best inexpensive camera drone for some real estate exploration: amazon 1 day

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
21,937
4,642
146
I need to see what I can see if I clear away trees on a perspective piece of property. I would like a camera I can do some zooming on. It does not need to be GPS I can keep it line of sight.
I see all sorts of examples under 100, anybody have some experience with the low end of drones?
EDIT: I'd go 200 on a good recommendation.
 
Last edited:

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
67,134
11,997
126
www.anyf.ca
You're probably not going to get zoom for under $100.

$100 gets you a really basic drone that is more or less a kid's toy. Here's sample footage of one I was playing around with before I decided to get a Phantom 3.


If I recall, once I got to a certain height I would just lose signal which is why it was stopping and falling back down. This was more meant to be used indoors.
 
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skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
21,937
4,642
146
they will put 1080P on an internal card, so I really don't need zoom I guess.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
110,481
29,051
146
1080p and no optical zoom? ...so you just want bird's eye/decent satellite views of the entire property?

This is a landscape thing and not a dwelling thing?


...why not just get a used phone from EBay for $50 with a solid ~2018 camera, 3D print a decent steady cam attachment for phone, then spend the rest on the drone! :p
 

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
21,937
4,642
146
3d print? wtf lol budget blown.

I am not looking down as much as out. Trying to figure out if I can clear off and get a view of possibly the water or mountains across the straits.
 

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
21,937
4,642
146
no. you can look at one all day long and the height of the trees are not represented.
This is the scenario:
1)Property is on a slope and completely overgrown. There is a potential view I want to explore.
2)Fly drone up to proposed building height, in the clear space next to property and "see what I can see"
3) masturbate furiously
4) ?
5) Profit!
 
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nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
58,022
12,185
136
I get where you're coming from, I've got a view of the lake/forest, so I have to take that into consideration when planning where to plant trees :)
Sure, it'll take 20-30 years to be a problem, but I'm planning to still be around then.
 

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
21,937
4,642
146
I * might* get a view of Vancouver island and the straits, maybe a look at the North Cascades and Mt. Baker.
being an equipment operator, clearing out whatever is not a big deal.
Friday I cleared the view from a common area to the pond for an HOA. It took me 3 hours or so.
There was an 8' high blackberry thicket in front of 25' trees.
PXL-20210917-181459365.jpg


The view plus the pile of trees for volunteers to haul off.
PXL-20210917-184547903.jpg


Good luck loading the blackberries

PXL-20210917-184555678.jpg
 

ultimatebob

Lifer
Jul 1, 2001
25,135
2,445
126
no. you can look at one all day long and the height of the trees are not represented.
This is the scenario:
1)Property is on a slope and completely overgrown. There is a potential view I want to explore.
2)Fly drone up to proposed building height, in the clear space next to property and "see what I can see"
3) masturbate furiously
4) ?
5) Profit!

I think that you missed step 2.5.... "Find open bathroom window with a cute girl taking a shower inside". Then step 3 makes more sense :)
 

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,239
10,745
136
I * might* get a view of Vancouver island and the straits, maybe a look at the North Cascades and Mt. Baker.
being an equipment operator, clearing out whatever is not a big deal.
Friday I cleared the view from a common area to the pond for an HOA. It took me 3 hours or so.
There was an 8' high blackberry thicket in front of 25' trees.
PXL-20210917-181459365.jpg


The view plus the pile of trees for volunteers to haul off.
PXL-20210917-184547903.jpg


Good luck loading the blackberries

PXL-20210917-184555678.jpg


How deep did they go removing them?

I ask because if they left any significant roots they'll be back.
 

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
21,937
4,642
146
How deep did they go removing them?

I ask because if they left any significant roots they'll be back.
you don't have to leave significant roots you have to leave anything and they'll come back. I told him you're on the hook for weeding that area forever. you can nuke it from orbit and two things will survive; cockroaches and blackberries.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
52,817
5,703
126
You're probably not going to get zoom for under $100.

$100 gets you a really basic drone that is more or less a kid's toy. Here's sample footage of one I was playing around with before I decided to get a Phantom 3.


If I recall, once I got to a certain height I would just lose signal which is why it was stopping and falling back down. This was more meant to be used indoors.
That is really bad quality all around. I'd save the $100 instead of getting something like this.
 

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
21,937
4,642
146
I think I did better in 2021, that was a 2016 video there from red.
I'll post up some screenies
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
52,817
5,703
126
Yeah was just showing what you get at that price point.

If you want to step up to the $800+ price point for say a Phantom 3 then you're getting better quality.

Yeah I have a mini 2 and the video is pretty awesome on it. Even the shakiness of your first video was pretty much unacceptable lol.