Exploring Kasamatsu: A Drone Practice

After yesterday’s long traffic jam in Shirakawa-go, my mom and I decided to take a break from driving today.

Instead, I took her for a stroll around Kasamatsu on yet another warm and sunny day. She requested a simple walk in the park. While Kasamatsu isn’t particularly bustling, I figured we could explore the familiar spots where I often take Chappie—walking along the park, dykes, and the streets lined with Cherry Blossom trees near the Kiso River.

So, nothing particularly thrilling today, but I seized the chance to practice flying my DJI Neo drone a bit in the park.

I found that the DJI Neo is excellent for capturing some quick AI-enabled shots without a controller or smartphone. However, when I attempted to manually operate it with my smartphone app for longer ranges, things didn’t go as planned. I tried to follow my mom while she walked along the Kiso River, but controlling the Neo with the smartphone proved to have significant limitations. It lost connection several times while I was up in the air. Once disconnected, it continued to hover in place, leaving me scrambling to walk closer and attempt to reconnect with the app. In the end, I realized that I need a dedicated drone remote control for long-range flying and stable connectivity. After losing my first drone in Lake Davos a few weeks ago, I certainly didn’t want a repeat of that scenario. If the Neo had drifted over the Kiso River today, it could easily have ended up in the water, landing there once its battery ran out.

I also discovered that the default video settings of the Neo are overly sharp and noisy, with auto exposure settings that lead to inconsistent footage. This bothered me for a while, especially since the DJI smartphone app does not allow for some adjustments; however, to fully access the sharpness, noise, and auto exposure settings, I’d need to invest in a separate DJI remote controller. Very clever of DJI, but I don’t hold it against them. They designed the DJI Neo to help beginners get started, and as the fun ramps up, they smartly provide the opportunity for advancement in drone piloting.

I’m not yet at the FPV full manual piloting level, which will require thousands of hours of practice. However, I’m ready to elevate my drone game by using a DJI remote controller, enhancing my cinematic footage capabilities. DJI’s strategy is undeniably smart; I’ve dipped my toes in the water, and now it’s time to dive in and start swimming.

#DronePhotography #DJINeo #DroneLife #AerialAdventure #CinematicFootage #KisoRiver #CherryBlossom #NatureWalks #LearningToFly #CasualDronePilot