# Diidn't we have a recent thread about choosing a quadcopter? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 30, 2023, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diidnt-we-have-a-recent-thread-about-choosing-a-quadcopter/981882 "2023-03-30T14:06:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diidnt-we-have-a-recent-thread-about-choosing-a-quadcopter/981882/1 "2023-03-30T14:06:39Z")
I would like to get one. I don’t need very long range but would like a video image size better then the entry level stuff. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diidnt-we-have-a-recent-thread-about-choosing-a-quadcopter/981882/2 "2023-03-30T14:40:56Z")
See here from about 6 weeks ago: > [@Drone recommendations?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drone-recommendations/979314): > > My wife enjoys archaeology shows. These shows feature drone footage. She said something like, ‘You should get me a drone for Christmas. That way I could see things without having to go there.’ (I assume she means she can be comfortable, while capturing footage of an attraction.) So why not? I was thinking about something [like this](https://smile.amazon.com/Drones-Camera-Adults-Carrying-Case/dp/B09D7KQGTG/), in that price range. I know nothing about drones, so I’m asking for advice and recommendations. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2023, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diidnt-we-have-a-recent-thread-about-choosing-a-quadcopter/981882/3 "2023-04-01T03:24:23Z")
You should consider an [Orvillecopter](https://www.smh.com.au/technology/a-flying-cat-dutch-artist-turns-dead-feline-into-a-helicopter-20120605-1zsqi.html). ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2023, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diidnt-we-have-a-recent-thread-about-choosing-a-quadcopter/981882/4 "2023-04-01T12:18:44Z")
What is your budget? ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diidnt-we-have-a-recent-thread-about-choosing-a-quadcopter/981882/5 "2023-04-03T15:24:38Z")
Generally you can’t go wrong with DJI, their quality and capabilities are very good. However, DJI also is a stickler for regulations, which is good and bad if you want to do something like fly in the general vicinity of an airport (even if it’s just a grass strip that never gets used.) DJI Mini 2 would be a good one to look at. Keep in mind that flying is complicated, you should have a pre-flight checklist and be mindful of where and how you fly. My general rule of thumb is I don’t fly over people or houses if I can avoid it. If you are flying in a rural sparsely populated area quadcopters can be a lot of fun. However National Parks are all no-fly zones AFAIK. Private property and local parks can be good places to fly. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diidnt-we-have-a-recent-thread-about-choosing-a-quadcopter/981882/6 "2023-04-03T15:42:14Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > Private property and local parks can be good places to fly. I’d expand that a bit to: > Private property and local parks _might_ be good places to fly. > > Provided the property owner(s) are OK with it, or you’re the property owner. And provided the local parks department hasn’t prohibited drones. Which many have. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diidnt-we-have-a-recent-thread-about-choosing-a-quadcopter/981882/7 "2023-04-03T23:34:44Z")
I’ve had the DJI Mini 2 for a while. It’s a fine little copter, but at least my version does not have the abilty to follow a subject and some other newer features. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diidnt-we-have-a-recent-thread-about-choosing-a-quadcopter/981882/8 "2023-04-04T16:50:54Z")
My needs are modest. I would like to be able to inspect my second story roof for moss. And I need to inspect a river bank. Here is the back story: My grandfather’s farm has always had nice access to the river. A 10 foot wide gentle slope down to the water where there was a rocky sand bar to tie up the boat. At one time he had dug wide steps to assist getting there. None of the neighbors have this, their river banks drop down at a high angle about 8 to 10 feet high. It has been this way since the 1940s at least. Not any more. I had planned to prospect for gold this summer so I went to inspect the river bank and all that is gone. Old man river has wiped out the nice slope and moved the river bank back about 10 feet. It is now an 8 foot drop to the water. This happened two years ago according to my uncle. This river is usually less then knee deep on the farm in the summer. But it can flood probably 20 to 25 feet high on occasion. We can probably bulldoze a slope again. But first I want a view from the river looking at the bank to see what is exposed, like any gravel layers that might potentially hold glacial gold. So I need to fly along the river about 120 feet wide and get a decent video. All open flying, no obstacles. That’s it. I lived in this cottage for a few months when I was born in 1946. The large tree is at least 10 feet above the water. The entire cottage has gone under water several times in my life and is long gone [[Album] imgur.com ![](https://i.imgur.com/I3h2bLO.jpeg?fb "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/oQrc7ho) ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diidnt-we-have-a-recent-thread-about-choosing-a-quadcopter/981882/9 "2023-04-04T19:28:13Z")
A quadcopter should be able to help with the roof. And possibly the bank, but keep in mind tree branches and water are copter killers. GPS will keep the copter fairly stable, but it can still wander ~5 feet or so from where you want it, especially if it’s windy or there is heavy tree cover. Many quadcopters have a “tripod” mode that makes the controls less sensitive and slow the copter down so it will be less likely you will slam into something at 20MPH accidentally. Most quadcopter cameras don’t come with any sort of zoom so you have to be fairly close to the subject to see details. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diidnt-we-have-a-recent-thread-about-choosing-a-quadcopter/981882/10 "2023-04-04T22:56:35Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > I would like to be able to inspect my second story roof for moss Just mentioning that the Feds would consider this to be commercial use and require you to be Part 107 certified/licensed. They are basing this on the fact that you’d normally hire someone to do this if you didn’t have the quad copter. Is it stupid? Sure. Are you likely to be caught? Probably not. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diidnt-we-have-a-recent-thread-about-choosing-a-quadcopter/981882/11 "2023-04-05T17:47:23Z")
Actually I would normally climb up there and do it myself. I built the house myself, LOL! ---
**Author:** ![Kelevra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@Kelevra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelevra)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diidnt-we-have-a-recent-thread-about-choosing-a-quadcopter/981882/12 "2023-04-05T19:18:41Z")
I have a commercial drone license. I use an app called B4UFLY to check for airports/heliports in the area. In general, if you are on your own property and you keep the drone low there won’t be any issues.