hey all, I'm thinking about getting the dji mavic instead of the spark. Both are great drones during the day time but I think the mavic is better at night time. The difference in image quality can be clearly seen at night time. I took some footage of the dji spark at night, let me know what you think. When I purchase the mavic i will post night time footage to compare.

Can't answer that as flying at night prohibits VLOS and is therefore illegal in the UK. Good to see that the Canadian authorities allow this. Is this somnething they revised recently as I was under the impression that drone laws in Canada are very harsh, even in daylight hours?

The camera in the Mavic really isn't all that great in low light, I don't expect you'd see much of a difference.

A CW Posted at 2017-12-20 07:33
Can't answer that as flying at night prohibits VLOS and is therefore illegal in the UK. Good to see that the Canadian authorities allow this. Is this somnething they revised recently as I was under the impression that drone laws in Canada are very harsh, even in daylight hours?

What if you were to fly straight up just above where you took off? you would still have VLOS, dont lose sight of the blinking lights.

Looks good. But night time flying is against the rules. Fly safe

Snipes_Blaster Posted at 2017-12-20 09:22
What if you were to fly straight up just above where you took off? you would still have VLOS, dont lose sight of the blinking lights.

Not allowed in the UK. Not even take off - the CAA will then ask what if your drone loses control with the RC and starts flying away - the LED's BTW are considered visual aids and also do not qualify so assist night operations here. It is illegal to fly a drone in the UK more than 30 minutes before sun rise and more than 30 minutes after sun set - daylight hours only. No exceptions other than having their permission for a commercial operation. New laws are being enforced too next year including tougher consequences and you could get a massive fine if caught and I mean THOUSANDS of POUNDS and even, in certain circumstacnes, a prison sentence. The government are hitting the hobby hard next Spring. We'll also have to pass an exam and register our drones for even what they call 'leisure use' with any drone weighing more than 250g (this includes the Spark at 300g).

Very nice firework footage, Just tweak the camera settings on the MP, you should also see some great footage from that gimbal.

That was a cool vid

RogueDNA Posted at 2017-12-20 13:13
That was a cool vid

thank  you appreciate it!!

Ex Machina Posted at 2017-12-20 08:04
The camera in the Mavic really isn't all that great in low light, I don't expect you'd see much of a difference.

wow, thanks for letting me know i thought it would be

M.C. Pilot Posted at 2017-12-20 11:28
Very nice firework footage, Just tweak the camera settings on the MP, you should also see some great footage from that gimbal.

great, thanks for the advice

A CW Posted at 2017-12-20 07:33
Can't answer that as flying at night prohibits VLOS and is therefore illegal in the UK. Good to see that the Canadian authorities allow this. Is this somnething they revised recently as I was under the impression that drone laws in Canada are very harsh, even in daylight hours?

ok good point

A CW Posted at 2017-12-20 11:18
Not allowed in the UK. Not even take off - the CAA will then ask what if your drone loses control with the RC and starts flying away - the LED's BTW are considered visual aids and also do not qualify so assist night operations here. It is illegal to fly a drone in the UK more than 30 minutes before sun rise and more than 30 minutes after sun set - daylight hours only. No exceptions other than having their permission for a commercial operation. New laws are being enforced too next year including tougher consequences and you could get a massive fine if caught and I mean THOUSANDS of POUNDS and even, in certain circumstacnes, a prison sentence. The government are hitting the hobby hard next Spring. We'll also have to pass an exam and register our drones for even what they call 'leisure use' with any drone weighing more than 250g (this includes the Spark at 300g).

thanks for the warning in advance

Both, VERY great videos..! Thank you guys.
This makes me think I might try to shoot some clips this coming New Year's Eve. In Denmark it is still allowed to fly at night as long as lights on the drone clearly separates the front and rear and that the pilot can keep the VLOS. Start and landing area also have to be well lit up. The last thing is actually the biggest challenge unless you have a helper with a good flashlight.

But I'm also considering just placing the drone in a suitable place, and simply filming by tilting the camera the extra 30 degrees up. Then I can even make it fully legal in the middle of the city.

A CW Posted at 2017-12-20 11:18
Not allowed in the UK. Not even take off - the CAA will then ask what if your drone loses control with the RC and starts flying away - the LED's BTW are considered visual aids and also do not qualify so assist night operations here. It is illegal to fly a drone in the UK more than 30 minutes before sun rise and more than 30 minutes after sun set - daylight hours only. No exceptions other than having their permission for a commercial operation. New laws are being enforced too next year including tougher consequences and you could get a massive fine if caught and I mean THOUSANDS of POUNDS and even, in certain circumstacnes, a prison sentence. The government are hitting the hobby hard next Spring. We'll also have to pass an exam and register our drones for even what they call 'leisure use' with any drone weighing more than 250g (this includes the Spark at 300g).

Hey A CW, thank you for the heads up.  I've just got into drones the end of this year really, got a spark and just got a Mavic, but havent used it yet.  I wanted to use the Spark to take pictures of a Lantern festival in my local park.  Just wanted to fly it straight up and take a picture of the whole park, but I guess I will have to give that a miss.  

Dirty Bird Posted at 2017-12-20 18:07
Let's add a Phantom 4 to the mix!  

https://youtu.be/XfZHv_SWDtQ

wow, looks awesome!

Woe Posted at 2017-12-20 09:32
Looks good. But night time flying is against the rules. Fly safe

ok thank you!

Snipes_Blaster Posted at 2017-12-21 02:25
Hey A CW, thank you for the heads up.  I've just got into drones the end of this year really, got a spark and just got a Mavic, but havent used it yet.  I wanted to use the Spark to take pictures of a Lantern festival in my local park.  Just wanted to fly it straight up and take a picture of the whole park, but I guess I will have to give that a miss.

ya good points guys!

Snipes_Blaster Posted at 2017-12-21 02:25
Hey A CW, thank you for the heads up.  I've just got into drones the end of this year really, got a spark and just got a Mavic, but havent used it yet.  I wanted to use the Spark to take pictures of a Lantern festival in my local park.  Just wanted to fly it straight up and take a picture of the whole park, but I guess I will have to give that a miss.

If you have permission from everyone there (making them in your control) and its in a safe area to fly then I would just do it to be honest.

Dirty Bird Posted at 2017-12-20 18:07
Let's add a Phantom 4 to the mix!  

https://youtu.be/XfZHv_SWDtQ

You do have some cool videos.

Dirty Bird Posted at 2017-12-21 08:39
Thank You!  Appreciate it very much.

no problem, keep'm coming!

This was taken with my Mavic. Does fine in low light. And it was a long exposure shot so the triling lights are on purpose. And also why the lights are 'soft' and 'fuzzy'.

jreynolds5 Posted at 2017-12-22 10:47
This was taken with my Mavic. Does fine in low light. And it was a long exposure shot so the triling lights are on purpose. And also why the lights are 'soft' and 'fuzzy'.

[view_image]

great shot. im not sure why it looks fuzzy, mavic is definitely a grade above the spark

fans44fb5809 Posted at 2017-12-22 12:27
great shot. im not sure why it looks fuzzy, mavic is definitely a grade above the spark

The fuzzy is on purpose. I took a long exposure. Made it so it takes a few seconds to take a pic instead of instantly

jreynolds5 Posted at 2017-12-22 15:36
The fuzzy is on purpose. I took a long exposure. Made it so it takes a few seconds to take a pic instead of instantly

oh ok nice!

Dirty Bird Posted at 2017-12-20 18:07
Let's add a Phantom 4 to the mix!  

https://youtu.be/XfZHv_SWDtQ

Was that a straight 4 or P4P, either way it is a great video ?
Rule of 3rds perfect