DJI phantom with Walkera Gimbal
Getting a Drone
In order to expand on my photography I invested in a drone last year. The purpose was to get pictures I can't otherwise catch of the areas I walk and climb in. I figured it would help me document my adventures with my friends. I looked into what was on the market quite a while. I went for a DJI Phantom for a few reasons: I wanted something simple that I wasn't too worried about having up a mountain. I wanted to be able to swap in and out my GoPro so that I wasn't swapping cameras / cards / video formats too much. I wanted something that was readily customisable and for which I could easily get spares for maintenance. Since then I have added a Walkera G-2D gimbal: here's the how and why.
Getting a Gimbal
The DJI proved simple to use and easy to get footage with. It's easy to clip on the outside of a pack and it fits well inside a dry bag. Weight isn't too much of a problem either! My flying skills turned out not to give the smoothest footage though. I also like to fly my drone legally in non-urban environments, where it can be breezy. I soon realised stabilisation was needed... take a look at this 'before' footage below which dips with the drone and can be pretty shaky. I needed a gimbal.
The Solution
The G-2D had the best price point at the time I was looking for a 2 axis GoPro gimbal. It had decent reviews from users and had the simplicity I was looking for given the task at hand. I only wanted a 2 axis gimbal for ease of use. I didn't care much for features like being able to control it at a distance and I just wanted 'point and shoot' reliability for my shots so the G-2D made sense.
Installation
Installation of the G-2D on the DJI phantom was simple although the instructions that came in the box were less than helpful. I found a decent run through on YouTube so I shan't bore you too much, but all you need is some spare cable to extend those included and a soldering iron. After that some basic school electronics and a screw driver got me through fine. It's not a tough job.
Using the Gimbal
Installing a GoPro onto the G-2D is simple but fiddly. The metal bracket uses small screws that are easily lost. In the field this is a pain in the ass: loosing them is very easy. It's also slow which isn't very handy up a hill: a cable tie is a quick fix to both problems in field. A couple of times I've had to calibrate the gimbal. This is really easy (also fiddly again) using the small adjusting screw on the back of the unit. I simply popped in my GoPro and streamed the footage to my iPhone. I was the able to line up the angle I wanted and that was it. Easy! The way the gimbal is wired in means that to turn it on you just turn on the Phantom and it powers up.
What's Good?
To me the gimbal makes a big difference. My images are far more stable. I find that the variations of my flight and the drone's corrections are smoothed out brilliantly. What's better is that it was cheap and set up was easy.
What's Bad?
Battery life has been reduced a lot. I nearly got caught out with the drone below a bridge that I was stood above with a river below. A close call that was unexpected and nearly cost a lot of money. That brings me to another issue for the outdoors type: the GoPro isn't in its case anymore making it vulnerable to water and damage. The gimbal it self is a bit of faff if you were to want to get it off the drone: it's a pretty permanent addition.
Alternatives
so anyone looking at this is aware of the alternatives, I'm sure. A better question is....
What Needs Improving?
In that case I'd like to see a gimbal that attached using GoPro mounts to the desired drone: this would make a device quick and easy to swap out for those looking to use it in more remote areas / save battery. I would also give the ability to use the device on an arm for hand help stabilisation. Use GoPro mounts to attach the camera to the gimbal: that lets the camera be used in a waterproof case for added water and impact protection: both really import to outdoor enthusiasts. This idea makes it possible to swap cameras on and off extra quick. I had considered doing this with a Feiyu FY-WG 3 Axis Gimbal, but these are expensive and the GoPro is still vulnerable.
The Verdict
I'm a happy camper. If the rather niche 'ideal' product I describe above came out I'd swap, but for now the Walkera G-2D is staying put.