FPV Setup In English Question

[brianweis]

I spent 30+ hours researching the best setup, between the vision and P2. I watched countless videos and determined what I want to do, settings for gopro..but I am at a loss on what I need to buy above and beyond the p2 and the gimbal.

I want to shoot photos and videos but feel the vision video quality is not up to par)

I want to do FPV (first person view)... And believe there is some ground station coming soon for the P2.

I want a small monitor I can attach to the controller or something. I do not want a massive tripod or goggles to do first person flights.

What do I need? What is an iosd? Any good videos on how to setup fpv and the ipad/ground station. Is the setup easy...I am a photographer web guy (who can fly hubsans like no ones business) but I am not good at soldering.... Or making things work with strange cords.

Can anyone dumb down what I need to buy (or take into account).... I am ok spending the money if it is a quality setup.

Help...I

 

[SARC]

I want to shoot photos and videos but feel the vision video quality is not up to par)

The options you have are the built in camera on the Phantom 2 Vision v's a GoPro using the Zenmuse Gimbal on the Phantom 2 (non-vision)

You can control the camera on the Vision from the ground (through your cellphone), "control" meaning start / stop video, take pictures. I do not know of a way to control the GoPro from the ground. I turn mine on to record before I take off, then I edit the videos down later. I believe you can extract a photo from the GoPro video stream afterwards but I don't know what the quality would be like.

If your key goal is to shoot photos and videos, you would need to decide whether you are happy with the best capability the Phantom can provide. Basically I see 3 choices :

A) Easy way to control the camera from the ground BUT limited video stability. Completely ready to fly, no modifications needed --> Vision

B) No camera control from the ground BUT great video stability. Need to do limited "assembly" to add the FPV system --> P2 with Zenmuse Gimbal/GoPro

C) Need better than GoPro quality photo/video --> need to buy something bigger and heavier that can handle a more SLR like camera

If you decide on A), you don't need to buy any extra add ons because you have FPV through your cell phone using the wifi downlink on the Vision

If you decide B) you need to add an FPV kit. I use this one.... http://www.helipal.com/storm-all-in-one ... eluxe.html

You will also need the iOSD (On screen display) to get the flight info showing up on your FPV screen.

Adding the iOSD and FPV requires you to connect to 4 wires on the P2. This 4 wire loom is outside of the shell so you don't need to take the Phantom apart, but you will need to be competent in soldering and be able to follow a simple circuit diagram

 

[brianweis]

Thanks for the info. I decided on the P2 and already own the gopro 3 black. And was inquiring on the fpv part of your post.

So I will need to do some soildering for FPV. Are there kits out there to buy. The one I saw out there switched batteries (I think)...do I want to switch controllers?

 

[brianweis]

Ok..i have a friend who will do the soldering (he is a RC guy..thanks goodness)

So for http://www.helipal.com/storm-all-in-one ... eluxe.html
Did you mount in on the controller or where is it? Did you stay with the phantom controller?

You said "You will also need the iOSD (On screen display) to get the flight info showing up on your FPV screen."

Do you have a link for what to buy?

 

[SARC]

Ok..i have a friend who will do the soldering (he is a RC guy..thanks goodness)

So for http://www.helipal.com/storm-all-in-one ... eluxe.html
Did you mount in on the controller or where is it? Did you stay with the phantom controller?

You said "You will also need the iOSD (On screen display) to get the flight info showing up on your FPV screen."

Do you have a link for what to buy?

I mounted the screen on the top of the standard DJI controller using the included mounting brackets.

There is a good video of how to install the monitor on a standard DJI controller here........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4bTvfzJEFww

The iOSD is here.....

http://www.helipal.com/dji-iosd-mini-on-screen-display-module.html

I bought mine from B&H Photo in the US at the same time as I bought my P2. Everywhere seems to have them at the same price.