STACK #139 May 2016

TECH FEATURE

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FLIGHT CONTROLLER

By John Roebuck

cheaper commercial drones and more professional, high-end products, or someone wanting to start out with a bit more than the basics. The Xiro Xplorer V also comes complete with a hardshell backpack designed specifically with moulded parts to safely house your drone.

The rise of the drone has been as spectacular as it has been swift. The unshackling videography technology is here to stay, whether you believe a drone is an essential tool in the kit of a wedding videographer or not. It’s hard to deny how appealing drones are as a device. Even if they couldn’t record High Definition footage from distant heights, which they can, drones would still be the remote control cars of the sky. With that sort of constitutional mass appeal, personal drones are becoming increasingly ever- present. It’s not just a game for tech-savvy videographers anymore. The world of droning is finally in the hands of the everyman.

Parrot Bebop 2

TECH

With more than twenty minutes of flight time to a single charge, a 14-megapixel camera capable of capturing 1080p video

lustrous superiority to the look of the Xiro Xplorer V, not only with the quadcopter but extending also to the transmitter, which

echoes recent iterations of console controllers. The detachable camera gimbal supports both GoPro 3,

Parrot Bebop 2

as well as a 4K camera; rare in a drone at this price. If you don’t own a camera, there’s no need to worry, because the Xiro Xplorer V comes complete with a HD 16 megapixels 1080p 30 FPS camera. But it’s the app that separates the Xiro Xplorer from its colleagues. Available for both Android and iOS systems, the Xiro app not only has the capacity to control the gimbal but also receives a real time video feed as well as real time flight data on screen. With an impressive flight time and useful functions for aerial videography, the Xiro Xplorer V is the perfect drone for someone looking to transition between

Xiro Xplorer V

Xiro Xplorer V In the arena of useability and relative affordability, the Xiro Xplorer V stands alone. Though low-end commercial drones are becoming increasingly inexpensive, there is still a gap in the market for reasonably priced products that also qualify as quality. The Xiro Xplorer V may just be the answer to that gap. The design is flawless and sleek. As the drone market

and a maximum range of 300 meters, the Parrot Bebop 2 is an exceptional entry point drone for someone looking to invest in the rapidly-growing culture of drone photography. The price point means there is no 4K video, Hi-Def live stream or two-stick remote control, but those luxuries pertain to more experienced drone pilots, not someone who is just getting started. For video, the Bebop 2 uses

companies have been forced to invest more thought into a product’s design to help it stand out from the pack. There’s a

expands and becomes technologically superior,

MAY 2016

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