Our Photography Drones

Aerial Hotshots operate a number of drone platforms to service client needs.

These platforms provide that unique aerial view but the end product is very different and the cost to operate increases with capabilities.

What We Use

The DJI  Flamewheel F550

The DJI F550 is a single pilot operated and has a fixed GoPro camera that shoots in the direction of flight. The end product is high definition photographs and video but not to the standard produced by the DJI S900 due to the Camera payload (Sony Nex7 or Sony A7R).

CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW MORE INFORMATION AND IMAGE EXAMPLES FROM THIS DRONE.

The DJI S800 EVO

The DJI S800 is the higher end of the market. This is a 2 person operation (Pilot & Cameraman) to ensure the operation is safe and the required images for our clients are captured.. The cameraman controls the gimbal and can rotate the camera 360 degrees. This setup is a must for capturing 360 and perspetive views. This Drone are fitted with a Sony Nex7 high definition camera and produce 24meg images and HD video. CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW MORE INFORMATION AND IMAGE EXAMPLES FROM THIS DRONE.

The DJI S900

The DJI S900 is our premium Drone because of its superior camera gimbal and camera payload. This is a 2 person operation (Pilot & Cameraman) to ensure the operation is safe and the required images for our clients are captured. The cameraman controls the gimbal and can rotate the camera 360 degrees. This setup is a must for capturing 360 and perspetive views. This Drone are fitted with a Sony Alpha A7R  36MP camera that that also shoots HD Video.

Drone Comparison

The below table is designed to provide our clients with an understanding of each Drones capabilities.

DJI F550
DJI S800 EVO
DJI S900
 Drone_Photography_002  Drone_Photography_003  Drone_Photography_004
Crew:
  • Pilot
  • Spotter
  • Pilot
  • Pilot & Cameraman
  • Spotter
  • Pilot
  • Pilot & Cameraman
  • Spotter
Camera Payload:
  • GoPro Hero 3 Black
  • GoPro Hero 4 Black
  • Sony Nex 7 HD Camera
  • Sony Alpha A7R Camera
Resultant Imagery:
  • 10MG JPEGS
  • HD Video
  • 24 MG Raw,
  • HD Video
  • 36MP Raw,
  • HD Video
Camera Mount:
  • 3 Axis Stabilised
  • 3 Axis Stabilised
  • Gimbal Cost $3500
  • 3 Axis Stabilised
  • Gimbal Cost $4500 (Superior)
Flight Controller:
  • Naza M V2 IMU flight controller
  • A2 IMU Most advanced stablization
  • High precision GPS
  • A2 IMU Most advanced stablization
  • High precision GPS
Benefits:
  • Cost  (Cheaper than S800)
  • Excellent Camera
  • Accurate Hover
  • Accurate Altitude Hold
  • Excellent Camera Gimbal
  • Superior Technology
  • Superior Camera (36MP, HD)
  • More Accurate Hover
  • More Accurate Altitude Hold
  • Superior Camera Gimbal
  • Superior Technology
Negatives:
  • GOPRO Camera system
  • Shorter Fight time (due payload)
  • More expensive
  • Shorter Fight time (due payload)
  • More expensive

Camera Comparison

The below table is designed to demonstrate the differences in the camera quality options that we have. The primary difference is the end product quality of the images captured.
Quite clearly the GOPRO is inferior to the Sony cameras but is a much cheaper option for the budget mindful client and produces usable images.

GOPRO HERO 3  BLACK

GOPRO HERO 4  BLACK

SONY NEX 7

SONY Alpha A7R

Drone DJI F550 DJI F550 DJI S800 Evo DJI S900

Sensor Type

CMOS sensor

CMOS sensor

CMOS sensor

CMOS sensor

Sensor Size

Diagonal 7.81mm Type 1/2.3

Diagonal 7.81mm Type 1/2.3

APS-C 23.4 x 15.6 mm

BSI-CMOS 35.9 X 24mm

Lens Modified from Wide Angle to 5.4mm Modified from Wide Angle to 5.4mm 16mm 2.8 Sony FE 35 mm f2.8

Sensor Resolution

10MP

10MP

24MP

36MP

Movie Format

HD: 720p, 1080p

HD: 1080, 2.7K, 4K

HD

HD

Image Recording Format

JPEG Only

JPEG & Protune

RAW & JPEG

RAW & JPEG

Aperture

Fixed f2.8

Fixed f2.8

f2.8 – f22

f2.8 – f22

Focus None None Auto & Manual Auto & Manual

GOPRO Protune

No

Yes, allows users to shoot in a higher quality and with less compression

N/A

N/A

Overall Quality Lens aperture is a fixed f2.8 with limited depth of field. Produces soft images with extreme distortion, chromatic aberration and falloff. JPEG files are smaller files with less resolution and have very limited ability to enhance image in post production. Very average colour reproduction and not suitable for enlarging. Limited ability to control White Balance and ISO in camera. Can produce images with colour balance issues and high noise levels. Lens aperture is a fixed f2.8 with limited depth of field. Produces soft images with extreme distortion, chromatic aberration and falloff. JPEG files are smaller files with less resolution and have very limited ability to enhance image in post production. Very average colour reproduction and not suitable for enlarging. Limited ability to control White Balance and ISO in camera. Can produce images with colour balance issues and high noise levels.   16mm prime lens f2.8-f22 produces sharper images with superior colour reproduction and contrast. Little distortion and falloff RAW files from the NEX7 are uncompressed large files with much higher resolution. RAW’s ability to record increased detail and file information make the end result in post production far superior to JPEG. Manual White Balance and ISO settings give greater control in camera. Creates images with accurate colour balance and less noise.

Absence of an optical low-pass (anti alias) filter on the CMOS sensor produces sharper images.

Electronic first front curtain which allows exposure to begin then the mechanical shutter drops to stop exposure. This eliminates the blur that mirror and shutter shock can produce.

Backside illuminated CMOS sensor enables greater ISO or low light performance producing superior low light images.

This produces smoother images shot at high ISO preserving detail without the characteristic noise and jagged edging