The only problem with the 2018 Apple iPad Pro

This weekend, my girlfriend and I visited Niagara Falls, Ontario.  I took my Sony RX100 Mark VI and my 2018 Apple iPad Pro with 512GB.  I shot a lot of photos and footage.  We got home around 7:30pm on Sunday.  I uploaded the pictures off of the SD card I use with my Sony RX100 Mark VI.  The iPad Pro, specifically iOS 12 cannot read the Sony file system.  It can get the pictures but not the video because most manufacturers store all the pictures in the DCIM folder.  Sony uses a different file structure.  I think from now on I will have to use my Canon Vixia HF G40 camcorder to shoot my video. I only shoot 1080p as I think 4K video is overkill.

I think my solution will have to either bring my Canon Vixia HF G40 with my tripod or buy a smaller Canon camcorder like the Canon Vixia HF R800.  I’m supposed to get a nice tax return next week hopefully so I’ll go to my favourite camera store here in Ottawa and pick it up.  It should be only $300-$400 to pick up a small camcorder like that.

On a complete side note, Niagara Falls is way overpriced as far as your stay and food.  Going to a restaurant is not worth it if you eat close to Niagara Falls.  A complete tourist trap.

Who needs a plane when you have a drone

I'm in love with the DJI Spark drone.  One little hick up from today' flights.  Lost connection again for less than 10 seconds today.  The only thing I can think of is there were some power lines between myself and the drone.  That is the only constant from the last two flight sessions.

I'm also thinking of at some point upgrading to a DJI Mavic Pro or a higher end drone as I need a drone that can fly longer.  I'm limited to about 15 minutes with the DJI Spark.  The video also looks good but only shoots at 1080p/30fps.  I'd love to have a drone that shoots 1080p/60fps.  I really don't shoot in 4k as I find it totally unnecessary.   The DJI Spark only shoots in the JPEG format and not RAW so editing is somewhat limiting.

I bought the DJI Spark to learn how to operate a drone.  It's been a great teacher so far.  Right now I have other priorities like getting back to work.  With fall and winter coming up quick, I think my drone use will be dead in the winter with the short, cold days and the long, cold nights.  I'm trying to get as much drone footage in as I can.

The DEATH of a drone (Almost).

So I decided on my lunch break today to go fly my DJI Spark drone.  In the 2 weeks that I've been flying it, I never had a problem with it.  Until today.  I've flown over forests, fields, rivers and lakes.  Today was one of those days that I was flying over a river.  The Mississippi River in fact near Pakenham, Ontario.  I was on the maiden flight today when at about 200 feet away and 300 feet up, I lost any and all connection to the drone via my remote control and phone.  Nothing.  No visual on the phone.  No connection.  Absolutely nothing.  I'm gazing up at the sky and it's not in sight.  I stare at my phone.  No signal from the DJI Go 2 app.  Absolutely nothing.  I'm scanning the sky, the horizon. I'm listening to see if I can hear it.  Just the rush of the water.  All of a sudden, off in the distance I hear a plop.  Like something hitting the water and sinking waste deep into the river.  I'm 110% sure that was my DJI Spark.  I'm scared.  I'm pissed.  I'm mad beyond mad.  I try and connect to the drone.  Nothing.  I'm about to shut my remote and head off home when all of a sudden, about 30-45 seconds after losing all connection to the drone, my feed comes up and I can see myself on my iPhone 8 Plus screen from about 300 feet up.  I see me.  I see my car.  I feel so much relief.  

How the f can I lose contact with the drone for 30-45 seconds?  I swear I heard it plop down into the Mississippi. I was 110% sure I lost it. I rebooted the app.  I hit the come home button like a jack rabbit repeatedly.  That 30-45 seconds was maddening.  If I was over a field I at least had a chance of finding it and bringing it home with me.  But over a river?  Not a chance.  If it did drop into the water, it was a goner for sure.  I don't know what caused the drone to lose connection with my remote.  The app didn't crash.  The phone was on full battery.  The only thing I can think of is the wind or an app malfunction.  

All I can is that I'm glad I have the drone back and safe with me.  I'm just editing the footage I shot yesterday and today.  Hope to have it up soon.