Photos
I have many more videos of the kids sledging with my drone. I think I might have to upgrade my microblog account!
So I have a drone...(yes, I have pictures and a video)
When I was a kid, I would go to the model shop every month or two. I looked at the remote control cars, planes and helicopters with great envy and usually came home with only a humble model plane to my name.
So when drones first became mass market, It felt like my childhood dream was finally within reach. And yet I waited. I didn’t have masses of disposable income and when an opportunity to get one did come up, there was always a better thing to buy.
Until this winter. Now, thanks to some vouchers for performance from work and the benefits of a tax write off combined with Black Friday sales I am the owner of a DJI Mini 4k, the cheapest drone around.
The Mini 4k
Why this drone? Well, it’s simple.
I know and trust the DJI brand (not perfect, but good enough).
I did wonder about their even cheaper NEO which has some pros (can be used without a remote, cheaper to start with, can do FPV too) but some big downsides too. The phone and handsfree modes have very limited distance, and when you add a remote, it’s more than the mini 4k.
So I went for the mini 4k without the fly more combo (mistake! I already want more batteries so i can have longer flights. I’m also envious of the mini 3 which can do vertical video and you can get a remote with a screen built in).
But even with the benefit of hindsight, I think this was probably the best decision I could have made with the information I knew at the time.
You could have told me all the points I’d made but it would probably have made me not get anything. So here are a few things I wish I had considered before getting my drone.
Get a micro SD card and a landing/launch pad
I had an old Micro SD card from back when I had an android phone (Yes, it’s been a while!) but I soon found problems. The write speed of those old cards just isn’t enough for 4k video.
Luckily, getting a 4x larger card with a faster write speed costs 10X less than what I paid back then! Still, I wish I had ordered one when I got the drone.
Similarly, I didn’t know about what you need/should have to launch and land a drone. While you can in theory launch from any old surface, it’s not a good idea and drones certainly don’t want to land on uneven dirt.
Enter a landing pad! A flat and bright surface to help launch and land your drone.
Most of my early expeditions have been at urban and concreted locations so I haven’t NEEDED a landing pad, I’m still planning to get one for more grassy launches.
Will the novelty wear off
Yes, I’m sure it will.
Novelty ALWAYS wears off, but sometimes function, enjoyment and satisfaction fill its place. I’m hoping that will be the case here but I’m aware that it will most likely become like my photography hobby — something I indulge occasionally but don’t regularly pursue.
Still, for the moment I’m enjoying the drone and it is making me look to go out more.
I didn’t share the last image for sketchy adventh so here’s week three and four together (I’m proud of both). I’ve got one more for Christmas morning ready to drop!
Taking the kids to the Kraków garden of lights. This year’s theme is „mini world” and my favourites part is that America is definitelyed by burgers and fries. (There were other things…but it still rings true). We’ve been about four years now and I think this was the best.
Just wrapped my secret Santa for my work colleagues. Pretty proud of my gift selection (and the wrapping paper obviously).
The first sketchy advent is out. Hope and Isaiah 9:2,6-7.
The first sketchy advent drops tomorrow. I’m using the themes of the advent candles to guide the verses, images and reflections. Tomorrow, is hope.
My brother is visiting so I took him to the Jewish coffee shop and cultural centre. One of my favourite spots in krakow.
Back from Szczyrk - Polish mountain town
I spent the last week with my family down in a Polish mountain village going on walks, enjoying hearty food and making ample use of the Hotel pool and playroom. It wasn’t easy at times with two small rooms which meant we had to spend our evenings in the dark once the kids were asleep, but it was well worth it. And not bringing any work or projects with me was absolutely the right idea. I’m well rested which is exactly what I needed.
