Manufacturing of Typhoon H

[rdonson]

I'm not demeaning the smaller sensors as each has their place, but as sensors increase in size so does the usefulness of the images generated.

Phase detection is indeed a very nice feature, one that is often obtained with a full frame or one of the better APS-C/H cameras. But that stuff costs more, which is the area many consumer drone buyers balk.

Sensor size has some diminishing factors. The more pixels you put on a specific size sensor even 35mm sensors the smaller the pixels are. Smaller pixels don't gather as much light as larger pixels. So.... you mention 42 mega pixels but imagine someone packing 100 megapixels on the same size sensor. Less light means more noise. Its just physics.

Most mirrorless cameras these days do have phase detection AF. From 1" sensors cameras up to the medium format cameras.

DSLRs are becoming dinosaurs. The flip up mirror has become an anachronism. Even Canon and Nikon finally offer mirrorless cameras although Sony is eating their lunches. The latest Sony A7R IV is a marvel. Sony a7R IV: Digital Photography Review

For shooting sports the Sony A9 is an absolute leader of the pack in many ways.

No, I don't own Sony cameras and my Canon DSLRs sit on a shelf gathering dust. I love my Fuji APS-C cameras. If money were no object I'd probably also own the Fuji GFX 100 - 100 megapixel medium format mirrorless. No I'd never put that on a drone....waaaay too much money in the camera not to mention the cost of lenses.

FWIW I can easily print 17"x25" photos from my 24 megapixel Fuji APS-C camera. 4K video is still 4K video resolution so that's not much of a challenge for most cameras make in the last 4 years or so.

 

[PatR]

Perhaps I should have provided more clarity in saying full frame mirrorless. Given the choice between a Sony a-7 through a-9 over a Canon Mark D version whatever my choice would be the mirrorless every time, especially if it was going to be hung under a drone. There would be times a Panasonic/Lumix would be selected, again in mirrorless. Mirrorless weighs less.

 

[rdonson]

Perhaps I should have provided more clarity in saying full frame mirrorless. Given the choice between a Sony a-7 through a-9 over a Canon Mark D version whatever my choice would be the mirrorless every time, especially if it was going to be hung under a drone. There would be times a Panasonic/Lumix would be selected, again in mirrorless. Mirrorless weighs less.

You've nailed it. A lot of video is created every day on M 4/3 cameras and they'd be ideal for drone work. The stills aren't bad either. ?

 

[Fred Garvin]

Comparisons between the Zenmuse X5S (MFT) and the Zenmuse X7 (Super35) are very, very close.

 

[PatR]

Funny you mention the X7. I used that with a 50mm lens on an I2 for power line inspection work. That’s pretty much top of the line for that product line.

Although a great set up it could not deliver the clarity needed without cropping as there was a mandatory 30’ stand off distance. The features sought in the images were sort of small and the client was very averse to any image modifications once shot.

OTOH, a Sony a7 fitted with a 240mm zoom lens provided much, much better images, of a size where the desired features were clearly visible, from any stand off distance inside 100’.

 

[Fred Garvin]

Well, you're comparing a 240mm zoomer to a 50mm prime....even on the smaller sensor you're going to get more image data packed in (of what you want) compared to having to crop the larger sensor. Plus, you were in a "right tool for the job" situation. The X7/50mm setup is a cinematic setup where the A7/240mm was a much better choice for "getting in there" for a closer look at a specific object. Look at the current lens offering for the X7: 16mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm....those are all primes. The kit wasn't designed or intended for what you used it for.

Compare that X7/50mm to the A7/75mm......that would be more apples to apples. Shoot cinematic quality footage with the X7 kit versus an A7 kit....there you're going to see the difference.

 

[PatR]

But that’s the equipment the client specified...

The point I’m trying to make is there are many levels in what we do. Each level has it’s own set of tools and the higher you want to go the more “involved” you’re going to be, in finances, equipment, and experience. There will be times with the high end stuff where some may want to enroll in risk and anxiety aversion classes[emoji6], an area the H does not burden the operator much.

The H platform is a wonderful learning tool, both for flying and for expanding photography knowledge. For many it’s all they’ll need for some time to come. Especially for those that elect to explore all it can provide. For others that have already climbed the experience ladder it’s a great tool for day to day use. It would be a shame to learn that Yuneec had abandoned the most successful camera platform they’ve ever built. Not their best, but certainly their most successful.

 

[RatBob]

Yuneec told me they were still making batteries for the H, but couldn't tell me where they sell them and the last "new" one I bought was 2 years old. I'm pretty sure they just won't tell you they quit making the H, if they were they'd be able to give you a rough date for delivery, and I just had a guy at KAV tell all the remaining parts are pretty much sitting with one distributor except for what's in the hands of vendors.

 

[Mrgs1]

Yuneec told me they were still making batteries for the H, but couldn't tell me where they sell them and the last "new" one I bought was 2 years old. I'm pretty sure they just won't tell you they quit making the H, if they were they'd be able to give you a rough date for delivery, and I just had a guy at KAV tell all the remaining parts are pretty much sitting with one distributor except for what's in the hands of vendors.

We had some Power 4 batteries with 2018/19 dates here in UK from Yuneec but that's dried up. They spin a yarn about a batch coming from US and Germany etc as others have reported, I think for months now a new shipment is arriving! I don't think anything will be forthcoming, and it's time for third party ones or the battery mods discussion threads here.

 

[FlushVision]

Yuneec told me they were still making batteries for the H, but couldn't tell me where they sell them and the last "new" one I bought was 2 years old. I'm pretty sure they just won't tell you they quit making the H, if they were they'd be able to give you a rough date for delivery, and I just had a guy at KAV tell all the remaining parts are pretty much sitting with one distributor except for what's in the hands of vendors.

What @Mrgs1 said.
I've had an order in at one company (Jessops in the U.K.) since early June. In all that time the web site has stated a 10 day wait. IMHO I think Yuneec have discontinued the H and the Power 4 batteries. For a time the TH disappeared from the Yuneec UK web site. It came back on to their web site a few weeks ago but showing 'Out Of Stock'. If I get that order filled from Jessops I'll go 't foot of our stairs. Unless you mod a battery I think our only hope is third party batteries.

 

[RatBob]

I now have 5 of the Ultrax 6300s and have no issues with them except that according to the importer, they no longer manufacture them, what we're getting in the US is apparently the last shipment from the begining of the year, but they did state they were looking at sales numbers and might run another batch.

 

[PatR]

That’s the defining factor in continued production; sales numbers. If the volume is low production will cease as the labor and equipment could be shifted to more profitable battery types.

The alternative is production continues on a limited basis but ends up with a much higher retail price to offset lower volume.

 

[RatBob]

I just ordered two more, that give's me a total of 7 Ultrax and 2 power 4s, the way I see it by the time those are at end of life, so will me relationship with the H and I'll be ready to upgrade if I haven't already. Reburbed Plus should be hitting the market soon enough, I've seen a few but the price isn't right and the warranty says it's not actually a refurb.