DJI H3-3D GoPro Gimbal
- Thread starter P13
- Start date
Mark Johnson
The Dude Abides
First test of the H3-3D yesterday:
Mark Johnson
The Dude Abides
An interesting question. I'm not sure how I'd compare myself to others since my focus is totally on achieving aerial videography rather than maneuvers or aggressive flying. I fly almost exclusively FPV with Zeiss Cinemizer goggles. Thus, my style of flying is different than those who fly LOS (line of sight). My good friend, Romeo Durscher, has been flying Phantoms with me for the past two years and we have a website that describes our equipment and has examples of our flights: Visual-Aerials.
Presumably, most people here on DVXUSER are interested in aerial platforms as a tool for filmmaking. Accordingly, an FPV setup is almost essential in order to properly frame shots. I've devoted a lot of time to experimenting with FPV to figure out the best way to get a solid video signal from the craft over distance. In truth, I think FPV flying is actually easier than LOS because you are always oriented (your view is always front forward). LOS flying requires maintaining orientation from the ground and this can get dicey as you get further away.
I use an OSD (on screen display) to have continuous awareness of my altitude, distance, compass orientation, speed of ascent/descent and battery voltage. This allows me to safely fly and frame shots even when my craft is beyond my field of vision. Last weekend we did some coastal shots 2,222 meters (7,290 feet) away from our home position. Rather than being great "piloting" it was quite easy because of the FPV and OSD.
DJI has done an impressive job of making this technology accessible to anybody and the camera gimbal lets us "indie" filmmakers acquire stable footage that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. The other thing that makes a big difference is the fact that I replaced the stock lens in my GoPro with the RageCams 5.4mm lens so that I have none of the typical "fisheye" distortion that plagues GoPro footage. With the lens modification you can get very usable footage out of the modest GoPro camera.
P13
Well-known member
The iOSD is very handy, it's worth adding none of this tech is DJI exclusively, for example Arducopter has its own OSD too, I personally use a screen as it still has all the same information such as heading and home location. I am tempted to try 3D goggles that use 2 fpv cameras as you then have depth perception, so that's on my wishlist for this year.
I would add an important note with replacement M12 lenses, almost all have bad flare so you're exchanging fisheye for bad flare, the RageCams 5.4mm suffers less than its other lenses, but photographers are being sold very cheap M12 lenses at huge mark-up, I've no issue with profit being made but many of the Ragecams lenses simply are unfit for purpose and the company knows this yet continues to sell them without any warnings.
I tested out 4.1mm lens and told Ragecams (politely, I didn't even ask for a refund but with hindsight should have) that the lens was unfit for purpose, i.e. it's no good for video as the flare is horrendous. They had me painting the lens hood black, trying a cheap ND, but it was just poor, likely polycarbonate/plastic optics which was the root cause so I removed the lens and it has since collected dust.
I would add an important note with replacement M12 lenses, almost all have bad flare so you're exchanging fisheye for bad flare, the RageCams 5.4mm suffers less than its other lenses, but photographers are being sold very cheap M12 lenses at huge mark-up, I've no issue with profit being made but many of the Ragecams lenses simply are unfit for purpose and the company knows this yet continues to sell them without any warnings.
I tested out 4.1mm lens and told Ragecams (politely, I didn't even ask for a refund but with hindsight should have) that the lens was unfit for purpose, i.e. it's no good for video as the flare is horrendous. They had me painting the lens hood black, trying a cheap ND, but it was just poor, likely polycarbonate/plastic optics which was the root cause so I removed the lens and it has since collected dust.
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Mark Johnson
The Dude Abides
Good comments and I agree that almost all of the GoPro replacement lenses out there (including many that RageCams has) are not good quality. However, the 5.4mm is rated 10MP and is quite decent, though expensive. I was unable to find that lens cheaper from other sources. Do you know of where I can find that lens or a similar 10MP rated lens at a significantly cheaper price?
P13
Well-known member
Not yet, there was a guy that figured out where Ragecams bought the 5.4mm and started selling them himself (judging by a public argument that took place on YouTube), Ragecams then threatening him with legal action.
I found out where to buy these new for $155 in the USA. Spoke to the guy on the phone. He mentioned that he orders them from overseas.
As you know from searching already, there are a couple sources online who sell them for around $375 or so (Ragecams.com, Stuntcam.com, etc) but I am pretty sure all of these are the same lens made in china or wherever.
They only fit the GoPro 3+ black without modding the cam. If you Have a non "plus" GoPro 3, the camera would need to be taken apart and modded due to the different lens mounting mechanism. Anyway, he said he will be getting a shipment in late this week. Here is the link: http://www.ostrc.com/collections/gopro-accessories
P13
Well-known member
No you can't. DJI haven't replied when asked if there were future upgrade plans to add pan, they have said there are no plans to release a retractable landing gear for this gimbal, suggesting they're not planning on adding a pan.
P13
Well-known member
Nice find, cheers.
The UK price including the shipping is: £110.41 - You can send questions to: sales@ostrc.com
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