Gimbal question

[Wedeliver]

I have picked up a used DJI Phantom 2 Vision. The camera is not attached to the bird but it works. So I looked but I am unable to find the tilt assembly as a replacement part, but I saw these 2x gimbal. I could not find any others that worked with the vision camera.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/380924911002?lpid=82
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DJI-Phantom-Vis ... 4897.l5661

and I wondered if I could get any feedback from you folks about this option or what other ways I might go. thanks

 

[ProfessorStein]

They're inexpensive, to be sure. They work for some, not for others. But, overall, quality is not great from what I've heard.

The old adage "you get what you pay for".

The RotorPixel, MotorPixie, and Taco Supreme gimbals all work with the standard Vision camera and are better quality. Look a little deeper, you'll find 'em.

 

[Wedeliver]

Thanks for the hints. I did see the RotorPixel, one of the links above, but I did not see the others. But with those names I can search for them. It does not seem that gimbals for the vision camera are listed very well. Prof, have you put a gimbal on the vision camera?

Also any ideas on where I can find the tilt that comes with the Phantom 2 vision since that is what is missing at this time?

 

[ProfessorStein]

Nope, I haven't yet. Waiting until RotorPixels are more freely available. But pretty sure I've decided that's the one I'm getting.

When you say "the tilt that comes with the Phantom 2 vision", what do you mean?

Do you mean the little levers that folks have put on the back of their RC? Those don't "come" with the Vision. They are third party. And it sounds as though they no longer work if you're running the latest firmware anyway. But they're pretty easy to find. I believe there's a thread or two here that talks about them, just search for something like "7th channel".

The only tilt that "comes" with a Vision is the Vision app. And it depends on what aftermarket gimbal you get whether the app is compatible or not.

 

[ProfessorStein]

Ahhhhh... THAT "tilt". Got it. You're probably right, dirk. I thought we were still talking aftermarket gimbals.

Yeah, those are going to be tough to find as a separate part. DJI doesn't sell them, AFAIK, and the only replacement FC200's I've seen come as a full set - gimbal and camera... and are typically much more expensive then they should be (better to go to a 2D gimbal, at that point).

Best you could hope for is to keep an eye on the classified ads here, and on eBay, and find someone who's either upgraded to a RotorPixel et al and doesn't want their old "tilt box", or someone who's crashed their Phantom and is parting out (though, in my experience, the gimbal is usually the first casualty in a crash bad enough to total the bird... so it's going to be a tough hunt, I'm guessing). You could post an ad, here, yourself, as a WTB (willing to buy) and see what response you might get.

 

[Wedeliver]

I think this is what you need but you need to call them to see if that little box is complete .Might not have the servo in it :shock: http://www.davesmotors.com/s.nl/c.88503 ... d.12069/.f also need these too http://www.davesmotors.com/s.nl/c.88503 ... d.12379/.f

thanks for the reply, now I am moving forward I think

At $9.00 bucks wouldn't that be neat. But thanks for the link I was unable to find anything other then a complete camera and tilt mechanism. I did email sales at daves asking about the tilt thingy or what other options he might have.

 

[Wedeliver]

Ahhhhh... THAT "tilt". Got it. You're probably right, dirk. I thought we were still talking aftermarket gimbals.

Yeah, those are going to be tough to find as a separate part. DJI doesn't sell them, AFAIK, and the only replacement FC200's I've seen come as a full set - gimbal and camera... and are typically much more expensive then they should be (better to go to a 2D gimbal, at that point).

Best you could hope for is to keep an eye on the classified ads here, and on eBay, and find someone who's either upgraded to a RotorPixel et al and doesn't want their old "tilt box", or someone who's crashed their Phantom and is parting out (though, in my experience, the gimbal is usually the first casualty in a crash bad enough to total the bird... so it's going to be a tough hunt, I'm guessing). You could post an ad, here, yourself, as a WTB (willing to buy) and see what response you might get.

Sorry that I was unclear, but it seems I have not be explaining myself well lately. But you are correct I have a camera, I have the quad it came with but no attachment with a motor that allows for tilt, LIke yourself I thought it might be just fine to instead put a gimbal on it and I will take a much longer look at the RotoPixel gimbal. I am not cheap (but I can do a good bird impression "cheap, cheap") but I have found that I don't know everything and there is no reason to spend $200.00 if I can get the same thing for $100.00 and I don't mind doing a little work to make that savings.

Although this does bring to mind the story of the American Indian selling pottery on the side of the road. A guy drives up gets out of his car and walks around looking then he asks the Indian, "I see 2 bowls here and they look exactly the same but one is priced at $10.00 and one is priced at $20.00." "Why is that", he asks. The wise old Indian responds, "some people like to spend $10.00 and some people like to spend $20.00"

Now I have no idea what that means but I felt compelled to share

 

[DKDarkness]

"To complete this build you'll need:"

4 rubber dampeners: http://www.dronefly.com/product-p/vision-rubber-damper.htm
DJI Dampening bracket: http://www.dronefly.com/product-p/vision-dampening-braket.htm
A compatible metal gear servo: https://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking..._10HM_Digital_Micro_Servo_2_2kg_10g_0_12.html
(you'll need to cut one of the rudder horns to a "half moon" shape to make it work)
Servo extension wire to connect the standard servo connectors to the NAZA-M's F2 port: https://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking...Servo_Lead_Extention_JR_26AWG_10pcs_bag_.html

The provided links are examples only, but the servo MUST meet the exact specifications (size) to work. You'll need to cut of the flanges with a hack saw the same as DJI does on theirs (you can still see the striations on the DJI servos!)