Drone photography

[OPEN_RANGE]

I am experimenting with using a DJI MINI 3 Pro drone. I am getting increasingly more projects on very steep sites often with lots of trees and often impossible to photograph for purposes of using in renderings. Like for back plates for exterior renders and for views of mountains thru windows in interior renders.

The mini 3 pro has a lot going for it. It does not require the FFA liscensing since it weighs less then 250 grams (it weighs 249). It costs with extra battery, case and newest bestest controller @ $1,200. That’s just barely tolerable cost for how much I may use it. The next step up to a drone that can have interchangeable lenses of different focal lengths (mavic 3) is out of reach cost wise.

The mini 3 pro comes with 1 fixed camera lens that is equivalent to 24mm. It has a digital zoom which is said to be very good. I am trying to find out if the zoom is set to 2x does that then take a photo that is the equivalent of 48mm focal length?

So far DJI has been unable to answer this. They seem to have a hard time even understanding the question.

Does anyone have any experience or insight into this? Thanks!

[fixeighted]

Well I asked my digital mate and he/she/it/they responded:

''No, a 24mm lens with a 2x zoom is not equal to a 48mm lens.

A 2x zoom means that the maximum focal length of the lens is twice the minimum focal length. So, if the lens has a minimum focal length of 24mm, then its maximum focal length would be 2 times 24mm, which is 48mm.

However, this does not mean that the lens is equivalent to a 48mm lens. A 24mm lens with a 2x zoom will still have a wider field of view than a 48mm lens. The zoom only changes the maximum focal length of the lens, but the minimum focal length and field of view remain the same.

In other words, a 24mm lens with a 2x zoom is equivalent to a 24-48mm zoom lens, but it is not equivalent to a fixed 48mm lens.''

Which may be correct or incorrect....

[OPEN_RANGE]

Thanks for your reply and for consulting your friend. That’s all true for an optical,zoom. I am asking about digital zoom.

The drone has a lens that is said to be equivalent to 24mm focal length. It has DIGITAL ZOOM of 2x and 4x. Digital zoom is sort of a fake and not as good as optical zoom. Digital zoom crops the image and then expands/ spreads out the pixels back to original image pixel dimensions and the built in software interpolates and fills in missing pixels as required. Same as taking for instance a 2k image and up resolution it to 3k. Not ideal but may work for my purposes and cost factors.

Supposedly the mini 3 does a very good job of this at 2x digital zoom amd the result is not blurry. My question remains, what would that 2x digital zoom be equivalent to in a 35mm camera?

drone camera no zoom = 24mm.
drone camera 2x zoom = ??mm.

[rusteberg]

Should be in your files metadata.... right click, properties, details. copy that to your scene camera. For example:

[rusteberg]

..... should also be able to match geo location and altitude as well... also in the meta if you want to go full on anal retentive accurate

[OPEN_RANGE]

Thanks Rusterberg.

If I was going to be using a drone a lot I would get the DJI Mavic 3 which I think you are showing the properties for above? It has three separate Hasselblad lens's 24mm, 70mm and a 166mm. All have Optical Zoom. Super nice but @ $3K w case and xtra batteries it's out of reach for my limited needs.

Your screen grab above shows 35mm focal length of 28mm. I'm guesing the photo was taken using the 24mm lens but with some Optical Zoom causing the properties info to show it to be 28mm? (that's how it works on my Canon Digital SLR with optical zoom)

I am familiar with using the image file properties to get info on 35mm focal length, shutter speed and etc. But, I don't think that provides any info on Digital Zoom 35 mm equivalent? So far even DJI tech support cannot answer the question.

I'm still waiting for the drone to arrive. I may take a still photo with the DJI mini 3 using 2x (digital) zoom. Then try to match that photo with my Canon Digital SLR with Optical Zoom lens. Then I will open the image taken with the SLR and see what it's properties say.

I am purchasing the DJI mini 3 pro @ $1,200 for use on a current project and hope that I can use it enough on other projects to at least cover the purchase cost.

Thanks again!

[glorybound]

Oh man, I stopped buying drones; I kept crashing them. It also cost a lot of money to get a tree climber to get them out of trees. Too much stress to own for me. I look forward to seeing what you do with it.

[OPEN_RANGE]

Yikes! It has been a tough sort of 50-50 decision. GF thinks it’s a bad idea. This drone has anti collision sensors so…..fingers crossed.

Hiring drone operators has made me go pretty mental, that factors in.

[glorybound]

Get the replacement insurance. I ended up selling mine because you can’t legally fly it in many places. You can’t fly over people, moving cars, or 5 miles from an airport, no matter the size. Every town has at least a landing strip.

[rusteberg]

Don't listen to Glory Hole..... they are easy to fly.... Anywhere you want. My suggestion is to:

A.) Get the drone
B.) Tell your Girlfriend to pipe it
C.) Experiment
D.) Rinse & Repeat

[rusteberg]

....And you'll want to disable the anti collision sensors. You can hack the firmware if needed.

Have a great weekend!

-T

[OPEN_RANGE]

A, C, D = ✔️
B =

I originally ordered the mini 3. Returning that unused and have ordered the mini 3 pro which adds the collision sensors for extra @ $300. Watching training and start up videos a guy on video convinced me it was worth it. He tries to fly the drone into a tree amd the collision warning appear on the controller and as the drone gets closer it stops and hovers before hitting the tree. I will for sure be flying it around trees on steep slopes and who knows where else.

Thanks for your encouraging comments!

[glorybound]

That is Glorybound, Mr. Rusty!

I would practice around your house until you get comfortable. Remember, you are looking either through your iPhone, iPad, or some kind of device. It is a small screen that can glare. You are not supposed to lose sight of your drone; it is easy to get disoriented but when I had them; I was in a very wooded area. Stay above the trees is always a good idea. These little buggers move fast and, in the blink of an eye, POW! I suppose if you are a gammer and use a similar controller, it might be natural. Otherwise, you can easily confuse forward with backwards, up with down, and left with right.

Over 60% of drone pilots report that they have crashed a drone, with many of those pilots experiencing a drone crash more than once. Drone flyaways are much less frequent, with nearly 75% of drone pilots reporting that they have never had a drone fly away from them.

Have fun with it. They take amazing photos and videos.

[OPEN_RANGE]

Thanks Bobby. Yikes, I am for sure concerned and I am not a gamer. I am thinking technology has improved since your experience and that may help me. This drone has 3 speed modes and the slower mode is what I will start with. The collision sensors and other safety settings will help. For sure I will practice, but I am anxious to get the shot I need for current project asap. Very steep mountain slope heavily forested (until the trees are cut down for construction). View of mountain and ski slope beyond once the drone is above the tree tops. Fingers crossed!

[glorybound]

I follow some talented photographers and most got into drones, but they all found out that they stopped taking them out of the bag. It seem like you might need one, since your projects calls for it. Please, charge enough to make it make sense. I mean, that bugger should be paid for after a few uses.