Howdy, just some thoughts..
Costs for camera drones rise exponentially with its size, so does the risk if something goes wrong. While you only loose your equipment when crashing e.g. in Islands deserted wilderness, you risk much more when crashing over crowded areas or just locations with people on the ground. Although in most countries it’s forbidden to fly over people at all, Youtube or Vimeo are full with videos that show the opposite content.
Wether you stick to the rules or not, depending on the spot you plan to fly at, serious consideration is recommended regarding the question what camera is required to get the job done. Usually, the bigger the camera – the better the footage, – you have a bigger sensor, higher quality lenses, you get more dynamic range and higher resolution etc. But with heavier cameras, you need a bigger, heavier multicopter, wich always goes with higher risk for everyone below.
Two years ago, I developed and flew a copter whos job was to carry the Red Epic + brushless gimbal you see in the picture on top. It had 12 engines in coax configuration, roughly 5kW of electrical power and a maximum take off-weight of 13kg/26lb. Everytime I flew it, I imagined the crater occuring if this beast would go down. Since I never experienced a critical situation like that, my safety record is (still) as good as it can be, but it’s the same with safety as it is with perfection or efficiency – we never reach the 100%.
In conclusion I tend to encourage every multicopter pilot to choose the smallest possible camera that is able to get the money shot your clients require. Not only is it cost-efficient, more importantly you significantly lower the risk of hurting anyone on the ground in case of an epic malfunction. Furthermore, please consider, no insurance will pay a cent if it’s obvious you ignored resonable rules.
Yours truly, Robert Zimmermann, Köln 2015.
