I guess it depends on what they consider “quality.” If their output is to post photos on social media or even make small prints, sure a drone camera works great. But any large print, and even the high end drone cameras don’t hold up. They have about the quality of an iPhone photo, looks great but the print quality doesn’t compare to a professional imaging camera. Drone companies are in the business of building RC quads first, imaging is not their primary business. The drone I use takes great video, but I wouldn’t film a Hollywood movie on it. But if a drone suits the need, there’s nothing wrong with that. Any tool that can help one be creative is great and useful. I’m in favor of creativity.

Whoever made that claim was clearly just _DRONING ON._ 😊😊😊

Regarding the folks making that claim, I also just remembered this saying: *_"They are clearly LEGENDS IN THEIR OWN MINDS."_* 😆😆😆

I have drones that will lift the same Sony camera Evan uses which means the photo quality is the same.

@@ctldel290yeah but those drones will produce so much noise pollution that everyone is going to hate you. This flying kite-camera combo is just beautiful and practically silent. Would be great to take pics of kitesurfers, haha.

Yes, you can for sure fly off the back of a sailboat and then even tie off the line and just let it follow you. The great thing about flying from a boat is that the boat creates the apparent wind for the kite so it usually ends up flying nice and smoothly. With the GoPro 9 having exceptional image stabilization, you should be able to get some great video that way!

Ahh hello like-minded person! We just bought a starter amount of stuff to try and rig up a camera for our sailboat! Did you try it? how did it go??

Thank you so much! I really appreciate the feedback and am glad to hear you’re enjoying the videos.

Thank you!

Very true. I’ve spent straight hours flying my kite and camera just to get the right shot at the right time. I think the longest was over 6, close to 7 straight maybe.

@@EvanReinheimer Ive just heard that there's a professional drone in Australia that can stay in the air for ten hours. That almost sounds like science fiction.

Thank you! I appreciate the positive feedback.

Thank you! My kites pack into a shipping tube that I attached a carrying strap to. It’s about 4’ long and 4” wide. I may have mentioned it in another video and you may sometimes see it in videos (it looks like a big cardboard tube). I’ll put it in an upcoming video and show how I pack it. The backpack I use fits a Pelican case with my cameras and KAP rig as well as some other essentials. I’m also planning to do a video showing how I pack my camera gear.

Thanks for watching. Unless it is expressly prohibited, I generally don’t ask before flying a kite. Some national parks do forbid them and getting permission can be difficult or as simple as sending an email, it really varies. If I want to photograph something that is on private property, I’ll ask permission and sometimes if it’s a landmark type place, they will have protocols for photo shoots. I actually do own a Helikite and have used it a couple times, but it’s been a long, long time since the last time. Maybe I’ll take it out some day soon🤔

Yes a kite can definitely circumvent the drone rules. I try not to abuse that because I don’t want kites getting banned now too. I’ve flown kites on the National mall before, I believe you are only allowed to fly between the Washington and Lincoln memorials, but check that because it’s been over a decade since I did KAP there.

you can harddisable it.

Good questions. The short answer is yes, a balloon can work and I have used weather balloons with this rig in that situation before. However, balloons present a bunch of challenges such as: if there is even a slight breeze a balloon becomes very unstable so it is hard to keep the camera aimed in one direction. The amount of helium needed to lift even just 3lbs is a lot more than you’d expect and requires lugging around a big heavy tank. Any wind also will push a balloon down whereas it would lift a kite up. So yes, it can be done but it’s surprisingly easier to do with a kite.

@@EvanReinheimer Thanks! I never would have guessed it was so complicated. How big of a balloon (diameter) would you guess would be needed to haul up your Sony camera?

I’m honestly not sure. The last time I used a weather balloon was probably 2016 and I used it to lift a Sony NEX camera. It was a big balloon. There is probably an online calculator that could tell you the volume of helium you would need.

BAP = Balloon Aerial Photography *ALSO...* KAL = Kite Aerial LiDAR [aerial based LiDAR] KAP = Kite Aerial Photography KAT = Kite Aerial Thermography [thermal infrared imaging] KAV = Kite Aerial Video PAP = Pole Aerial Photography [using an extendable pole to support your camera from the ground] {I do NOT normally _"Toot My Own Flag Or Wave My Own Horn"_ -- YES, I say it that way 😊 -- but I would like to point out _ME_ being able to _ACTUALLY REMEMBER_ all those acronyms is NOT an insignificant accomplishment...😉}

Great question. It depends mostly on the lighting conditions and the intended look of my final photograph. I shoot over 1/1000th quite often as it helps prevent any motion blur, even though the camera is quite stable in the air.

Yup! As I mention in the video, drones are great for video, but my focus is on still images.

Very cool! Here is a video showing the ZV1 in action: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ipqTl92Eyq3Gfqs.html Here is some more info about kites for KAP: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mZ11lZeFpsu1ZGQ.html

Depends on what I’m photographing. Usually the Zeiss Batis 18mm or 25mm. Sometimes the Sony Zeiss 35mm. On occasion the Samyang 24mm & 75mm.

That’s a great way to get awesome footage. And 360 cameras make it so easy to do now, great idea! A KAP Foil kite or delta would work well for slow moving platforms I would think.

@@EvanReinheimer Thanks...I will look into the foil kite. I posted one video, turned out better than expected for the first attempt, but more experimenting to do.

Yes, that was done with KAP in 2012. It was surprisingly easy and uneventful. I launched my kite from Palatine Hill which helped me get above nearby buildings.

​@@EvanReinheimer>>> Rodger all that -- Thanks.

That is the KAP Foil 3.0 made by HQ Kites. I go over that kite in detail in this video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rtdllNmjt5-2nY0.html and also give an overview of it and many of my kites in this video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mZ11lZeFpsu1ZGQ.html

@@EvanReinheimer Thanks!!

I’ve flown a kite off the back of a moving vehicle before but I don’t know if it would be smooth enough for a good looking time lapse. Worth trying though.

I’ve used a helium balloon before. The problem with balloons is that if there’s any wind, a tethered balloon is pushed down and becomes very unstable. Not to mention, traveling with a helium tank is not easy, especially outside of North America. I have a thing called a Helikite that is a hybrid of a kite and a helium balloon. One of the kites that I use is a kite fishing kite and it works great for me.

My large scale work is usually glossy, unless someone has a specific concern about glare (large south facing windows or something). In that case I do make large pieces with a matte finish. For smaller paper prints, I use luster finish.

🍾👏👏👏👏👏

True🤣

@@EvanReinheimer >>> Of course, if someone had just out of the blue actually asked that of ME, the only response I would think of at that moment would be _"Uhhhhh, errrrrrr..."_ 😊😊😊