Drones for climbing photos/video

Hey guys!!

Question about drones. I am looking to buy a drone to use to film and take pictures at the crag, and I am looking for recommendations. It's overwhelming when I search online. The two features I am looking for the most are good battery life and image/video quality. What do you guys suggest?

*I am not looking to start a "drones at the crag" debate.

Thank you so much!!
Savannah 

For filming in Yosemite ​you can't beat the DJI.. I have been filming in eldo a bunch latley. For eldorado and RMNP the vagi6800 is the best. Performs better at altitude.  It is noisy but most climbers don't mind. Happy flying. 

Hey guys!!

What’s the best Bluetooth speaker system I can bring to the crag to blast some tunes? 

*I’m not looking to start a music at the crag debate because I obviously already know that everyone else at the crag hates it. 
Thank you so much!!

Nathan Z wrote: Hey guys!!

What’s the best Bluetooth speaker system I can bring to the crag to blast some tunes? 

*I’m not looking to start a music at the crag debate because I obviously already know that everyone else at the crag hates it. 
Thank you so much!!

This☝️

Nathan Z wrote: Hey guys!!

What’s the best Bluetooth speaker system I can bring to the crag to blast some tunes? 

*I’m not looking to start a music at the crag debate because I obviously already know that everyone else at the crag hates it. 
Thank you so much!!

Fucking nailed it, couldn’t have put it better myself! Just leave all that shit at home. Focus on the climbing and enjoy the outdoors for what it is, not the gym. No one cares about your Instagram FYI. 

Ps. This probably violates rule #1 and will be deleted shortly. 

Just FYI it's illegal to fly drones in national parks, Yosemite included. Worth doing a little googling before the FAA shows up at your door.

“I’m a pilot”
Lol

Step one: don’t.

Step two: name your budget and experience in the opening blurb.  

If you want to fly, buy a cheap crappy drone. You’ll crash it. That’s fine. If I were say... filming a doc on climbing, I’d LOVE the zoom on the mavic 2 zoom. I just used that on Naked and Afraid in Mexico, it was a game changer. I much prefer the pro if I don’t need the extra range. Then again, I like putting a stripped down Red in the air even more.

My favorite though, is that sudden quiet when someone filming climbers hits something, and the drone starts falling. 

I'm not a drone enthusiast... but I saw a video about drones that follow the user at a predetermined distance. That sounds optimal for recording a climber. No "pilot" needed. 

Hey guys!
What is the best way to take down a drone that’s annoying and distracting AF?
Thanks!

Max Mccullough wrote: Hey guys!
What is the best way to take down a drone that’s annoying and distracting AF?
Thanks!

AR-15 ? 

Savannah Hyson wrote: Hey guys!!

Question about drones. I am looking to buy a drone to use to film and take pictures at the crag, and I am looking for recommendations. 

I recommend you just skip the drone idea! Those things are such a nuisance! I think there's a hunting license available for 'em also. :-) 12ga shotgun with a stick clip on the end, sounds good to me! ("take, pull! yeah!, got it")..

trailridge wrote: I have been filming in eldo a bunch latley. For eldorado and RMNP [...] it is noisy but most climbers don't mind. 

And you have arrived at this conclusion how exactly? If you fly a drone over me and my partners in Eldo or RMNP you will hear just how much we mind. We are far from alone.

https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/112295839/asshole-with-drone-at-eldo-today

They are illegal in RMNP and require advance permits in Eldo.

https://www.facebook.com/RockyNPS/posts/faq-friday-drones-are-not-allowed-anywhere-in-rmnp-want-to-fly-your-drone-rocky-/1289359894416615/

https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/EldoradoCanyon/Pages/Filming-Photography-Permits.aspx

I prefer weather ballons, Or kites if you're really on a budget.

Cpn Dunsel wrote: The  DJI Mavic Air is still the current Cadillac for those with piloting experience and willing to shell out $1k for stunning 4k quality.

If you have not been piloting all that much then get a cheap drone to beat up while you learn before you drop a thousand bucks.

If you do not have an FAA Drone pilot license, start studying.  It is NOT something you can just look over some notes for and pass. You have to be extremely familiar with aviation policies, airspace, chart readings, and many other things that can only be learned by studying and instruction. 

Thank you for your advice!! Much appreciated. 

trailridge wrote: For filming in Yosemite you can't beat the DJI.. I have been filming in eldo a bunch latley. For eldorado and RMNP the vagi6800 is the best. Performs better at altitude.  It is noisy but most climbers don't mind. Happy flying. 

Thank you so much! I appreciate the input. 

Alex Scaperotta wrote: Just FYI it's illegal to fly drones in national parks, Yosemite included. Worth doing a little googling before the FAA shows up at your door.

Thank you for the heads up! 

Cpn Dunsel wrote:

Yosemite Drone Footage

Go even further.  Get off the computer and make calls and talk to actual people and learn how to get legal permits for where they can be flown.  There are many places in which it is legal.

Step 1: Get FAA Drone License

Thank you!

RandyLee wrote: Step one: don’t.

Step two: name your budget and experience in the opening blurb.  

If you want to fly, buy a cheap crappy drone. You’ll crash it. That’s fine. If I were say... filming a doc on climbing, I’d LOVE the zoom on the mavic 2 zoom. I just used that on Naked and Afraid in Mexico, it was a game changer. I much prefer the pro if I don’t need the extra range. Then again, I like putting a stripped down Red in the air even more.

My favorite though, is that sudden quiet when someone filming climbers hits something, and the drone starts falling. 

Haha yeah, I guess I should have been more specific - I’m not looking to spend a ton and I don’t have much flying experience. 

brian n wrote: I'm not a drone enthusiast... but I saw a video about drones that follow the user at a predetermined distance. That sounds optimal for recording a climber. No "pilot" needed. 

Yes that would be an awesome feature to have! Especially if you don’t have a 3rd person to film while the other 2 are belaying/climbing. 

Cpn Dunsel wrote:

Yosemite Drone Footage

Go even further.  Get off the computer and make calls and talk to actual people and learn how to get legal permits for where they can be flown.  There are many places in which it is legal.

Yes, but it still remains illegal in national parks and monuments. Technically you can fly into/over a national park, provided that you take off and land outside the boundary and maintain line-of-sight visual contact with the drone.
https://www.nps.gov/articles/unmanned-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm

Much of the footage in the linked video is illegal without the proper permit (and drone permits for filming inside national parks are extremely difficult if not nearly impossible to obtain).