Chase Jarvis Chase Jarvis
  • Photos
  • Projects
  • About
  • Blog
  • Book
Chase Jarvis Chase Jarvis
  • Photos
  • Projects
  • About
  • Blog
  • Book
chasejarvis_dronefly

Flying Cameras On a Budget — My First Flight With Affordable Drone Helicopter + GoPro

Because there are few establishing shots that can compete with the one you get above 250 feet, I frequently take my shoots airborne. Whether it’s yanking the doors off a Bell Ranger traditional style or the…ahem…new school way of sending an 8-bladed octo-copter to do the dirty work, if it’s outdoors these days, aerial footage is, well, the new black.

Neither option mentioned above is cheap, however. I’ve been paying thru the mega-schnoz to rent A-Stars ($2000 + per hour) and such for years. And then was superduper excited in 2010 to go remote aerial at about half the cost of a real heli for this project launching the Nikon D7000 (here’s some more BTS with the same flight crew from a commercial i shot in Telluride…). But it’s still pricey. $2k – $5,000 per DAY or more. And although going the R/C route is the lesser of two budget busters, it’s still a rough lump to swallow, particularly if you’re just getting in the game.

ENTER the DJI Phantom, (picked mine up at Dronefly.com) the out-of-the-box R/C quadcopter.

Now before y’all jump into a tizzy that this thing isn’t close to the same quality – doesn’t do X and Y…I know those things. It’s ok that it can’t fly an Arri Alexa or do this or that other thing. BUT damn this is a great entry product that A) allows budget conscious folks the ability to fly a camera; B) makes some pretty solid footy for web videos and such; and C) is a helluva lot of fun to fly. All at fraction of the cost of any previously mentioned option.

Designed to fly the GoPro (you know I love ’em in this video), this little rig comes in at under $700. Nothing to sneeze at, but chump change compared to what was available just 5 years ago. My crew has two of these little buggers now — and within 5 minutes I had achieved a comfort level great enough to try the stunt at 0:45, terrorize the other people at the GasWorks park in Seattle, and even chase a seaplane.

Although it’s not suitable for high end work (yet?), this is a nice budget breakthru. And truth be told it’s a fricking blast — I’ll be doing more soon. Perhaps…ahem… even on my next photo shoot in Iceland…

Related Posts

10 Things Every Creative Person (That’s YOU) Must Learn
051026_ChaseJarvis_einstein_writing_vlrgwidec
Writing Makes Photographers More Creative — 5 Easy Tips
Daniel Pink: The Power of Regret
Chris Hutchins of Chase Jarvis LIVE
Chris Hutchins: All the Hacks to Maximize Your Life
Chris Burkard on Chase Jarvis LIVE
The Wayward Path of Photographer Chris Burkard
Make Your Message Heard with Victoria Wellman

48 replies on:
Flying Cameras On a Budget — My First Flight With Affordable Drone Helicopter + GoPro

Comments navigation

Previous
Next
  1. check this out says:
    February 27, 2015 at 3:45 pm

    You do need to buy labels for products click here
    such as a three and then the way I want to also source
    factories. So, come around to the effect of the Ford Mustang!
    Then you’re going to slice it off. Avery branding click here and communication. The wine that Quicksilver
    chose was a great spot. The entries you chose now
    appear on your dryer. Nothing is ever produced until
    you are. When you pick up the event and recognize everyones
    effort.

  2. dj johal.com says:
    February 19, 2015 at 2:55 pm

    This is where you want to work out and learning about consumer capability, which meant that there is still going on is the game.
    Everyone is trying to speed the sales person. To add a profile page and check on you and your
    tampa wedding dj goal.

  3. Best Quadcopters and Best Drones says:
    January 4, 2015 at 8:08 am

    Thanks for this article, Chase! If you have any further interest in quadcopters and drones, check out my website! http://bestdronesandquadcopters.org/

  4. Best Quadcopter Pro says:
    December 31, 2014 at 9:16 pm

    Great article Chase! You seem to be getting a good handle on your rc piloting skills. Flying quadcopters is a great hobby to get started with. Good Luck!

  5. George N. says:
    December 24, 2014 at 1:30 pm

    Great post. I like.

Comments navigation

Previous
Next

Comments are closed.

BUY NEVER PLAY IT SAFE NOW!

Get weekly, curated access to the best of everything I do.

Popular Posts

20250611_CJLIVE_ToDoList_Micro_Thumb_16x9_v2.5What If There’s No Rulebook? Here’s How to Write the One You Need
A person sitting at a desk, holding their head in frustration, while flames seem to emerge from their head, symbolizing intense mental stress or burnout. The fiery scene contrasts with the calm surroundings of a room filled with books and papers, enhancing the feeling of overwhelming mental exhaustion. The expression on the person's face shows deep concentration or distress, and the bright colors of the flames highlight the inner turmoil they are experiencing.Creative Burnout Destroying Your Passion? (Try These 4 Quick Strategies)
The left side features bold text that reads: "Stop Assuming The Worst" The text "Stop" and "The Worst" are in bold white font, while "Assuming" is in bold yellow font. The phrase "Stop" is emphasized with a red arrow pointing to the right. On the right side of the image, there is a photo of a smiling man wearing glasses and a dark shirt, looking directly at the camera. The show's logo is positioned in the top right corner, featuring "THE CHASE JARVIS LIVE SHOW" in black text inside yellow rectangles. The entire graphic is framed with a yellow border, which matches the color scheme of the text and logo. The background is a dark, textured surface that adds contrast to the bright text and imagery.Simple Trick to Build Trust in Your Creative Collaborations
Keith Ferrazzi speaking on stage in front of a large, vibrant screen displaying multiple video call participants, with 'The Chase Jarvis Live Show' logo in bold yellow and black text on the left.Why You Should Never Lead Alone
20250611_CJLIVE_RoryVaden_Thumb_16x9_v2.5You’ve Been Focused on the Wrong Thing… Here’s What Really Matters
A graphic for "The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show." The text is displayed in a bold, modern font with "THE" in a small, yellow box at the top left, followed by "CHASE JARVIS LIVE SHOW" stacked vertically, each word in its own yellow box. To the right, there is a stylized silhouette of a person running while holding a mobile device. The person appears to be disintegrating into small particles as they move forward, suggesting a sense of urgency or a digital transformation theme. The background is a light beige or off-white color.Stop Chasing Followers: Why Real Influence Comes from Mastery
20250611_CJLIVE_Failure_Micro_Thumb_16x9_v2.5What Most People Get Wrong About Failing Fast
a promotional graphic for "The Chase Jarvis LIVE Show." The left side of the image features the text: "WAKE UP CALL: YOU ONLY HAVE 2,000 MONDAYS LEFT" The text is in bold white and yellow font on a dark gray background, with "2,000 MONDAYS LEFT" highlighted in yellow. In the top left corner, there is the show’s logo, with "THE CHASE JARVIS LIVE SHOW" written in black on a yellow background. On the right side of the image is a photo of a smiling woman with blonde hair, wearing a dark jacket over a light-colored top. The image has a yellow border around it, matching the color scheme of the text and logo.You’re Wasting Your Life (Without Even Realizing It)
20241001_CJLIVE_GaryVeeShow_Syndicate_Blog_16x9How Self-Betrayal Is Holding You Back
A portrait of Israa Nasir, a psychotherapist, set against a black background with bold white text that reads, "Why Rest Feels Like Failure," framed by a yellow border and a small "The Chase Jarvis Live Show" logo in the top-right corner.Toxic Productivity Is Killing Your Success

Daily Creative Projects

© 2024 Chase Jarvis. All rights reserved.