My “Flying Pervert Spy Camera”

That’s what I heard a YouTuber refer a “drone” as.

After debating the purchase for 2 years, reading, watching videos on the “Do’s and Don’ts” of operating a drone, I decided to purchase one.

DJI Mini 4 Pro

The DJI Mini 4 Pro is a compact and lightweight drone that offers advanced features ideal for both hobbyists and professionals. Weighing under 249 grams, it is designed for excellent portability while still delivering impressive performance.

One of the standout features of the Mini 4 Pro is its enhanced camera system, which includes a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor capable of recording 4K video at 60 frames per second and capturing 48MP still images. The drone also supports HDR video and photos, providing improved dynamic range and detail in various lighting conditions.

The Mini 4 Pro is equipped with advanced obstacle avoidance technology, utilizing multiple sensors for omnidirectional sensing. This enables safer flights and smoother navigation in complex environments. Additionally, the drone includes a variety of intelligent flight modes, such as FocusTrack, Mastershots, and Quickshots, allowing users to create cinematic shots with ease.

With an upgraded transmission system, the Mini 4 Pro boasts a range of up to 12 kilometers (7.5 miles, but I doubt that), ensuring reliable video transmission and control. The drone’s battery offers a flight time of approximately 34 minutes under optimal conditions, making it suitable for extended shooting sessions.

The design features larger propellers for increased stability and improved aerodynamics, contributing to better overall flight performance. It also comes with DJI's OcuSync technology for enhanced connectivity and live-streaming capabilities.

Overall, the DJI Mini 4 Pro is an advanced drone that combines high-quality imaging, safety features, and user-friendly controls in a compact form, making it an excellent choice for capturing aerial footage.

Farm field - June 2024

This is one of my very first images (other than video) that I created with the drone..

I have watched countless videos on drones, on how to fly them, how to be cautions and mostly the FAA regulations on them. All of this the past 2 years before I decided to purchase one.

Drones are HEAVILY regulated by the FAA, which in fact sets all of the rules of the do’s and don’t of flying them. So, if you are out flying a drone and someone comes up to and tells that you CANNOT FLY HERE, that individual, state or local municipalities cannot set their own rules on flying a drone over their property, going over their property, or whatever their reasoning is. The FAA controls the airspace above any property.

The FAA does instructs you where you can and cannot fly. You can’t fly near large airports (without proper authorization), Nation Parks (state parks are generally OK), stadiums while games are in progress, or any other area that may pose a security risk. It’s the drone pilots responsibly to do their homework before they fly.

The general public CANNOT shoot down a drone if it’s flying over their property. That IS a Federal offense…and that also is protected by the FAA. Even if you suspect the drone on spying, call the police and let them handle it.

A drone pilot CANNOT make money with his/her drone, such as for real estate, land surveying, mapping, roof inspection, photographing and/or video record of a football game or anything that is considered commercial work…UNLESS, that drone pilot has completed (and passed) their Part 107 certification. It’s pretty much there to weed out the riffraff that want a drone to fool around with.

“In order to fly your drone under the FAA's Small UAS Rule (Part 107), you must obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate from the FAA. This certificate demonstrates that you understand the regulations, operating requirements, and procedures for safely flying drones.”

At this time I do not have my certification yet and it’s something I plan on obtaining at some point in the spring of 2025. So as of now, it’s just an enjoyable (and expensive) hobby. If you are flying strictly for fun, then the Part 107 certification is not needed, but you still need to follow the rules. If someone approaches me to do something for them, I have to politely decline.

Jefferson County Fair - July 2024

Drones also are very capable of doing night time images as well.

Have I crashed it? Oh yeah. Human error and not because of any malfunction. I was backing up to get a shot of a church recently and THOUGHT I cleared a 250’ water tower at night. NOPE, just clipped the top of it and it fell into someones yard. No major damage but I was able to repair it myself and had it up and running in no time.

Do these things float if you crash into water? NOPE! Even though it’s under 250g (.55 pounds or 8.8 ounces) and made mostly of Polycarbonate and ABS Plastic, it WILL sink. I do get a bit skiddish when flying over any water (expect any puddles) and keep it to a minimum. But I have seen stories of people recovering their drones after spending months underwater and have revived them to fly another day.

I Heard They Tend to Just Fly Away On Their Own? Not any more. With today’s technology, they have fail safe methods to prevent that. IF your drone and controller lose contact with each other, and it will at times, it’s programmed to return back to you. Also, if you are low on battery, it will also return to you with enough battery life to complete it’s mission. Plus the Mini 4 Pro, along with others) have Obstacle Avoidance Sensors that keep the from crashing into objects such as trees, buildings, etc. But…they don’t work at night.

What’s Awesome? The view from 400’ is spectacular. The sunsets, the lighting storms, the rivers, the lakes, the cities at night. That’s what’s awesome about it. It’s a view that most don’t get to enjoy unless from a plane or hot air balloon.

If you have any questions about it or just drones in general, just let me know. I’m no expert but I know enough to probably answer your questions.

guy@guylannewehrimaging.com

Just in case you’re interested….
https://www.dji.com/