Originally posted by ToyTank SYMA makes the X11C or X5C models that are pretty cheap and have a low quality camera. Good way to get your feet wet. Learn to fly one if these cheap quads and a P3 will be a cake walk.
I also considered the "Aries Blackbird X10" When it was $299 but it only has single axis stabilizer(up down) and some reviews state recording fails to start.
The Parrot Bebop is another option, I don't know much about it.
The Phantom gives a ton of functionality for the price, you get Bird, Cam, Gimbal, Radio, FPV, GPS, 22 min Flight time, etc even on "cheap" $600 Phantom 3 Standard.
I was being an Idiot and almost backed into a power line yesterday, in fact I threaded the needle between upper and lower lines. I'm and idiot, did not see them.
Between the lines - YouTube For the most part, we are in an age, where too many dronetards have paved the way for prejudice towards them. As a drone operator we have to make up lost time and show that drones are a valid camera platform for the masses.
When a drone screws up, it affects all of us.
I've had several times where I get the "Drones are not welcome here" so I do my best to be the perfect operator.
A couple of things I've learned.
1) Humans have evolved to see things move in the sky. Not much is perfectly still in the sky, and when something like the P3P hovers motionless - and I mean motionless as the P3P can, it freaks people out.
2) The P3P, once about 150 feet away gets VERY small and hard to follow. Since I use my P3P as a camera platform, I am not comfortable losing line-of-sight control or not knowing the attitude of the aircraft.
3) The signal of the P3P (like any drone) is not guaranteed, so if you fly it out of sight, you're being an idiot.
4) The P3P is delicate.
5) Buy a landing mat or something for the drone to take off from. Less debris.
6) Knowing the flight characteristics are vital. Things like ground effect and down wash, rotor vortex and prop suction when close to things, are invisible and not common sense.
7) Play video games to get muscle memory with the controller. I invert my "stick" on the P3P to match flight sims I have played over the years...it has saved my butt on a few occasions.
8) Stay away from people that might not like drones, and pets. It appears that the ultrasonic positioning of the P3P freaks dogs out.
9) Be aware at the speed of your drone. They are FAST.
10)Respect the airspace and don't be a dronetard.