For $100 more I could get a vision 2+ a few weeks ago!
I tallied my receipts last night and I spend about $950 on this drone project which includes the AEE S71. I could have just bought a DJI Vision 2+.
If you're going to get into a hobby always buy the best you can get. For example, I bought a Nikon d5100 thinking that would hold me over, but about a year later I bought a Nikon D800E because I outgrew the D5100. I could have saved money if I just bought the d800e (but at the time, it wasn't out yet so I guess it's a moot point). Same with the Phantom 1.1.1. I bought the phantom for 320 (although we could have gotten it for 305 2 weeks later.. argh)... if I had waited about a month, I think it was B&H or adorama that was selling the phantom vision 2+ for 849. But if you're gonna spend that much you might as well buy a Phantom 3 for 999. It's all about timing I guess.
@garyhgaryh Agreed. Oh, and agreed again. Damn this hobby. I was having that discussion with someone in another thread. Penny wise, pound foolish. That's why I decided to pull the trigger on a Tali. For a thousand bucks I got a six motor rig, 3d gimbal, camera, FPV system, even retractable landing gear. I would cost me at least that much to tart up a Phantom 1 with all those gizmos using cheap Chinese parts. What I have is a very high quality turn-key system all designed to live and work together..
@ruouttaurmind You seem to have alot of quad copters :). I think we're very similar with respect to our hobbies. I almost jumped on the DJI Phantom 2+ vision (v3) about two weeks ago, but my wife would have been pretty disappointed in me. She has said that I've been ignoring her and all I've been thinking about is that stupid drone (lol). Anyways, I'm happy with the p111 that I have but I'm so tempted to get another one.
@garyhgaryh Currently I have one hex and six quads (though three of them are toys). Yes, it seems we share some attributes regarding hobbies. I tend to test the waters on a new interest by buying entry level equpment or renting when that's an option (like SCUBA and Kyaking). If I seem to bond with it, I'll usually aim for better equipment, then I'll have to experiment with all the accessories and gizmos. Sometimes I wind up with more money invested in gizmos than the core equpment itself. LOL! I don't expect to buy any more RTF drones, but I am fighting the urge to scratch build.
@garyhgaryh Mr. G... you've got the most expensive single part of the build already. I say grab on! Be nice to the misses, take her out to her favorite places, do some of her favorite activities... and start collecting parts! TX/RX is taken care of. You'll need a chassis/fuselage, some motors, some ESC's and an FC. I recommend looking into the APM or Pixhawk FC's. APM FC with GPS, compass and telem radio can be had for around a hundred bucks. Double that for Pixhawk.
@ruouttaurmind I'm just going to wait for good deals and buy everything when they are on sale. The misses is difficult to please. If she had her way, I'd have no hobbies. What do you think of the F450?
@garyhgaryh I like the open fuselage concept. Seems like it would be so much easier to build, modify and repair. I've got my eye on the F550 though. I'm pretty impressed with my hex. Higher payload and much more stable in less than ideal weather. But I definitely like the size/power tradeoff of the F450!
@garyhgaryh I think you can put together that kit by parting it together for a few dollars less. But more important than saving a couple of dollars, I think you can spend a couple extra dollars, choose exactly the components you want, and get better quality parts. If you're strong on the F450, why not consider starting with the genuine DJI F450 ARF kit? With a little patience and a small effort, you can find it for under $200. I've seen them as low as $160 on sale or with offer codes. From there, select the components that will work best for YOU, not whatever bargain the Amazon merchant's buyers decided to choose to maximize their profit. I expect you'll wind up paying $30 to $50 more for all the bits, but you'll have top shelf stuff, not bargain bin parts. http://www.dji.com/product/flame-wheel-arf
@garyhgaryh Our P1 motors are 920kv. I see a huge difference in stability between the quads and the Tali. The fluidity of motion while manually flying is smoother, but it's most obvious when there's a strong breeze.
@garyhgaryh What would be your goal if you decide to proceed with this project? Do you want to be able to lift a heavier camera, or perhaps you want something that's swift and sporty? Or maybe you just want to see something you conceived and built take off and fly and your goal is the journey not the destination?
@ruouttaurmind It's about the Journey. What I currently have will lift up my gopro. I'm very happy with it except for battery life. The next one I build will have a flight time of over 20 minutes and will carry a big battery (not so heavy as to be determintal to flight time and manuverability.
I'm afraid to tally up all I've spent since I helped fund the Game of Drones kickstarter, but it includes 4 Syma X5Cs (they keep getting blown away in the wind), 3 250 class builds, two 330s, 2 450s (including the GoD), and the parts to build a (Make magazine) noodle copter. Oh, and the DJI--which is the only one I can show in public, because it doesn't take all that much skill to fly (at least in GPS mode).
@ruouttaurmind I pretty much picked up the exact same parts he called out in the article/website, except I'll use a KK fc and RTF power distribution. I have all the parts except for the pool noodles--don't really want to buy them online, and haven't tried to source them locally--I hate shopping, not to mention I'd have to carry them on my motorcycle (no car)..
@fultonmartin I live in an area where prolly 80% of homes have pools, so those pool noodles are pretty much a staple around here. Walmart, supermarkets, even the local convenience stores have them from now 'till about late July. They're about a buck each for the small diameter and a couple bucks for the larger.
I'm happy I went with the 1.1.1 (well, until I saw that refurb phantom 2, but I wasn't quick enough to notice that before it was sold out so oh well). I actually prefer this over a vision 2 because I can use the gopro for other things, whereas the camera on that is really just for the quad. All in, I think I did alright... 305 for the phantom, 280 for a refurb hero 3+ black, and $50 for an ebay gimbal that seems to make just as smooth of video as youtube videos I've seen of the zenmuse. so $635 and I have a GoPro to use for other stuff (like timelapses, which I'm really enjoying)! I am excluding the ~200 I have spent on other random accessories though... (2 spare phantom batteries ~50, carrying backpack ~50, 9450 props ~25, micro sd for gopro ~60, battery alarm for phantom ~4).
I'm considering doing the dual battery mod for the phantom but haven't done enough research into the weight/fly time payoff. If I did that I'd probably grab another couple batteries too...
My most desired upgrade is to add FPV, but I gotta justify that to the lady first :-\
@MikeyNick "But Baby... FPV is like insurance for the car! It'll keep our investment [be sure to share ownership with her] safe by helping us [ownership again] fly better!"
@MikeyNick Looks like we both spent about 1k total on this $300 toy! :). Never get into a hobby thinking you're gonna spend only your inital investment esp if you get the base model.
@garyhgaryh Oh yes I know. I started on the Syma X5C, had two of those (the first one ended up with some range issues, but lasted awhile and took quite a beating and a few almost-fly-aways). I really wanted one that could lift a better camera and had better range, and the GPS is a nice perk and keeps me less fearful of going far with it. I was just waiting to find a nice deal on them. I'm seriously glad I did the separate gopro instead of an included camera though, time lapses are a great deal of fun!
@MikeyNick I started off with three RC helicopters with infrared controls. Tried flying outside and failed because the sun overpowered the remote. Decided on a quadcopter and waited for a sale. I really wanted to get a phantom but they were too expensive. Saw it for 350 and jumped on it, then cancelled and got the meh.com version for $320. The Phantom is so easy to operate and fly. I don't regret buying it. The learning experience itself was worth it. Not sure if my AEE S71 camera purchase was a good one since I'm still using my gopro hero, but that helped get the total to $950. As of now, I'm definitely over $1k since I just bought a devo f12e remote control.
Yeah my 3D gimbal shipped yesterday! I am betting is the g-3D walkera gimbal. It says it'll arrive on Jul 25?!!? Can't take that long, but then I look closely and it's coming from Hong Kong. My MS 4000mah batteries shipped today so I'll get 'em by end of this week. Yeah.
For $100 more I could get a vision 2+ a few weeks ago!
I tallied my receipts last night and I spend about $950 on this drone project which includes the AEE S71. I could have just bought a DJI Vision 2+.
If you're going to get into a hobby always buy the best you can get. For example, I bought a Nikon d5100 thinking that would hold me over, but about a year later I bought a Nikon D800E because I outgrew the D5100. I could have saved money if I just bought the d800e (but at the time, it wasn't out yet so I guess it's a moot point). Same with the Phantom 1.1.1. I bought the phantom for 320 (although we could have gotten it for 305 2 weeks later.. argh)... if I had waited about a month, I think it was B&H or adorama that was selling the phantom vision 2+ for 849. But if you're gonna spend that much you might as well buy a Phantom 3 for 999. It's all about timing I guess.
@garyhgaryh Agreed. Oh, and agreed again. Damn this hobby. I was having that discussion with someone in another thread. Penny wise, pound foolish. That's why I decided to pull the trigger on a Tali. For a thousand bucks I got a six motor rig, 3d gimbal, camera, FPV system, even retractable landing gear. I would cost me at least that much to tart up a Phantom 1 with all those gizmos using cheap Chinese parts. What I have is a very high quality turn-key system all designed to live and work together..
@ruouttaurmind You seem to have alot of quad copters :). I think we're very similar with respect to our hobbies. I almost jumped on the DJI Phantom 2+ vision (v3) about two weeks ago, but my wife would have been pretty disappointed in me. She has said that I've been ignoring her and all I've been thinking about is that stupid drone (lol). Anyways, I'm happy with the p111 that I have but I'm so tempted to get another one.
@garyhgaryh Currently I have one hex and six quads (though three of them are toys). Yes, it seems we share some attributes regarding hobbies. I tend to test the waters on a new interest by buying entry level equpment or renting when that's an option (like SCUBA and Kyaking). If I seem to bond with it, I'll usually aim for better equipment, then I'll have to experiment with all the accessories and gizmos. Sometimes I wind up with more money invested in gizmos than the core equpment itself. LOL! I don't expect to buy any more RTF drones, but I am fighting the urge to scratch build.
@ruouttaurmind Lol.. I am thinking about building one from scratch as well!
@garyhgaryh Mr. G... you've got the most expensive single part of the build already. I say grab on! Be nice to the misses, take her out to her favorite places, do some of her favorite activities... and start collecting parts! TX/RX is taken care of. You'll need a chassis/fuselage, some motors, some ESC's and an FC. I recommend looking into the APM or Pixhawk FC's. APM FC with GPS, compass and telem radio can be had for around a hundred bucks. Double that for Pixhawk.
@ruouttaurmind http://www.readytoflyquads.com/
@DJMajickMan Thanks for the link!
@ruouttaurmind I'm just going to wait for good deals and buy everything when they are on sale. The misses is difficult to please. If she had her way, I'd have no hobbies. What do you think of the F450?
@garyhgaryh I like the open fuselage concept. Seems like it would be so much easier to build, modify and repair. I've got my eye on the F550 though. I'm pretty impressed with my hex. Higher payload and much more stable in less than ideal weather. But I definitely like the size/power tradeoff of the F450!
@ruouttaurmind Look at this complete unit for $277. It included remote, battery, and even battery charger. This is like an all in one kit. What do you think of the price or am I better off choosing my own parts? http://www.amazon.com/Quadcopter-1000KV-Battery-controller-propeller/dp/B00V80SC8I/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1431749391&sr=8-4&keywords=f450 For the price you can't beat it unless you can get a refurbish phantom 2 for $230 (or was that $250?).
@garyhgaryh I think you can put together that kit by parting it together for a few dollars less. But more important than saving a couple of dollars, I think you can spend a couple extra dollars, choose exactly the components you want, and get better quality parts. If you're strong on the F450, why not consider starting with the genuine DJI F450 ARF kit? With a little patience and a small effort, you can find it for under $200. I've seen them as low as $160 on sale or with offer codes. From there, select the components that will work best for YOU, not whatever bargain the Amazon merchant's buyers decided to choose to maximize their profit. I expect you'll wind up paying $30 to $50 more for all the bits, but you'll have top shelf stuff, not bargain bin parts. http://www.dji.com/product/flame-wheel-arf
@garyhgaryh Here's a genuine DJI Flamewheel ARF kit for about $200. Includes frame, motors, esc's, rotors. http://www.ebay.com/itm/121627975687
@garyhgaryh Here's a generic F450 kit with motors, esc's and rotors. Seems to be similar quality to the one on Amazon. $90 with free shipping. http://www.ebay.com/itm/111468066615
@ruouttaurmind Thanks for the links. I am really starting to like the ARF kit. Six props better than four? How many KV is our p1.1.1 motors?
@garyhgaryh Our P1 motors are 920kv. I see a huge difference in stability between the quads and the Tali. The fluidity of motion while manually flying is smoother, but it's most obvious when there's a strong breeze.
@garyhgaryh What would be your goal if you decide to proceed with this project? Do you want to be able to lift a heavier camera, or perhaps you want something that's swift and sporty? Or maybe you just want to see something you conceived and built take off and fly and your goal is the journey not the destination?
@ruouttaurmind It's about the Journey. What I currently have will lift up my gopro. I'm very happy with it except for battery life. The next one I build will have a flight time of over 20 minutes and will carry a big battery (not so heavy as to be determintal to flight time and manuverability.
@garyhgaryh Have you considered building one of the little 250 racers?
@ruouttaurmind Yeah I looked into it. I think the 450 will be good for me, although I'm intriged with the little 250. How much is that?
@garyhgaryh In the neighborhood of $150 for BNF without GPS or $200 BNF with GPS.
@ruouttaurmind Not too familiar with BNF. Is the f12e BNF compatible controller?
@garyhgaryh I actually meant PNF, not BNF. Basically use your radio TX and RX. Your RX connects to the FC inputs.
I'm afraid to tally up all I've spent since I helped fund the Game of Drones kickstarter, but it includes 4 Syma X5Cs (they keep getting blown away in the wind), 3 250 class builds, two 330s, 2 450s (including the GoD), and the parts to build a (Make magazine) noodle copter. Oh, and the DJI--which is the only one I can show in public, because it doesn't take all that much skill to fly (at least in GPS mode).
@fultonmartin Which parts did you decide on for the Makezine Noodle?
@ruouttaurmind I pretty much picked up the exact same parts he called out in the article/website, except I'll use a KK fc and RTF power distribution. I have all the parts except for the pool noodles--don't really want to buy them online, and haven't tried to source them locally--I hate shopping, not to mention I'd have to carry them on my motorcycle (no car)..
@fultonmartin I live in an area where prolly 80% of homes have pools, so those pool noodles are pretty much a staple around here. Walmart, supermarkets, even the local convenience stores have them from now 'till about late July. They're about a buck each for the small diameter and a couple bucks for the larger.
I'm happy I went with the 1.1.1 (well, until I saw that refurb phantom 2, but I wasn't quick enough to notice that before it was sold out so oh well). I actually prefer this over a vision 2 because I can use the gopro for other things, whereas the camera on that is really just for the quad. All in, I think I did alright... 305 for the phantom, 280 for a refurb hero 3+ black, and $50 for an ebay gimbal that seems to make just as smooth of video as youtube videos I've seen of the zenmuse. so $635 and I have a GoPro to use for other stuff (like timelapses, which I'm really enjoying)! I am excluding the ~200 I have spent on other random accessories though... (2 spare phantom batteries ~50, carrying backpack ~50, 9450 props ~25, micro sd for gopro ~60, battery alarm for phantom ~4).
I'm considering doing the dual battery mod for the phantom but haven't done enough research into the weight/fly time payoff. If I did that I'd probably grab another couple batteries too...
My most desired upgrade is to add FPV, but I gotta justify that to the lady first :-\
@MikeyNick "But Baby... FPV is like insurance for the car! It'll keep our investment [be sure to share ownership with her] safe by helping us [ownership again] fly better!"
@MikeyNick Looks like we both spent about 1k total on this $300 toy! :). Never get into a hobby thinking you're gonna spend only your inital investment esp if you get the base model.
@garyhgaryh Oh yes I know. I started on the Syma X5C, had two of those (the first one ended up with some range issues, but lasted awhile and took quite a beating and a few almost-fly-aways). I really wanted one that could lift a better camera and had better range, and the GPS is a nice perk and keeps me less fearful of going far with it. I was just waiting to find a nice deal on them. I'm seriously glad I did the separate gopro instead of an included camera though, time lapses are a great deal of fun!
@MikeyNick I started off with three RC helicopters with infrared controls. Tried flying outside and failed because the sun overpowered the remote. Decided on a quadcopter and waited for a sale. I really wanted to get a phantom but they were too expensive. Saw it for 350 and jumped on it, then cancelled and got the meh.com version for $320. The Phantom is so easy to operate and fly. I don't regret buying it. The learning experience itself was worth it. Not sure if my AEE S71 camera purchase was a good one since I'm still using my gopro hero, but that helped get the total to $950. As of now, I'm definitely over $1k since I just bought a devo f12e remote control.
LOL!!!
Yeah my 3D gimbal shipped yesterday! I am betting is the g-3D walkera gimbal. It says it'll arrive on Jul 25?!!? Can't take that long, but then I look closely and it's coming from Hong Kong. My MS 4000mah batteries shipped today so I'll get 'em by end of this week. Yeah.
@garyhgaryh party time in T-minus 72 hours....
@sportykev lol!