I'm thinking about getting one of these...
https://www.facebook.com/cbcne...29011224604/?fref=nf
Jerry
Matt Kirsch posted:Yes yes, time marches on, technology blah blah blah...
1. The reality of the situation is that you can't get these desired overhead shots without overflying the railway's right of way. Does that in any way shape or form sound like a responsible use of a drone?
2. You don't think it'll happen? Railfans are CRAZY when it comes to getting "the shot." One youtube video of NKP 765's excursions through Western NY last summer shows an SUV racing the train along a stretch of Dale Rd in Attica. People standing in the road. People standing along both sides of the road. The car racing the train came flying around the curve and right through everyone. Never even slowed down. They had to get that shot. It was a miracle nobody got hit. Not a lick of common sense or self-preservation among the lot of them.
1. Not sure that's a big deal. Certainly wouldn't be out here as long as you're using good sense about it.
2. Some foamers are already crazy on the ground, no surprise some might be crazy in the air. They might even have more of an incentive to be safer airborne though. Those whirlycopeters can easily cost over $1,000. They might be crazy, but they will know that smashing a $1,000 toy is going to hurt.
Kent in SD
I've seen a few videos on youtube that were recorded using drones and they are incredible!!!!...while I am not looking forward to purchasing one yet the potential is beyond imaginable...
Personally, I think drone photos are a fad and so is the Go Pro thing. Before I would spend that kind of money on a drone and fool with it I would buy a new serious lens for my Canon 60D
Like any technology, drones are going to go through a period where it is unsure whether they are a bane or a boon. While for example, if a drone crashed into the engine of a train, it would likely cause little damage to the train, it could also distract a train operator, especially if you get some moron who thinks it would be 'fun' to buzz a train and so forth (put it this way, I already have heard in my local town of parents buying one of these things for their teenage son, then surprised how the kid uses/abuses it.....there have been idiots buzzing cars, flying in front of them, and also flying fairly high up in the flight path of local airports, not to mention the little dears who think peeping in people's windows is fun..and worse, that property owners may have no recourse, because once above the ground, the law is FAA regulations, and private property doesn't exist (don't believe me? If you turn a garden hose on a drone flying over your property, or otherwise bring it down, you can be charged with an attack on an aircraft, like if you shot at an airplane).
With trains, while drones could give you spectacular views of trains, I also suspect the railroads may not be too thrilled, because is that drone some railfan eager to get pictures of the train to thrill over, or is it someone with more nefarious things in mind? Is that drone flying around the train a friendly, or some idiot (probably a teenager or 20 something idiot) thinking it will be fun to play chicken with the train operator? Legally the railroad may not have the right to claim that a drone flying over their tracks is violating their private property (I am not a lawyer, and I also suspect the law hasn't been worked out), but they also could radio in what is going on, and the operator of the drone may find themselves faced with a ****ed off law enforcement official.
Does this mean you shouldn't use a drone for railfanning? No, but it does mean to make sure you do your research about the law, about responsibilities and so forth, before doing it. And I would make sure to get a separate insurance policy for the drone in case something does go wrong, because given our society, any kind of accident could expose you to issues, as others have said (for example, as far as I know, many personal liability policies with insurance exclude things like radio controlled aircraft, the RC guys on here can comment, but most of the guys I have known into RC had separate policies for liability there).
Looks like the FAA is going to have to revise some laws protecting aircraft, to address much smaller drones, with regard to "stand your ground" laws and private property, probably with a change to exclude those of small size, weight, and unmanned. The clowns who peep in windows or fly them in front of automobiles, much less locomotives, will get addressed, unfortunately, usually AFTER some major "accident" where somebody is hurt or killed. And that, as usually, will restrict the rights of those who used them responsibly.
One thing I've noticed is that some of the drones come with a fisheye lens on the camera. Unless you're a fan of geometric distortion, i.e., U-shaped locomotives and such (I'm not), I would avoid an extreme wide angle (fisheye) and go with a normal focal length lens. Having done some elementary research on the subject I have seen that a number of drones are available with a range of different camera/lens options.
Hot Water posted:Allegheny posted:Great example of what a drone can do for train photography! Beautifully done! Just think of the expense and time if that video had to be produced in a more traditional manner?
Yes, it surely is an EXCELLENT scenery video. But, who wants watch a video of spectacular steam locomotive action without realtime sound? In my opinion, music and steam locomotive sounds just don't go together, no matter how great the photography is.
Agreed, sound is great. But before drones, we got videos with MILES of footage of steam action taken by helicopter. I suspect that was just fine by you--dubbed-in sound and all.
smd4 posted:Hot Water posted:Allegheny posted:Great example of what a drone can do for train photography! Beautifully done! Just think of the expense and time if that video had to be produced in a more traditional manner?
Yes, it surely is an EXCELLENT scenery video. But, who wants watch a video of spectacular steam locomotive action without realtime sound? In my opinion, music and steam locomotive sounds just don't go together, no matter how great the photography is.
Agreed, sound is great. But before drones, we got videos with MILES of footage of steam action taken by helicopter. I suspect that was just fine by you--dubbed-in sound and all.
Nope. Never cared for THAT either. I preferred watching the silent versions.
??? If the steam video was from a chopper then it was tourist line because real steam was gone by the time heilocopters came in to use. This is a stupid argument because drones are a new way to get aerial shots and they are limited in their appeal. I was at a rail photographer get together Sat. and the video and slides were excellent with no drone used. To say photos from the track side are boring is stupid. Personally, I want to set up and take photos and not worry about flying a drone. Who is going to be the first drone operator hit by a train ??
Drones, and irresponsible drone operators, are changing the face of model aviation, and not for the better.
I've flown control line model airplanes since the 1960's. A control line model airplane is a tethered (powered) aircraft, and in my case, tethered with two 7 strand braided steel flying lines .018" in diameter and no longer than 60', which provides up/down elevator with which to maneuver.
Yet, because of the drone explosion and irresponsible drone use, the FAA has gotten involved and (at last report) is now going to require REGISTRATION for ALL model aircraft pilots/operators on any aircraft over 5.5 ounces. Penalties for non-compliance can include fines up to $27,000.
If the ruling stands, even my control line aircraft will now have to be registered (which will require $$), and my FAA registration number affixed to my airplanes. We're talking CONTROL LINE AIRPLANES here that can pose NO terrorism threat because of they lack autonomous ability or FPV ability. Yet, in the infinite wisdom of government intervention via our wonderful FAA, these same control line airplanes will now have to be registered (revenue) and proof of said registration on my person and registration number on my airplanes or I can be fined/etc.
Ridiculous.
