Over the years I’ve flown a multitude of drones. But as technology develops and client requirements evolve, my kit has to do the same. With that in mind, here’s a rundown of my kit list going into this year and a brief overview of what each craft is capable of.
Updated April 2020
DJI Inspire 2
The Inspire 2 continues to be my workhorse, serving me for about 80% of shoots.
Camera Option 1 - X5S:
Micro Four Thirds sensor
Resolution: 5.2K RAW or 4K ProRes
Codecs: H.265, H.265, ProRes (422HQ & 4444) and RAW (CineDNG)
Lenses: Olympus 12mm, 15mm, 25mm, 45mm (x2 crop factor)
12.8 stops of dynamic range
20MP stills
Camera Option 2 - X7:
Super 35mm sensor
Resolution: 6K RAW or 5.2K ProRes
Codecs: H.265, H.265, ProRes (422HQ & 4444), RAW (CineDNG) and ProRes RAW
Lenses: DJI's own carbon fibre 16mm, 24mm, 35mm & 50mm primes
14 stops of dynamic range
24MP stills
Flight performance:
Can fly up to 60mph
Can operate in winds of up to 30mph
20 minute flight time
2 person op
DJI Phantom 4 Pro
At first I underestimated this little guy, but after using it on jobs with lower budgets or where packing light is mandatory, it has really came into it’s own.
25 minute flight time
1 inch camera sensor
Codecs: H.264, H.265
Fixed lens with 22mm focal length
Up to 4K resolution
20MP stills
1 person op
FPV Cine Drone
Built to carry the Hero 8 and flown using HD video goggles, this little guy is fast, agile and small which opens up a whole new realm for acrobatic, close proximity flying.
Camera Capability: GoPro Hero 8
Top speed: 70mph
4 minute flight time
Up to 4K at 50fps
Reel Steady friendly
Other Drones
Years prior to this and my current kit list, I've flown and still do occasionally fly other drones. Everything from DJI’s spreading wings series like the S900 and S1000 to larger heavy lift crafts like the Freefly Alta and custom built octocopters, designed to carry larger cameras and custom rigs like 360 cameras and super bright light panels.
RC Buggy Cam
It's not just drones! This RC Buggy drives a remote head for capturing low angle dynamic shots. Ideal for situations where you can't use a dolly track or tracking vehicle.
Gimbal: DJI Ronin MX
Interchangeable camera packages
Top speed: 30mph
40 minute run time
2 person op
