This baby's got to fly - images added

[simato73]

Having a normal camera and an underwater one, the next obvious step was getting an airborne one.
I have been waiting for something that would be portable enough for a long hike, with sufficient image quality, at the reasonable price.
The Mavic 2 Pro is the first model that meets all my requirements so I took the dive.

These are from the first real flight, but I was more focused on learning how to operate it safely than taking photos.
I have nothing that processes the RAW files, it's a very new camera, so these are OOC jpg's.
I feel I have just scratched the surface, these images are only quick shots and there is so much improvement possible, nonetheless I am excited by the different views I got.
This thing feels like a complete game changer for me.

[Fons Baerken]

Great i like it.

[simato73]

Great i like it.

Thank you Fons

[Thomas Stellwag]

looks very good for a first attempt
the 3 D is well underlined by the small valleys

[Erik Lund]

Congratulations! I does seem like Mavic 2 is a mature Drone series, and the Pro really looks attractive at the price-point also
And what is healthy for the nerves to fly around with 
Fist shot really has this aerial vantage point where you really did amazing with the tree trunk shadow, very special,,, I like it a lot.
You and JA flying the same setup now  these just want me even more to jump at it,,,

[simato73]

looks very good for a first attempt
the 3 D is well underlined by the small valleys

Thanks Thomas.

A few more from today's after work practice.
Taken from a little hill overlooking my village.
I have found the command for bracketing the shots
But I still get overblown highlights on the white monument ("White Nancy"), at least in jpg.
We'lll see when I can edit the DNG files, for the moment they are unused.
I have to practice more, and learn how to make use of the smart flight modes.

[simato73]

Congratulations! I does seem like Mavic 2 is a mature Drone series, and the Pro really looks attractive at the price-point also
And what is healthy for the nerves to fly around with 
Fist shot really has this aerial vantage point where you really did amazing with the tree trunk shadow, very special,,, I like it a lot.
You and JA flying the same setup now  these just want me even more to jump at it,,,

Cheers Erik! (cross-posted)

PS By all means Erik, do get one.
It is not expensive, at least compared to most of your other photography equipment, and it is fun and different.

[Thomas Stellwag]

basic drohne training ( in German, but it should go easily through translators  https://www.kopter-profi.de/media/praktisches_flugtraining_drohnen.pdf
it is from a site where you can make your drohne license which is necessary having more than 0.25kg mass or using it professional in D

[simato73]

basic drohne training ( in German, but it should go easily through translators  https://www.kopter-profi.de/media/praktisches_flugtraining_drohnen.pdf
it is from a site where you can make your drohne license which is necessary having more than 0.25kg mass or using it professional in D

Thanks, before buying I have read carefully the UK law, which appears to be much more amateur friendly.
Non-commercial users can use aircraft that are up to 8 kg in weight without needing any license.
There is absolutely no distinction between photographt drones and other model aircraft (of course all privacy regulations regarding photography also apply) and technically no third party liability insurance is mandated, although I have purchased one joining the BMFA (British Model Flying Association), in addition to the one covering accidental damage to the drone (most of the time this is self-inflicted).

The law in my country (Italy) is very similar to the UK and I have already made sure the BMFA insurance covers me there too, as in the rest of Europe.

[Akira]

Looks promising, Simone!

The camera seems to meter pretty well, so it would be safe to look forward to processing the DNG files.

[simato73]

Looks promising, Simone!

The camera seems to meter pretty well, so it would be safe to look forward to processing the DNG files.

I expect a lot more exposure latitude from the DNG.
The JPGs seem a bit too hot (see images from the first day) and I have started bracketing (3 shots, 0.7 EV steps), but I think next time I'll also lower the exposure by 0.3 EV across the board. As it stands, the top of the exposure range is always blown out massively.

[golunvolo]

The images are very interesting and sounds like a lot of fun too. Congratulations on your new toy. I´ll keep an eye on your posts and those from JA.

[Hugh_3170]

Enjoying your images Simone and good luck with the DNG processing when the tools become available to you.

****************** 

A word of friendly warning from a fellow sufferer:  model aircraftism is a highly addictive condition that is almost worse than photography and cannot be gotten rid of - it takes on the proportions of a life long disease.  Your BMFA membership indicates to me that you are now irretrieveably afflicted!     

Thanks, before buying I have read carefully the UK law, which appears to be much more amateur friendly.
Non-commercial users can use aircraft that are up to 8 kg in weight without needing any license.
There is absolutely no distinction between photographt drones and other model aircraft (of course all privacy regulations regarding photography also apply) and technically no third party liability insurance is mandated, although I have purchased one joining the BMFA (British Model Flying Association), in addition to the one covering accidental damage to the drone (most of the time this is self-inflicted).

The law in my country (Italy) is very similar to the UK and I have already made sure the BMFA insurance covers me there too, as in the rest of Europe.

[simato73]

Enjoying your images Simone and good luck with the DNG processing when the tools become available to you.

****************** 

A word of friendly warning from a fellow sufferer:  model aircraftism is a highly addictive condition that is almost worse than photography and cannot be gotten rid of - it takes on the proportions of a life long disease.  Your BMFA membership indicates to me that you are now irretrieveably afflicted!     

I have to admit that flying the drone gives me an unexpected adrenaline kick 
Maybe because I am still so afraid of crashing it.

Regarding the DNG processing, I discovered that Capture One Pro doesn't like the DNG files because the Make exif information says it is a Hasselblad camera - they are in competition with Hasselblad and refuse to process raw files generated by a competing system.
It does not matter that this is not a medium format sensor, how silly of Capture One.
But not all is lost because:

1) there is an ongoing feature request campaign to enable RAW files from the Mavic 2, and I have contributed to that
2) more importantly, if one changes the Make tag from Hasselblad to DJI the files can be processed in CO11. Off the ExifTool script goes... now all my files are editable

[Erik Lund]

I expect a lot more exposure latitude from the DNG.
The JPGs seem a bit too hot (see images from the first day) and I have started bracketing (3 shots, 0.7 EV steps), but I think next time I'll also lower the exposure by 0.3 EV across the board. As it stands, the top of the exposure range is always blown out massively.

I agree, looks like it could also do with a lot of added clearity and or contrast also - Still the first image is a showcase of how these Drones are game changers, wonderful image!


I would fly a bit to the left to have the bright tree top against the shadow of the hill side, it would bring out the tree a little better anyway I like it and it inspires to do more!


These drones offer an almost completely free vantagepoint and the ability to change that vantagepoint almost instantly, amazing new technology!