Drone technology

Drone technology

Drones are the latest high-tech fades hitting the world. Their transformation has been exponential. So rapidly have they grown and so wide is their application that Governments are left wondering. Virtually all Governments in the world do not have any legislation governing the manufacture, use and safety of drone equipment.

Drones, also known as quad-copters come in various sizes and shapes. They are powered by electric motors harnessing their power from either battery or solar. No drones are actually manufactured similar. While some are meant for fun and play toys, other are designed with the intention to fly far while lifting considerably heavy payloads. Most of them are generally remote controlled.

While their applications gained international attention when they are used in war-torn areas of Somalia, Yemen and Iraq to undertake espionage and deliver precision bombs, there are other commercial and civil uses for drones.  Several Government has piloted them for use in airlifting medical supplies to remote areas  and undertaking search and rescue mission in bad weather. Private sector use them widely for sport and recreation, research works (like volcano and earthquake monitoring, wildlife control, etc). The main usage in all these are photography.

We can make comparisons of the drones which can be used for professional photo shooting. There are hundreds of superb remote controlled drones design specifically for drone photography and shooting 4K video. So if you’re looking to record some great drone footage of your surfing, cycling, skating, etc you are in for good results.

Here are three top camera drones designed for photo shooting.

1. DJI Phantom 3 Professional with 4K UHD

The DJI Phantom 3 Professional has a 4K UHD video camera that is the cream of the drone photography. It uses the DJI Pilot app for iOS and Android facilitating real- time viewing and absolute camera manipulation. It utilises the Lightbridge digital streaming for live viewing of a 720p resolution. A Ultra High Definition video is meanwhile recorded in its microSD card. It has a 3-axis gimbals for steering drone recordings.

The gadget is equipped with two batteries, each with a recording time of 22-25 minutes. Its Vision Positioning System allows it to glide indoors without the use of a GPS.

The main features of this drone are the ability to work and record in 4K camera resolution and Lightbridge digital streaming, its ability to fly long distances (close to an hour battery power) and its indoor sensor.

However, it has been realized that the company's customer service is lousy. The drone is also not sleek for those who are after good looks.

2. Yuneec Q500 4K APV

Despite being considered underdogs just in the recent past, Yuneec start-up has propped up its reputations by the release of Yuneec Q500 4K drone.

Like the DJI Phantom, it captures photography in 4K resolution. It has a 64GB micro SD card, an additional battery and a spare propeller sets. Its CGO3 4K camera is able to capture 1080p / 120 frames per second slow motion video footage as well as 4K /30 frames per second ultra high definition video. Its toggles allow for the configuration of the desired white balance and light exposure. It clicks 12-megapixel photos with a no-distortion lens, releasing a real life like images. Yuneec comes with a joystick for independent camera control, enabling to remain focused.

With is Follow me mode, the users simply program the drone to follow their every movement while snapping picture and recording videos. Using watch me mode allows the drone to initiate a typhoon position, enabling it to capture the best footage of your moving actions in a fixed position.

It comes with a battery life of 25 minutes and a car charger so you can boost your power while on the move.

Despite the above feature which sets it apart from many other contenders, its technology is still new, hence it has not been fully tested and review under stringent operating condition.

3. DJI Inspire 1

Even without advertisement, this is probably the drone with the best cameras.  The DJI Inspire 1 comes with two independent drone consoles. One can be used to control the drone and the other for camera manipulation.

It has a 4K camera able to make 4K video at 24-30 frames per second. It can record in full definition at 60 frames per second, with a resolution of 12 MP.

The drone is fast, reaching a top speed of peaking 80 kmph while staying airborne for over 18 minutes. Its unique feature is its sonar positioning mechanism. The camera is easily mounted and removed, once the recording session is completed.

With 4K TVs poised to made their debut, prices are projected to slide down, thereby enabling us to enjoy real-time action selfies straight from our drones. The truly amazing possibility is that with the advancement of digital photography, the 4K handy cams are coming out.

Sony has launched its 4K handy cam at CES this year. Its first customer was as expected, - the DJI drone- even though the camera is not yet out commercially.  This eye and wing combination is meant to completely change the future of photography and social media as we know it now. The 4K handy cams are so small they can fit into our palms. Their light weights will enable the drones use less battery power hence stay airborne for longer. This will translate to a longer shooting time.

If you need the best drone, select DJI Inspire 1 for your cart. However, with the hefty price - it goes for over $ 4,500, you will still look for other means of having your videos shoot.

As such, in not-so-distant future, the 4K cameras reserved for exclusive drone applications will be available for ground use also. You really need not spend an arm and a leg on a 4K rig. You can stay put, wait for some time and just as the drones with cameras come down,  will the prices of the 4K cameras plummet. This is when new start-ups real fun will begin.