Drone videography (filming by unmanned quadcopter) feels like the biggest thing to hit video production since the GoPro, the tiny attachable camera. The truth is that that this kind of aerial videography is not so new: camera operators have been filming from helicopters for years. What is novel is that in skilled hands, these agile crafts can artfully combine the look of a dolly, crane, and helicopter while flying as low as 10 feet above ground. But could aerial shots best deliver a real punch for your video? How much does it  cost? And what legal aspects do you as a client need to know?  Tom Comet, experienced drone pilot and founder of Toronto based Drone Boy spoke with us to explain the basics on incorporating this relatively new technology into productions. If you live in one of the Canadian TV and film production hubs, Toronto, Vancouver and to a lesser extent, Montreal, expect costs to start at about $1500 for a single camera half day package (4 hours on set). Full 8 hour days will start at about $2000.

Productions in smaller urban centres may find those costs 15-25% lower. Drones can fly for 14-18 minutes at one shot before they need to change memory cards. macdev drone dx pbreviewA skilful pilot can get several excellent takes in a half day shoot, depending on the complexity of what he or she is shooting.macdev drone dx vs etek 4 Before you balk at the price and start thinking about hiring an amateur drone flyer to get your website’s shots, realize that your commercial flight must meet  Transport Canada’s strict legal and safety standards. macdev drone dx bolt stickNot only will a highly trained, professional team consistently achieve spectacular shots, they also know the legal requirements for drone photography, like:rc uav drone for sale

There is also the safety aspect. “Drones can never be flown over people’s heads.” “You may have seen shots that appear to fly much closer than 100 feet but that’s because experienced drone team use flying tricks to capture this effect while staying within the regulations.”commercial uav drones for sale WHEN TO USE A DRONE?commercial uav drones for sale There are certain types of promotional videos that just beg for aerial visuals. We’ve picked a few of our favourites: Aside from car commercials and action films, this is likely the place where you’ve seen the most drone use.  The tourism industry is quickly realizing that drone shots can go where a traditional camera can’t and make it obvious to clients why they will want to visit your hotel, resort, attraction or region. While drone visuals probably can’t tell the whole story on their own, combined with ground visuals, you can create a compelling tool to bring tourist dollars to your location.

Tourism Quebec took advantage of the possibilities of drone videography in this video showcasing breathtaking views of our province. Aerial videography works brilliantly for higher end properties and real estate. Potential buyers don’t just see the structure, they can soak in the landscape, the layout of the property and the neighbourhood surrounding it. Even if the building isn’t yet constructed, buyers can still get a spectacular view from the 25th floor! In this video for instance, 360hometours uses drone videography to compliment the amazing surroundings of a West Vancouver home A drone can follow the progress of a construction project in a way nothing else can – making it easy for clients to get a complete view over time and from many angles. Drone videography and photography are also very useful in capturing hazardous or hard to reach locations or sections of a project. In this video, M7 Aerial even manages to make a construction site quite beautiful! Taken from an aerial view, you can show off your indoor or outdoor event location, crowds and set-up in a most impressive way.

This kind of coverage is often best combined with ground videography. However, you’ll need to do your homework: check with the venue to ensure their comfort level with the technology. The Chromatic Festival in Montreal was filmed from even higher than Mont Royal thanks to a drone giving magnificent footage of this event. Outside of the obvious car shots, many brands are realizing the value of using drone videography. 2015 was the 50th anniversary of the Canadian flag and Canadian Tire created a stunning and massively shareable Fly Your Canadian Flag video using Droneboy’s team to capture the aerial images, that was seen over 1 million times at launch and 6 million more since then. Think aerial coverage could make your next video production soar? Contact us to do some ‘blue sky’ planning.Drones aren't just fun to fly. They can let you capture breathtaking footage, some in high-resolution 4K video. They're also more affordable than ever, as quality beginner models now cost less than $60.

Good camera drones start at a few hundred dollars. More complex drones, starting at less than $1,000, offer customizable and programmable features, turning them into truly autonomous devices that can make their own decisions. Plus, a new class of racing drones has started hitting the scene. We've tested dozens of drones, evaluating them based on design, ease of use, camera quality, durability and flight time, to bring you our list of top picks. After a faulty launch which saw some of its drones falling from the sky, GoPro is once again selling its Karma drone. The company said that a faulty battery latch caused some of its drones to abruptly lose power mid-flight. In a statement on its website, GoPro said that it redesigned the latch to ensure the battery stays in. The Karma is available for $799, or $1,099 with a GoPro Hero5 Black camera. Among all the drones that arrived over the holidays, the Propel Star Wars drones generated the most excitement. Three models are available: An X-Wing fighter, a TIE Interceptor, and a speeder bike.

Each cost $239, and can do battle with each other via built-in IR blasters (an optional upgrade to actual lasers—which look awesome—is coming later). The drones, which are hand-painted, come in a Collector's Edition display box, which lights up and starts playing the Star Wars theme when opened. Also check out the $749 DJI Mavic Pro, another folding drone that comes with a 4K camera, and our current favorite camera drone, which you can control using nothing more than hand gestures. 3D Robotics (3DR) is no longer selling a consumer version of the 3DR Solo (our current top pick for pros), but will continue to support the consumer model for the foreseeable future, and is still providing a one-year hardware warranty. As a result, it's pretty inexpensive, even when you factor in the cost of a GoPro camera. Get it while supplies last. Read on to see our choices for different types of flying and budgets. Below our recommendations, you can find our tips on shopping for a drone and what rules you need to follow.

See Also : 15 Places To Fly Drones In The Northeast Drones aren't that complicated, but there are a few key features you should consider when you are shopping. There are also some key rules you need to follow when you take to the air. FAA has rules you have to follow. The most important two: Never fly around or above people, and always keep your drone in sight. The FAA has a full list of safety guidelines for model aircraft that you should check before you take off. There are also restrictions on where you can fly: For example, within 5 miles of an airport is off limits. Mapbox provides a great interactive map of no-fly areas, and local RC (Remote Control) aircraft clubs may list fields that they use. Many drones also must be registered before they are put in the air. The online process for registering costs $5, and applies to any drone that weighs between 0.55 pounds and 55 pounds. That covers about half of our favorite drones. Once you register, you get a unique serial number that needs to be applied to all your drones, and when you're flying you'll need to have a paper or electronic copy of your certificate of registration.

Drones registration has to be renewed every 3 years. Failure to register can cost you up to $250,000 or result in 3 years of jail time. MORE: 100 Places to Fly a Drone in America Most drones use a remote control with two joysticks — a bit like an Xbox or PlayStation controller. One stick controls what's called the attitude of the quadcopter, including roll (tilting left and right) and pitch (tilting up and down). The other stick controls throttle and the rotation of the quadcopter. A good remote control should fit well in the hand, with sticks resting comfortably under your thumbs and providing a smooth, responsive feel that allows you to guide the quadcopter by touch. Some models skip the remote control, or offer it as an extra-cost feature, and instead use a smartphone connected via Wi-Fi and a flying app. These apps often provide a live video view from the quadcopter camera. However, apps don’t allow the precision of real controllers: It is easier for your thumbs to slip, possibly causing a crash.

Despite what the ads tell you, drones crash all the time. A good drone will take an unplanned descent and ground interface (aka: a crash) in stride, without damaging the frame. It will also include shields to protect the rotors and electronics from harm. Regardless, things still get broken sometimes, particularly racing drones. A good model will offer a ready supply of cheap parts like rotors and struts to replace the broken ones, and will make it easy to swap these parts out when required. The same is true of batteries. Very few drones offer more than 10 to 20 minutes of battery life, so an easily swapped battery can give you more flying time without hassle. This tends to be a feature of more expensive models, with a spare battery typically costing more than $100. Cheap drones (under about $400) usually have built-in batteries that can't be swapped out. Want to show off your aerial exploits? A camera, either built-in or add-on, can capture those dramatic vistas for posterity.