"For the size area, you really want to use an airplane over a 'copter. I can push my quad copter to about 10 minutes flight time. I have had 50 minute flights with my very tired and battered 3 year old Skywalker (Airplane).
It also depends what you…"

"I am using the Canon  260 on a 2 axis gimbal and am getting very good results.
The main drawback on the camera is the retractable lens.
In my early tests, I lost a Canon A2500 to grit that was blown into the lens retract mechanism. 2 flights was…"

"Try this, put your tri on a carpeted surface or some other "non-slick" surface and arm it and see what happens. Your desk is a slick surface, when arming the initial movement of the yaw assembly causes the tail to move slightly which the APM tries…"

"The problem is simple but difficult to correct. In a vertical descent the aircraft is moving through the dirty air caused by the propellers.
 
There is no good solution other than a slow descent rate, or some horizontal movement while descending to…"

"make sure you have your receiver connected correctly to the apm. Channels 1-4 are for roll pitch yaw and throttle. I use 5 to control the mode. 6 and 7 control camera point on my gimball"

"http://conservationdrones.org/software/ Third item down will help you out. I have nothing to do with them."

"I am running a Tricopter with a roll and pitch gimble.
The APM 2.5 is powered via the power module.
The Jumper is removed.
I am providing power to the output side via a BEC on CH 4 out. The BEC is from one of my ESC's.
I have servos on the output…"

"I just finished building my first tri-copter two weeks ago, and have about 20 flights on it.

Quick run down of equipment and parts

APM 2.0 with external GPS – To be upgraded with APM 2.5 and better GPS
Radio: Futaba 9C with FrSky D8 Module…"