Hi from Kent (UK)

[RobBain]

Hi

I'm an engineer and a licensed UAV pilot here in the UK. I specialise in low cost, lightweight drones (multirotors). Previous set-ups with a GoPro failed to deliver the image quality I require (and introduced severe perspective distortion) so my latest multi (hexacopter) is specifically built around a GR.

I need to get up-to-speed with my GR quickly - so I'm after some wise words from seasoned Ricoh owners (I've been with Nikon up til now).

All my subjects (houses, ships, bridges, landscapes, construction zones etc.) will be some way away from me so I'm thinking infinity focus is the way to go. I'll be using the intervalometer feature on the GR as an automatic camera set-up allows me to fly solo. Shutter speed will be important, so I'd like to have the GR adjust the ISO (within reason) to keep the speed up. I've read a bit about 'snap' (should I use snap set to infinity?). Oooops - and on the intervalometer settings I need the cam to be taking as many pics as quickly as pos (so need high file write times). Any suggestions on cards (fast?)? Any suggestions on raw v. jpg? In fact, folks, any - polite - suggestions at all?

Living in the UK we should assume that dull is the default lighting condition and that sun (when it appears) is a bonus.

Many thanks in advance.

Regards,

Rob

 

[quester]

Hello Rob, and welcome here!

I would love to see photos of your equipment (drones and multirotors) - we are considering using this type of equipment for monitoring pests in our date orchard. Some of the palms are over 15 m. high, and we are looking for ways to do this work without the need of having someone ascend to this height with our present machinery. I'm sure any photos you have taken with your drones would be very interesting to the forum, also.

 

[RobBain]

Thanks Quester. Agricultural applications for drones will probably dominate in future and I've already had some local farmers express an interest in what I am doing (I'm in rural, NW Kent). Marginal improvements in yield would produce very short payback times for smaller drones (my specific interest). Plus I don't have to restrict myself to conventional cameras (ie. visual sensors). As sensor technology advances I can lift small IR sensors, thermodynamic sensors etc. Geo-reference the outputs from my drone and we could use that to automatically direct fertiliser or pesticide sprays - improving the targeting and efficiency of that.

I'm new to the site so don't know how to post pics yet. I'll get around to that and show you my GR-based drone.

Now, anybody got any suggestions with start-off settings for me (or general advice)? Why, for example, if I switch focus to infinity and turn the intervalometer on does the lens appear to cycle through a sort of focusing operation before taking the pics; slowing down the shooting? I want to get as near to 1 shot/second as possible. I don't want any focusing (if that is indeed what it is doing - maybe it is metering?). I just want it to start shooting at infinity immediately (and without any hesitation).

Kind regards,

Rob

 

[quester]

Thanks for the info, Rob.
Sorry can't help you with your GR questions, I only have a PX.

 

[Blow-in]

Rob,

An interesting project and I should think the GR will be ideal. I have the previous model (GRD4) and if you set the interval shooting on with the focus on infinity I can't detect a refocus pause. With the GRD4 the shortest interval I can set is 5 seconds. Write speeds will obviously be critical so file size, RAW or JPG and card speed will all have some influence here. It's best wth the 'G' series to save your settings to one of the 'MY's.

Richard

 

[RobBain]

Hello Rob, and welcome here!

I would love to see photos of your equipment (drones and multirotors) - we are considering using this type of equipment for monitoring pests in our date orchard. Some of the palms are over 15 m. high, and we are looking for ways to do this work without the need of having someone ascend to this height with our present machinery. I'm sure any photos you have taken with your drones would be very interesting to the forum, also.

Hi Quester

Here is a pic of my latest multi-rotor. Instead of building the UAV and bolting a camera onto it, I took the GR and had the UAV built around it:

http://www.fl4.co.uk/NewUAV/Images/newuav.jpg

Currently testing prior to certification (mid-March).

Regards to all,

Rob

 

[Blow-in]

That's a very neat looking UAV - I like all the carbon fibre. It will be great to see some shots from it.

Richard

 

[RobBain]

That's a very neat looking UAV - I like all the carbon fibre. It will be great to see some shots from it.

Richard

Thanks Richard. My aim is to keep things small and simple. I had to move up from a quad to a hex (a) to give me just a little more payload capacity, and (b) to give me rotor-redundancy. If one rotor/motor fails, the UAV can still fly (an important consideration when working above active construction zones). A single failure on a quad brings things quickly to an end! The testing phase usually focusses on limiting vibration-transfer to the camera. I'm not there yet - but I'm on my way. Pics soon.

Kind regards,

Rob

 

[thelps]

Hi Rob and welcome,
a most interesting pursuit you have here. I love your UAV.
Just a thought, you could consider adding a GH-3 for a bit more lens protection should you have a rough landing.
Not much weight added. The front ring comes off to put the hood tube on so some trade off weight.

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/products/gr/accessories/index.html

Even without the hood the tube part will help protect the lens while extended.
It will take a 49mm threaded filter if desired also.

 

[RobBain]

Hi Rob and welcome,
a most interesting pursuit you have here. I love your UAV.
Just a thought, you could consider adding a GH-3 for a bit more lens protection should you have a rough landing.
Not much weight added. The front ring comes off to put the hood tube on so some trade off weight.

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/products/gr/accessories/index.html

Even without the hood the tube part will help protect the lens while extended.
It will take a 49mm threaded filter if desired also.

Thanks Tim - this is well worth considering.

Also, as a new Ricoh user, I've to work out which RAW developer to use (ie. invest my time in learning). I don't want to start off with one package only to find out later that I should have been using something else all along!

Cheers,

Rob

 

[33dollars]

Hiya Rob and welcome to the Ricoh forum.

 

[quester]

Hi Quester
Here is a pic of my latest multi-rotor. Instead of building the UAV and bolting a camera onto it, I took the GR and had the UAV built around it:
http://www.fl4.co.uk/NewUAV/Images/newuav.jpg

Currently testing prior to certification (mid-March).
Regards to all,
Rob

Thanks for showing this Rob - yes, please show us at some point what you do with this set-up.

 

[RobBain]

That's a very neat looking UAV - I like all the carbon fibre. It will be great to see some shots from it.

Richard

Hi Richard

My primary interest is in 'aerial abstracts'. I attach some recent examples. Wonder if you can work out what these are?

Kind regards,

Rob

 

[Blow-in]

Great colours Rob. Hard to work out what we are looking at without a sense of scale but I think perhaps an old quarry area - perhaps kaolin. Something that required wash pan areas.....give me a clue!

Richard

 

[RobBain]

Great colours Rob. Hard to work out what we are looking at without a sense of scale but I think perhaps an old quarry area - perhaps kaolin. Something that required wash pan areas.....give me a clue!

Richard

Actually, Richard - you're nearly spot-on. This is the magnificent Parys Mountain on Anglesey (once the world's largest copper mine). Looks ethereal - trippy even - when you're there. Used for a number of sci-fi movies and Dr Who. No wonder!

The three images I posted were all verticals. Here's an oblique which tells the full story. Viewing platform in the foreground.

Kind regards,

Rob

 

[Orol]

Nice abstracts. It might well be some micro world also. The mine yard looks amazing and sure worth of exploration with a camera in hands.

Peter