an F450 frame, A 9Ch FlySky TX-RX and a Crius AIO Pro 2.0...
I have several doubts about batteries/motors/propellers. I need a slow, smooth flight to carry a GoPro camera. Searching the forums I came to 2200/3000 3s batteries, 980KV motors, 10 4.5 props as a starting point. For what matters me: is best a slow motor? a small propeller with a high pitch? or slow pitch? I found many variables! i.e. I was checking in the prop calculator ( http://www.ecalc.ch/motorcalc.htm ) and got this result as an example:

model wight 1700 gr
battery 2100 3s
motor turnigy 2830 1000 kv
prop 8 4.7

Remarks:
Battery
Load:3.76C
Voltage:10.85V
Rated Voltage:11.10V
Flight Time*:16.0min
Mixed Flight Time:27.1min
Weight:165g
5.8oz
Motor @ Optimum Efficiency
Current:6.22A
Voltage:10.85V
Revolutions:9853rpm
electric Power:67.5W
mech. Power:59.4W
Efficiency:88.1%
Motor @ Maximum
Current:7.89A
Voltage:10.78V
Revolutions:9517rpm
electric Power:85.1W
mech. Power:74.7W
Efficiency:87.8%
est. Temperature:32°C
90°F
Propeller
Static Thrust:602g
21.2oz
Revolutions:9517rpm
Stall Thrust:396g
14oz
Pitch Speed:71km/h
44mph
Tip Speed:365km/h
227mph
specific Thrust:7.07g/W
0.25oz/W
Total Drive
Drive Weight:283g
10oz
All-up Weight:1700g
60oz
Power-Weight:52W/kg
24W/lb
Thrust-Weight:0.35: 1
P(in) @ max:87.6W
P(out) @ max:74.7W
Efficiency @ max:85.3%

It gives very optimistic flying times, but I don´t understand what can be wrong as I see 10-12 minutes flights at the most with this battery (2100/3S)

Thanks!
 
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C

climber_01

Member
well, I think I have it
I was doing calculations in the "propeller calc" and not in the "multirotor calc"...:dejection:
So what combination do you suggest for a slow, smooth, long flight?
I don´t want "crispy" or "sharp" fast response at all
Thanks!
 


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