Basic mapping with Iris+ Canon S100

[UPDATE: Original title has been changed, as the thread has evolved.  Typos also removed]

OK, so I am ready to purchase the IRIS+ and start doing some small scale mapping.  Thank-you to everyone who suggested some DIY kits, but I'm not there yet.

People have given me some GREAT advice about camera, and that the GoPro is not the best for mapping.  I have looked, with earnest, at the Canon Sx260.

BUT

As cost is a limiting factor for me (and I don't need industry quality just yet) I am still considering a GoPro as my camera (sans gimbal).  Yes, it is more expensive initially but I can buy kits to change the lens to a 'flat lens' (check out the IR Pro website), as well as get a IR/NDVI kit for the GoPro. These can be swapped pretty easily. 

What puts me off from buying a Canon Sx260 (for example) is that it is more complicated to convert to NDVI (and I don't think I could do it myself), and I would not be able to change on the fly between 'regular' and NDVI.  Getting a pre-modified Sx260 is pretty pricey too.  I've seen some prices on the E38 website for $599, for a converted Sx260. A 2nd hand Sx260 is about $150 an ebay. E30 Charges $210 to make to conversion on a Sx260.


The new GoPro Hero 4 Silver (recommended by IR Pro) is around $400, with additional lenses going for about $150 each (IR Pro website).  I feel like I could possibly make the modifications myself (IR Pro charges about $150 for them to do the mod, I think). 

The Canon Sx 260 is also a fair bit heavier than the GoPro, but has a GPS.


Does anyone have any thoughts/comments on this? 

You need to be a member of diydrones to add comments!

Join diydrones

Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • We do now.

  • Canon is best for Ariel Photography.

  • Nice discussion

    I use a S100 for aerial mapping of my fields - at the moment just RGB for overview.

    Setup:

    • 3dr Y6 modified, (3506 650 KV Motors, 13/15" Props, 16 AH 4s LIPO) 25-30 min flighttime, AUW 3,2 kg
    • simple servo gimbal with Canon S100
    • USB trigger cable
    • chdk with kap script
    • Mission planner 
    • Ptgui pro for stitching
    • qgis for georeferencing

    A few experiences to share:

    1. Camera top forward for landscape pitures -> less stripes, saves flighttime
    2. Gimbal for nadir pictures -> much better stitching
    3. Without gimbal - mount camera with 15 deg pitch to have nadir pictures when flying forward
    4. 130 m is a good height for pictures
    5. sidelap/overlap has to be >70%
    6. max  1 picture/ 4 s -> 8 m/s speed
    7. wind is a problem, I put wp_nav_speed  on a tuning knob and reduce speed when flying against the wind

    The chdk- script takes care of the camera settings, I´m very happy with the results of the S100.

    I use a sensor on a tractor for NDVI-Mapping, it would be great to hear about your experience with the modified camera.

    • That sounds really cool, do you have pics about your Y6 with gimbal?

      • It is a modified 3dr Y6 with longer arms and a quadframe landing gear.

        3702692400?profile=original

        3702692100?profile=original

        • Hubertus, which servo gimbal are you using? I need to find a better solution for my Y6 and S100.

          Are you still using the Y6 configuration pictured above?

        • That's fantastic man, thanks for sharing!

          • You get your IRIS and S100 out for a spin yet?

            Ive been flying my IRIS all weekend. Just waiting for my camera mount to mount my SX260. 

            • Nathan - What camera mount did you get? My S100 is on the way, so I'm not quite sure how i'm going to rig it up yet. Thanks!

This reply was deleted.

Activity

Neville Rodrigues liked Neville Rodrigues's profile
Jun 30
Santiago Perez liked Santiago Perez's profile
Jun 21
More…