Here are the best portable charges for your DJI drone to stay juiced up for more flying. Most of these portable rechargeable chargers are TSA approved.
Portable Rechargeable Chargers for Drones and More (VIDEO)
Tag: gopro
GoPro HERO 5 Black vs Session vs YI 4K Review – (VIDEO)
This in my in-depth review and comparison of the new GoPro HERO 5 Black vs the HERO 5 Session vs the YI 4K action cameras.
Be sure you watch my video ALL THE WAY THROUGH until the end, as there are surprising results throughout all the tests.
If you’re looking for a TL;DR:
-In overview and conclusion, all cameras are pretty amazing! The features, resolution shooting specs, image quality and clarity; all are amazing! You can’t really go wrong with any of them.
-If BUDGET is important to you, looking for the cheapest option, then I’d recommend the YI 4K. It (currently) is the most affordable, plus has a great touchscreen, and shoots fantastic footage. (Even winning over the GoPro’s in low light tests and stabilization.)
-If you need the BEST OF THE BEST looking shots, packed with a TON of extra features (like Protune, flat shooting profile, built-in waterproof, GPS, HDMI port, exposure controls, RAW + HDR still photos, voice control, and a ton more), then definitely go with this new HERO5 BLACK – it’s amazing!
-If built-in durability, waterproof, and SUPER TINY/SMALL form factor is important, then go with the HERO5 SESSION.
*Disclaimers:
1. I received ZERO dollars from YI and GoPro. This is an unbiased review.
2. It’s impossible for me to cover ALL topics and features that I wanted to, so be sure to leave any questions you have in the comments below.
3. All camera firmwares were updated at the time of filming this video
Drone Operator Will Pay $200,000 Fine for Violating FAA Regulations
In case you were wondering, the answer is “Yes,” the FAA means business when it comes to drone operators violating airspace regulations. This unfortunate lesson comes at the hefty cost of $200,000 for one Chicago-based company.
The FAA originally came after Chicago-based SkyPan International in October of 2015, proposing a mammoth fine of $1.9 million—the highest civil penalty ever proposed—for endangering airspace safety. According to the FAA, SkyPan embarked on 65 unauthorized drone photography flights between March of 2012 and December of 2014 in some of the country’s most congested airspace… and they would have to pay for these transgressions.
The case was finally settled yesterday, and strange as it might sound, the $200,000 fine SkyPan agreed to pay must be music to the drone operator’s ears (and wallets). In a statement, the FAA outlined the terms of the settlement: SkyPan will pay a $200,000 civil fine, an additional $150,000 if they violate FAA regulations in the next year, and $150,000 more if it fails to comply with the terms of the settlement agreement.
SkyPan will also work with the FAA to release three public service announcements over the next year, “to support the FAA’s public outreach campaigns that encourage drone operators to learn and comply with UAS regulations.”
In their own statement, SkyPan is quick to point out that the settlement includes no admission or denial of wrongdoing on their end, and no official violation in the FAA’s books.
“While neither admitting nor contesting the allegations that these commercial operations were contrary to FAA regulations, SkyPan wishes to resolve this matter without any further expense or delay of business,” writes the company. “In exchange [for the penalties SkyPan has agreed to pay], the FAA makes no finding of violation.”
SkyPan goes on to praise the FAA’s new “Rule 107” that regulates drone operation, calling it “a flexible and forward-leaning regulatory framework that balances access, innovation, and safety.” Looks like they’re already working on those PSAs…
Five Ways to Break Out of a Photography Rut — The Daily Post
Try these tips to renew your love of life through a lens.
via Five Ways to Break Out of a Photography Rut — The Daily Post
Ways to Increase Battery Life on Your GoPro Hero 4 and 3
The Good With the Bad
The GoPro Hero 4 has a lot going for it, I know I’m not the first to admit it. 4k, 240 fps @ 720p, Time lapse, WiFi remote, a touch screen on the silver. It’s a lot to fit into a device that can nearly fit inside the mouth of the CEO of the company it spawned from. Then you have to go stick a battery inside it, which as far as I can see, takes up nearly half of its guts. When loaded the camera is nearly half battery.
A GoPro’s natural food source: Li-Ion
The problems start the moment you start to use the feisty beast. I’m talking about when you’ve been filming using your iPhone app as a remote, the camera set to a steaming 1080p @ 120 frames per second…(because GoPro) and using the Touch BacPac on the rear, and you get less than an hour of happy time with the included battery. The price you pay for having a processor twice as beefy as its predecessor is it drinks the juice like some lithium robbing bandit.
The Good News
Is there’s ways of satisfying this parasitic little bugger’s appetite for small black bricks. These solutions will allow your fun to last longer than the typical 1 hour or thereabouts that seems pretty typical with a fully stressed GoPro Hero. When shopping for batteries they are measured in mAH which stands for milliamp hours, the bigger the mAH number the longer the battery lasts.
GoPro Battery BacPac
GoPro’s in house solution is the Battery BacPac. In the same way ‘Apple works with Apple’ this is going to be your best bet as far as a manufacturers product matching the promise of what’s on the box, although there are still some limitations to deal with. Firstly for Hero 4 Silver user’s you’re not going to be able to see or use your touch screen while this is fitted, for Hero 4 Black users you’re not going to be able to attach the LCD Touch BacPac at all.
How much more battery life do you get? The standard battery is 1160 mAH. The BacPac comes with 1260 mAH giving you 108% more power than the standard Hero 4 battery. Once drained it can be recharged by the mini USB port on the side, it doesn’t charge using the GoPro’s charge port so you will have to charge the 2 units separately, it helps to have a charger with dual USB for this. The GoPro Hero 4 Battery BacPac comes with back door options so you can still make the unit water tight for more nautical expeditions.
With this setup we are using the GoPro Hero 4 Frame as a mounting platform that still gives us access to the USB port on the side of the camera to power it by. This won’t be suitable everywhere but where it shines is for taking long continuous footage longer than 1-2 hours (the life of an internal GoPro battery). This is typical when shooting a long Time Lapse or especially an 8hr Night Lapse.
Be aware the GoPro Frame offers no protection from the elements. If you require more protection I can recommend a skeleton case with side access, or check out the Switronix DVGP4USBC GoPro 4 Battery Eliminator below.
You can use any USB power supply for this setup, even plug into main power if you have the facility. Usually this is not the case when you’re shooting outdoors so I can recommend the Limefuel Rugged L150XR USB Battery Pack. Its water dust and shock resistant so perfect for taking nearly anywhere you would take your GoPro (except underwater). The 15000 mAH capacity means it has a whopping 1293% increase over a standard GoPro Hero 4 battery. It has 2 USB ports and will give out 2 amps from each port, capable of charging 2 iPads, at full speed, at once! Although a touch on the expensive side it’s (at time of writing) the only out there with the combination of battery life, water and dust resistance, dual 2 amp USB ports and 2 amp re-charging.
GoPro Hero 5 Release Date in October? This Will Be the Most Power Full GoPro Yet
GoPro Hero 5 Release Date in October? Action Camera Users Are Waiting
Wire Telegram: While earlier rumors said that the much-anticipated action cam follow-up from GoPro would be seen early this year, it seems that the company is aiming for a late 2016 release for the GoPro Hero 5, possibly October, in time for the holidays.
According to Yibada, earlier speculations said that that the GoPro Hero 5 will make its appearance in early 2016. However, the roll-out for the Hero 4’s successor was reportedly pubshed back as GoPro shifted its focus to the company’s first-ever action drone, the Karma. Instead of the previously reported simultaneous launches, GoPro will allegedly release the Karma drone first, with the GoPro Hero 5 following after some months.
It was also reported that during the company’s fourth-quarter conference call, the first three versions in the Hero lineup will be discontinued by next month, with the Hero 4 becoming the current flagship compatible with the upcoming drone. Meanwhile, the Karma drone is said to be on store shelves “in the first half of 2016.”
As this places the release date to be in either May or June, the industry follower believes that GoPro will launch the Hero 5 toward the end of the year, possibly by October. An October launch is plausible as this would be an ideal time because of the upcoming the holidays.
Meanwhile, as GoPro remains silent on how the Hero 5 has been improved, observers can only speculate on its new features. According to Value Walk, a given feature for the device is drone compatibility, particularly with Karma. It is also suggested that the new action cam will be lighter and smaller than the Hero 4. Better waterproofing and display and higher-resolution images and videos are also said to be experienced with the Hero 5.
