A Guide To Buying A Drone For Video Production Companies
Drone footage can add a lot of class and production value to your project. In the past, many video production companies were not equipped with drones, so they would hire a third party to get the drone shots. Since drones are now getting cheaper, higher quality and easier to operate, they are becoming an essential in-house tool for filmmakers. If your production company owns a drone, you can seamlessly integrate drone footage and fulfill the project vision without having to source it out. Ultimately, you can increase your profit margins if you own a drone instead of hiring a 3rd party. This article explains three key things to work for if you are buying a drone.
4K Video Capabilities
First and foremost, you need to make sure your drone has an adequate camera. Even if you are not yet shooting 4k with your other cameras, a 4K drone is a good investment. The small sensor on a drone camera will benefit from the higher resolution. Of course, you can also set the resolution to 1080p to fit within an HD project without any downscaling. When buying 4K, make sure the frame rate is adequate. For instance, some cameras can shoot 4K, but only at low frame rates (like 14). This will render 4K basically useless to many video production companies. However, most will have HD capabilities with much higher frame rates (like 60 or 120)
3-Axis Gimbal
A 3-axis gimbal is very important. A drone without a gimbal will produce footage that is basically useless. It will be shaky and warped from the wind and vibration of the props. A 3-axis gimbal allows you to pitch forward, back, up and down with seamless transition. It reduces jolting and counters the effects of strong wind gusts.
Live View Monitor
For the best results, you need to have a live view monitor. Some drones require that you buy a separate monitor and transmitter that sends the image from the drone to the monitor. However, the most convenient drones will already have live view capabilities built into the drone. This sends the signal directly to a smartphone or tablet. Through a normal WIFI connection, you can have a live view of your camera. Flying without a live view of your camera is like flying blind. You are basically guessing where to point the camera and the results are not always great. You have to do a lot of re-shooting if you don't have live view capabilities.
You can take your video production to the next level if you invest in a drone. Contact a local company like Major Video Inc. or a similar location for more help and info.