Another great video and you are sticking with us rather than dumping us Spark users for its bigger brother like most others have. Keep up our education. Thanks again
To launch I always hold it up to eye level and tap the power button 3 times. It says face reconition successful and launches no problem. Really love that feature. To land I do what yu do. Didn't know the sideways trick. That will really come in handy. Thanks for sharing
I do not own a drone yet, but have gained a lot of knowledge watching videos. Sir, your tips on getting mind blowing footages from a simple compact DJI Spark is just too good. This drove me to subscribe your channel. Thanks!
great video, another top tip is if you live in a none FCC compliant area then use the nolimitdronez mod so you can fly in FCC mode and increase your range by about 3 times and not suffer the picture breaking up when you are trying to compose your shot just google nolimitdronez (drones with a z at the end)
Loved this video! I watched your videos before but this one is standing out. I unboxed the spark but didnt fly it yet... yeap... i am bit scared so i will hopefully get it going next week. Tour video has awesome tips... very well done.
You said it when you said isn't that what you bought your spark for. I usually go out and fly and capturing video is by product. But all good tips to consider when I go out and fly. The key is like you said fly fly fly and practice practice practice. As always enjoy watching your videos. 👍👍
Great tips and thanks for sharing some of the links to the other videos with more detail on some of the topics!! Also, the shots in the video were really dope
Another top tip is get the polarpro ND filters and try and shoot 1/60 shutter speed all the time to avoid the horrible stuttering effect you will get when panning and flying sideways, I almost took this amazing little drone back before I discovered this trick, footage panned without an ND filter shot over or under 1/60th sec is horrible to watch.
Interesting. Pans are not great on the Spark, which probably has more to do with it missing the third gimbal axis. I typically don't do too many pans but now you have me curious about the ND filters helping to cut down the stuttering. Wonder if it's just slower shutter blurring/smoothing the motion. May have to investigate. 😀
OMG!!! you didn't use the word "cinematic"... for that 100 thumbs up!!! if I had a dollar every time other tubers use the word "cinematic" describing drone footage... would be driving a Ferrari... good tips... keep up the good work...
You have no idea how extremely happy I am that you posted this because everyone is all about the mavic 2 and I still love my spark!!!!! But I have a question my spark ⚡️ started flying crazy by itself and I’m scared to lose it after 2X of it happening!! Will a ntg cable help next time ?? Or what else can I do to prevent this, is my drone broken!?
I'm not sure what you mean by "flying crazy". If the Spark loses GPS and/or the compass malfunctions and it drops in to ATTI mode wind can push it around very easily because it can't maintain position. In situations like that you would still have manual control and it's best to bring it down right away. If you're seeing a lot of interference issues it could be where you're flying. An OTG cable may or may not help depending on the source of the problem. The DJI Forums are a great place to ask questions. Lots of helpful, knowledgeable folks there. Good luck.
Hi Steve...glad to see that you are still hanging in there with the Spark...thumbs up. I wanted to chime in with a couple alternatives that others might find useful. Instead of Tripod mode, use P (positioning aka GPS mode) and adjust stick sensitivity slider down (in app) to bring P mode top speed in line with Tripod mode speed. i.e. reduce P mode top speed from 6.5 mph to 5 mph, 4mph, or 2mph, which is the Tripod mode speed. This is helpful because in Tripod mode the gimbal pitch speed is really slooooooooow, but in P mode with top speed reduced to Tripod mode speed, the gimbal pitch speed is normal, and not sloooooooooow. So, you get the smoothness of Tripod without paying the price of an excessively slow gimbal speed. Also, because the Spark lacks a third axis, useful footage often comes from basic maneuvers such as forward/backward, side to side, up and down, and diagonal with or without ascent/descent. As a result, unless you are moving the gimbal, you can let the camera establish the correct exposure, and the operator lock it in with exposure lock, which can be an assignment of the custom function button. This is especially helpful to get the EV below 0 by metric rather than guestimate with the histogram. I note these alternatives not to challenge your rock solid understanding of the Spark and photography as art, rather to help others consider other options and creative choices. Regards BTW...I have a Mavic Pro, and it's a fantastic drone. It is superior to the Spark in just about every way, but there is just something about the Spark that just keeps drawing me in. The Spark was not my first drone, so I'm at a loss for an explanation. I think it may be it's solid performance, challenge to find work arounds that causes me to focus on what the Spark can do, and not just letting the machine takeover.
That's good stuff! Thanks! Always more than one way to do things. For me personally, I did this brief experiment with Auto Exposure Lock and gave up with it. I kept inadvertently unlocking it and not noticing until it was too late. Flying in AE and using AE Lock is a great way to avoid fluctuating exposure but you're still at the mercy of the meter making a bad exposure decision. When I set exposure in MM (manual mode) I look at the meter, the histogram and the image on the screen to make my decision. It's not uncommon for me to be 1/3 to 2/3 of a stop (+/-) what the meter is indicating. Your comment made me think that perhaps I have put too much emphasis on the histogram and too little on the meter in past videos. I may have to update my "Setting Exposure" video - haha! The Spark is my first and only drone and I absolutely love it! For me it's the perfect combination of size, ability and robustness. I'm sure some day down the road it will get retired but not yet. 😀
Slow on the comment; traveling the last week. Anyway, awesome tips. My favorite thing is to get shots where it’s not obvious it’s a drone. Higher, but not too high. Cool and no one notices it’s a drone. For me it’s just a camera and while traveling it’s a crane, a dolly and a slider. Thanks for your work. Safe travels. -Mark
Thanks Mark! Yeah, I specifically talked about that exactly in a different video, calling the Spark an "amazing flying video camera" and not just using it for obvious drone shots. Great observation.
Great video. I like how you have stuck to the Spark, rather than do what others have done, and constantly upgrade to thew newest mavic drones which can potentilly do a lot more. I think there is more skill in getting the most out of a drone like the Spark, which has it's limitations, and working around those, to get shots as good as, or potentially even better than what the Mavic produces.
Thanks. I am sure I will upgrade eventually but in the mean time I always remind myself that there is always someone out there doing better work with less gear. Keeps me from buying stuff I don't need, thinking that somehow, magically, it will make me a better photographer or filmmaker. 😀
Ima get my spark in a week. Can you please make a video on how to avoid fly aways? And about the app too? I live in a tropic country. Can u please give me advice on how take care of the drone in such environment?
Fly aways can happen for a number of reasons and there are already plenty of videos on RUclips about them. My advice is learn as much as you can about what happens when your Spark loses GPS and/or compass failure, most of which is in the manual (download from DJI). Understand this *before* you fly. Keep your Spark close until you really understand how to use it. Head over to the DJI forum and ask the other questions. Lots of helpful folks there have the time and knowledge to spare. Good luck. 😀
Fr0zenFire27. Just be sure to calibrate the compass before you fly, be sure the home point is recorded and for extra precaution, maybe start out in beginner mode.. Most important though is go slow, don't jerk the sticks around just slow and steady and you'll do fine. Good Luck !
You make it all seem so easy! Very good tips indeed! 🤙🏻 I’m curious to know, what software do you use for editing your footage? And do you have any tips on that..?
Steve Coutts Thanks for responding so quickly. I realise that Final Cut Pro X is only available for Macs...would you happen to know of a similar software for Windows?
Steve Coutts awesome, appreciate the suggestion. I’ll give it a go!! Looking forward to when you make that video about how you edit your videos! In the mean time, keep uploading your content, they’re very helpful!!
It's quite good to see a new spark video it sort of faded away haha. One question, how can I change the frequency from 5.8 to 2.8ghz? I've been looking at the forums and it seem to be a popular issue and no actual answer could someone help me out with this thanks
You should be able to go in to the "custom" setting under WiFi in the DJI Go App. Then choose a different channel. I believe the lower channels (1-11) are 2.GHz. I was not able to select the lower channels because there was too much interference but if they are green you should be able to select one and change the setting.
Hi Steve, I really appreaciate your videos and tips like these. I started to make some research about editing spark footage and I have a few questions for you. What is your target framerate you are using in editor? 30, 25 or somewhere 24 (I don’t know the exact numbers). Do you use any other settings to match the footage framerate to the project? My other dilemma is whether to use a different aspect ratio than 16:9. I was thinking about something wider than that. What do you think? Thanks, Bence
The Spark only shoots 30fps (29.97) so that makes it easy. I edit on on 24fps (23.98) timeline and slow the Spark footage down to 80% of normal speed. I've only started doing that in the last 6 months. I don't mess with the aspect ration, it's standard FullHD (1920x1080).
That's tough. I don't like suggesting where drone pilots should and should not fly. That is something each individual needs to figure out for themselves. That being said here are two links helpful for finding legal, safe places to fly near in or near Calgary. www.calgary.ca/cps/Pages/Public-services/Safe-Use-of-Unmanned-Aerial-Vehicles-(UAV)-or-Drones.aspx www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/solutions/collaborative/civuas/uav_site_selection_tool.html
Just following your recommendations has made me a better aerial photographer. So much so that I have been asked how I do it by Mavic owners. Well I tell The it is by having a better MultiCopter like the Spark. I never tell them that I have a great teacher like you (and I never will). Does that make me a bad person?
When I fly my spark, I seem to be losing image transmission not too far from where I took off, shortly after, return to home initiates. Have you had any problems with this? Is there any way you think I can fix this? Thanks!!!
I have had image transmission issues but not really exactly as you describe. Could be interference but typically the app will warn you about that. Good place to ask this is in the DJI forums. Lots of helpful, knowledgeable folks there. Good luck. 😀
Eli K I would reload the firmware completely, there is also a setting for beginners that will only let the spark until you get the hang of it, make sure that’s not on...
As a Spark user, these are really usefull tips that I'll use or already use !If you have the time I'd really like to know what you think of my montages Stevegreat video as always, keep up the good work :)
They are both great drones, you wouldn't go wrong with either. The "best" one for you is not for me to decide. Look at the size, weight, flight time, capabilities, cost and decide which one best suits your needs and your budget. Good luck! 😀
Hi steve, i was newly got into the spark act, so far after i fly the drone and record the footage i'd export directly from the apps to the phone, is it the great way to get the footage or need to export by Laptop first?
I always pull my SD card from the Spark and copy the footage directly to my laptop or desktop computer. Once copied, I put the SD back in the Spark. That way my data is in two places while I work on it. Eventually footage gets archived (again, two places) and the SD card gets formatted when it nears 70-80% full (64GB card). Everyone's workflow will differ and really there is no right/wrong, it's about whatever works for you. 😀
Hello steve i crashed my spark now it saying calibrate compass and in app it showing compass 1 disconnected . Do u have any idea where is compass located in spark?
Hmmmm, I have never heard about a "compass 1 disconnected" error. I doubt it's a user-repairable issue. I would suggest contacting DJI support and seeing what they recommend. Good luck.
hi bro i have a dji spark and when i fly past 150m my connected phone( s8) shows no signal and image transmissions lost but the controller is still connected and green i use a factory otg plzz help me
Interesting. I don't have an answer for you off the top of my head. I would suggest posting the question in the DJI Forums (forum.dji.com). Lots of knowledgeable, friendly folks as well as DJI support people to help. Good luck!
I am probably in the minority here, but camera settings have always been confusing to me. I need to learn soooo much more. I have always been an "auto" type of photo / video guy. Every thing I do is for personal consumption, but I NEED to do better, & you help a lot!!! ( you are still my Spark "guru") lol. Luv your vids. Thank you
Thanks WG! Well, I don't think you're in the minority about the camera settings so with that I am planning more videos to break down the camera basics. It was reverse for me when I started flying the Spark. I knew all about photography (and a bit about video) so the camera settings were easy for me. What I didn't have was experience flying a drone, hence all my crashes - haha! Glad the videos have been helpful and thanks for watching. There is more to come. 😀
south african left , home with out my cable for the charging station... now in new zealand without juice, and about to go camper van across the country.,... can i charge using mobile phone cable ? AC and DC ?
Oh, tough luck but shouldn't be too hard to solve. I'm not sure what the charging station requires. Might be a good question to ask on the DJI Forums. Lots of friendly, helpful folks there. The Spark itself and the remote just use a standard micro USB cable so in a pinch you could plug that in to any portable battery with USB connections, a computer or pick up a cheap car charger with USB ports and charge your devices. Good luck!
Could be lots of things. My first instinct is you're doing something in post-processing. The Spark only shoots @ 30p (29.97fps), if you re-time that to 24p or 25p and don't do it correctly, you may get flicker. Try asking the question in the DJI forums. Good luck.
Haha! Oh, I've been there!! In one of my other tip videos I talk about hitting record on takeoff and only stopping recording when I land. Sure I end up with extra footage but deleting the excess is easy. Going back in time to get the shot you missed? Difficult. 😉
I have done that recently. I was out over a river that's about 1000 foot across and was just going about my shots when I realized I have not even hit the record! Ugh I hit it before I left the ground lol. So I thought lol. Hit the button and did the shots over again.
Another good tip is to take lots of video. Not one long video from take-off to landing. Shorter clips make it much easier to find the bit you want. Take-off and fly to where you are going, stop recording, start recording again. Do a 360 pan of the scene, stop recording, start recording again. Lots of short clips are easier to edit and are less likely to bog your computer down in processing. If you do an annoying jerk start and stop recording so it becomes easier to find it and remove it.
I tend to start recording just before take off and leave it on the entire time. There are exceptions when I will stop/start to capture a specific bit. I started doing this because too many times I missed something unexpected or my habit of stopping the video too early burned me too many times in post. It's easy to delete the unwanted bits. Everyone's workflow and shooting style is going to be different, it's all about whatever works best for *you*. 😀
@@SteveCoutts Indeed we are all different. Whenever you take stills there's a natural break in your videos, why not introduce more breaks so file sizes are smaller? If when you've finished your flight there's a couple of minutes where nothing interesting happened you can simply delete the whole file. I still record almost every part of every flight but in smaller files. When I first bought my computer I thought I would never get close to filling it up. Then I got into drones. Now I do have to treat hard drive space as finite!
If need be I can use QuickTime to break larger files in to smaller ones but I rarely do it. Lots of my footage ends up in the trash and the keepers get mirrored on inexpensive hard drives. My workflow serves me well.
2:26 - You said that you should throw out those jerky shots. You should have said to just edit out the jerky bits (and maybe show a nice cross-fade instead). So, instead of having a smooth shot, then a jerky Drone move (while re-composing) and then a smooth shot again. You should have explained that the jerky bit in the middle could just be cut out and replaced with a nice cross-fade or fade-to-black transition.
Yeah, you're right, the language wasn't very precise. My point was don't show jerky movements in your final edit. I think most will get the general idea. 😀
I wanted to stick to the basic skills and things you could do to improve without having to buy anything extra. And, if you haven't mastered the fundamentals, especially manual exposure and white balance, straight-up (no polarization) ND filters won't provide any improvement. There were 11 distinct drone clips in the video. 7 were shot using Polar Pro polarizing ND filters, 4 were shot without. I bet most folks couldn't tell which ones used the ND filters and which did not just by looking at them. 😀👍
Right, and get a better job, a faster car, be fitter and be more like you, huh? A lot of people want to make the best of the drone they can afford. You can do great things with a Spark and there is little better advice out there on getting the most out of the Spark than from Steve Coutts. The Spark is a great beginner drone or a drone for somebody who knows that whatever happens flying drones is only ever going to be a small part of how they spend their leisure time and leisure money. Yes, if you really want to make drone flying and aerial videography your main hobby and you can stretch to spending some more money you should not consider the Spark as the final solution. But that's not who this video is aimed at!
To this day I still love seeing new spark videos .... such a great simple drone 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Yup. Totally. Amazing little drone. 😀
Another great video and you are sticking with us rather than dumping us Spark users for its bigger brother like most others have. Keep up our education. Thanks again
Thanks and thanks for watching! 👍
Excellent tutorial, Steve. You're my benchmark for cinematic drone footage!
I really like your footage and your positivity. Been a fan for a week and will be staying longer. Cheers!
Thanks!! 👍😀
To launch I always hold it up to eye level and tap the power button 3 times. It says face reconition successful and launches no problem. Really love that feature. To land I do what yu do. Didn't know the sideways trick. That will really come in handy. Thanks for sharing
Cool. It's always good to hear how others do things. 😀
Wow I keep clicking next video, and each vid is better than the last!
Bravo!
Haha! Thanks! I appreciate that. The further you go back in time though the video production quality starts to diminish. It's a process. 😀
The way You explain this is simple, and thats The reason because i enjoy your video. Greetings from Colombia, south america.
I do not own a drone yet, but have gained a lot of knowledge watching videos. Sir, your tips on getting mind blowing footages from a simple compact DJI Spark is just too good. This drove me to subscribe your channel.
Thanks!
Awesome! Good to hear and thanks for jumping on board.
great video, another top tip is if you live in a none FCC compliant area then use the nolimitdronez mod so you can fly in FCC mode and increase your range by about 3 times and not suffer the picture breaking up when you are trying to compose your shot just google nolimitdronez (drones with a z at the end)
Loved this video! I watched your videos before but this one is standing out. I unboxed the spark but didnt fly it yet... yeap... i am bit scared so i will hopefully get it going next week. Tour video has awesome tips... very well done.
Thanks! Take your time with it and good luck!
Some really great tips. I especially agree with editing out any cuts with quick movements in it.
Hi Steve. Best Spark tips on RUclips.
Thanks and thanks for watching!
You said it when you said isn't that what you bought your spark for. I usually go out and fly and capturing video is by product. But all good tips to consider when I go out and fly. The key is like you said fly fly fly and practice practice practice. As always enjoy watching your videos. 👍👍
Great tips and thanks for sharing some of the links to the other videos with more detail on some of the topics!! Also, the shots in the video were really dope
Thanks Bro!
Another top tip is get the polarpro ND filters and try and shoot 1/60 shutter speed all the time to avoid the horrible stuttering effect you will get when panning and flying sideways, I almost took this amazing little drone back before I discovered this trick, footage panned without an ND filter shot over or under 1/60th sec is horrible to watch.
Interesting. Pans are not great on the Spark, which probably has more to do with it missing the third gimbal axis. I typically don't do too many pans but now you have me curious about the ND filters helping to cut down the stuttering. Wonder if it's just slower shutter blurring/smoothing the motion. May have to investigate. 😀
Thanks Steve! Awesome basic video which helped me rethink using my spark 👌
Awesome! Thanks for letting me know.
Great video as ever. Going to try the speed reduction tip. Thanks
Definitely!
Nice video thanks for the tips!!
As always Steve has great and useful info. Thank you. I love my Spark.
Great tips, my man!
You're my "go to" drone guy/channel
Haha! Awesome, thanks! 👍
OMG!!! you didn't use the word "cinematic"... for that 100 thumbs up!!! if I had a dollar every time other tubers use the word "cinematic" describing drone footage... would be driving a Ferrari... good tips... keep up the good work...
Haha! Well, I have used the word "cinematic" in past videos so I'm not completely innocent. 😉
He also didn't use the word SUPER. LOL. I am so sick of that word.
If you had a dollar for every time some "professional" youtuber used the c-word, you'd drive a spaceship not a Ferrari.
Agreed 💯
Tks you Sir for those simple explanation. Just need to apply your tips...When I will have a drone..don't know which DJI yet.
Great tips Steve - will put them into practice!!
I like your simple and down-to-the-ground style. I'm subscribing. :)
You have no idea how extremely happy I am that you posted this because everyone is all about the mavic 2 and I still love my spark!!!!! But I have a question my spark ⚡️ started flying crazy by itself and I’m scared to lose it after 2X of it happening!! Will a ntg cable help next time ?? Or what else can I do to prevent this, is my drone broken!?
I'm not sure what you mean by "flying crazy". If the Spark loses GPS and/or the compass malfunctions and it drops in to ATTI mode wind can push it around very easily because it can't maintain position. In situations like that you would still have manual control and it's best to bring it down right away. If you're seeing a lot of interference issues it could be where you're flying. An OTG cable may or may not help depending on the source of the problem. The DJI Forums are a great place to ask questions. Lots of helpful, knowledgeable folks there. Good luck.
Hi Steve...glad to see that you are still hanging in there with the Spark...thumbs up.
I wanted to chime in with a couple alternatives that others might find useful.
Instead of Tripod mode, use P (positioning aka GPS mode) and adjust stick sensitivity slider down (in app) to bring P mode top speed in line with Tripod mode speed. i.e. reduce P mode top speed from 6.5 mph to 5 mph, 4mph, or 2mph, which is the Tripod mode speed. This is helpful because in Tripod mode the gimbal pitch speed is really slooooooooow, but in P mode with top speed reduced to Tripod mode speed, the gimbal pitch speed is normal, and not sloooooooooow. So, you get the smoothness of Tripod without paying the price of an excessively slow gimbal speed.
Also, because the Spark lacks a third axis, useful footage often comes from basic maneuvers such as forward/backward, side to side, up and down, and diagonal with or without ascent/descent. As a result, unless you are moving the gimbal, you can let the camera establish the correct exposure, and the operator lock it in with exposure lock, which can be an assignment of the custom function button. This is especially helpful to get the EV below 0 by metric rather than guestimate with the histogram.
I note these alternatives not to challenge your rock solid understanding of the Spark and photography as art, rather to help others consider other options and creative choices.
Regards
BTW...I have a Mavic Pro, and it's a fantastic drone. It is superior to the Spark in just about every way, but there is just something about the Spark that just keeps drawing me in. The Spark was not my first drone, so I'm at a loss for an explanation. I think it may be it's solid performance, challenge to find work arounds that causes me to focus on what the Spark can do, and not just letting the machine takeover.
That's good stuff! Thanks! Always more than one way to do things. For me personally, I did this brief experiment with Auto Exposure Lock and gave up with it. I kept inadvertently unlocking it and not noticing until it was too late. Flying in AE and using AE Lock is a great way to avoid fluctuating exposure but you're still at the mercy of the meter making a bad exposure decision.
When I set exposure in MM (manual mode) I look at the meter, the histogram and the image on the screen to make my decision. It's not uncommon for me to be 1/3 to 2/3 of a stop (+/-) what the meter is indicating. Your comment made me think that perhaps I have put too much emphasis on the histogram and too little on the meter in past videos. I may have to update my "Setting Exposure" video - haha!
The Spark is my first and only drone and I absolutely love it! For me it's the perfect combination of size, ability and robustness. I'm sure some day down the road it will get retired but not yet. 😀
thank you
Thanks for watching!
Thank you and very insightful tips, loving my Spark.
👍 Love my Spark too!
Good tips
Like and subscribed
Thanks for
The great tips!
Thanks for the plain easy to understand info going out this weekend will let you know how we went see ya and stay safe
All very solid tips, thanks.
Slow on the comment; traveling the last week. Anyway, awesome tips. My favorite thing is to get shots where it’s not obvious it’s a drone. Higher, but not too high. Cool and no one notices it’s a drone. For me it’s just a camera and while traveling it’s a crane, a dolly and a slider. Thanks for your work. Safe travels. -Mark
Thanks Mark! Yeah, I specifically talked about that exactly in a different video, calling the Spark an "amazing flying video camera" and not just using it for obvious drone shots. Great observation.
Thanks, Steve. Great tips! Especially #6! 😀
Thanks Bill.
Thanks! I am going out flying now.
👍
Great video. I like how you have stuck to the Spark, rather than do what others have done, and constantly upgrade to thew newest mavic drones which can potentilly do a lot more. I think there is more skill in getting the most out of a drone like the Spark, which has it's limitations, and working around those, to get shots as good as, or potentially even better than what the Mavic produces.
Thanks. I am sure I will upgrade eventually but in the mean time I always remind myself that there is always someone out there doing better work with less gear. Keeps me from buying stuff I don't need, thinking that somehow, magically, it will make me a better photographer or filmmaker. 😀
Ima get my spark in a week. Can you please make a video on how to avoid fly aways? And about the app too? I live in a tropic country. Can u please give me advice on how take care of the drone in such environment?
Fly aways can happen for a number of reasons and there are already plenty of videos on RUclips about them. My advice is learn as much as you can about what happens when your Spark loses GPS and/or compass failure, most of which is in the manual (download from DJI). Understand this *before* you fly. Keep your Spark close until you really understand how to use it. Head over to the DJI forum and ask the other questions. Lots of helpful folks there have the time and knowledge to spare. Good luck. 😀
Fr0zenFire27. Just be sure to calibrate the compass before you fly, be sure the home point is recorded and for extra precaution, maybe start out in beginner mode..
Most important though is go slow, don't jerk the sticks around just slow and steady and you'll do fine.
Good Luck !
Nice video tips !
You make it all seem so easy! Very good tips indeed! 🤙🏻 I’m curious to know, what software do you use for editing your footage? And do you have any tips on that..?
Thank you. I used Final Cut Pro X. It is on my list to do a video on editing so stay tuned. 😀
Steve Coutts Thanks for responding so quickly. I realise that Final Cut Pro X is only available for Macs...would you happen to know of a similar software for Windows?
DaVinci Resolve is one that I hear about often. You can download and use the latest beta for free, which lots of folks do.
Steve Coutts awesome, appreciate the suggestion. I’ll give it a go!! Looking forward to when you make that video about how you edit your videos! In the mean time, keep uploading your content, they’re very helpful!!
It's quite good to see a new spark video it sort of faded away haha. One question, how can I change the frequency from 5.8 to 2.8ghz? I've been looking at the forums and it seem to be a popular issue and no actual answer could someone help me out with this thanks
You should be able to go in to the "custom" setting under WiFi in the DJI Go App. Then choose a different channel. I believe the lower channels (1-11) are 2.GHz. I was not able to select the lower channels because there was too much interference but if they are green you should be able to select one and change the setting.
Great video. What editing software do you use?
Thanks! Final Cut Pro X (FCPX). 😀
Great tips.. Thanks again...
Thanks, good tips
Hi Steve,
I really appreaciate your videos and tips like these. I started to make some research about editing spark footage and I have a few questions for you. What is your target framerate you are using in editor? 30, 25 or somewhere 24 (I don’t know the exact numbers). Do you use any other settings to match the footage framerate to the project? My other dilemma is whether to use a different aspect ratio than 16:9. I was thinking about something wider than that.
What do you think?
Thanks,
Bence
The Spark only shoots 30fps (29.97) so that makes it easy. I edit on on 24fps (23.98) timeline and slow the Spark footage down to 80% of normal speed. I've only started doing that in the last 6 months. I don't mess with the aspect ration, it's standard FullHD (1920x1080).
Great video thanks for sharing!
Thank you for those tips! I use a couple of them and will use the rest of them!. Well done... Liked for sure. Subbed to you!
Thanks Jack!
Hi steve. Thanks for the tips. Really useful. By the way what software do you use to edit your video? Final cut pro?
You're welcome. Yes, Final Cut Pro X. 😀
I can land it on my head (even after a few beers). However, do not repeat it at home (or outside).
that phrase when the illusion is broke the magic is lost. ;)
Nice Steve! I just want to ask where can I fly here in Calgary legally and is also has good view. Thanks!
That's tough. I don't like suggesting where drone pilots should and should not fly. That is something each individual needs to figure out for themselves. That being said here are two links helpful for finding legal, safe places to fly near in or near Calgary.
www.calgary.ca/cps/Pages/Public-services/Safe-Use-of-Unmanned-Aerial-Vehicles-(UAV)-or-Drones.aspx
www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/solutions/collaborative/civuas/uav_site_selection_tool.html
Just following your recommendations has made me a better aerial photographer. So much so that I have been asked how I do it by Mavic owners. Well I tell The it is by having a better MultiCopter like the Spark. I never tell them that I have a great teacher like you (and I never will). Does that make me a bad person?
Haha! Too funny! Well thanks and I'm glad the videos have been helpful! Happy flying and safe landings! 👍😀
Thank u 4 this!
I like this guy n good tips!
When I fly my spark, I seem to be losing image transmission not too far from where I took off, shortly after, return to home initiates. Have you had any problems with this? Is there any way you think I can fix this? Thanks!!!
I have had image transmission issues but not really exactly as you describe. Could be interference but typically the app will warn you about that. Good place to ask this is in the DJI forums. Lots of helpful, knowledgeable folks there. Good luck. 😀
Steve Coutts Thank you! Put it up in DJI forums
Eli K I would reload the firmware completely, there is also a setting for beginners that will only let the spark until you get the hang of it, make sure that’s not on...
You need an otg cable
ExoticLuck otg is completely unnecessary with new firmware, I get better range and less interference with out it
As a Spark user, these are really usefull tips that I'll use or already use !If you have the time I'd really like to know what you think of my montages Stevegreat video as always, keep up the good work :)
Tripod mode....thanks, wondered how to "slow down" response of joysticks on the controller..
Can you tell me which drone is the best
Mavic 2 zoom or mavic air please
They are both great drones, you wouldn't go wrong with either. The "best" one for you is not for me to decide. Look at the size, weight, flight time, capabilities, cost and decide which one best suits your needs and your budget. Good luck! 😀
I sub.Yoy are great!
Hi steve,
i was newly got into the spark act, so far after i fly the drone and record the footage i'd export directly from the apps to the phone, is it the great way to get the footage or need to export by Laptop first?
I always pull my SD card from the Spark and copy the footage directly to my laptop or desktop computer. Once copied, I put the SD back in the Spark. That way my data is in two places while I work on it. Eventually footage gets archived (again, two places) and the SD card gets formatted when it nears 70-80% full (64GB card). Everyone's workflow will differ and really there is no right/wrong, it's about whatever works for you. 😀
ohh i see.. thanks steve, appreciate it
thank you for sharing sir..i like ur channel 👍🏻
What do you use to record your screen for this type of tutorials?
Screen recording is built in to iOS. It's on the Control Centre.
@@SteveCoutts I am using my remote control with an iPad mini 4. I'll see if it has it.
It's been around since iOS 11, I believe, which is compatible with the iPad mini 4.
Thanks bro that's why i buy the spark fly fly fly
Awesome! 👍
Hello steve i crashed my spark now it saying calibrate compass and in app it showing compass 1 disconnected .
Do u have any idea where is compass located in spark?
Hmmmm, I have never heard about a "compass 1 disconnected" error. I doubt it's a user-repairable issue. I would suggest contacting DJI support and seeing what they recommend. Good luck.
hi bro i have a dji spark and when i fly past 150m my connected phone( s8) shows no signal and image transmissions lost but the controller is still connected and green i use a factory otg plzz help me
Interesting. I don't have an answer for you off the top of my head. I would suggest posting the question in the DJI Forums (forum.dji.com). Lots of knowledgeable, friendly folks as well as DJI support people to help. Good luck!
I am probably in the minority here, but camera settings have always been confusing to me. I need to learn soooo much more. I have always been an "auto" type of photo / video guy. Every thing I do is for personal consumption, but I NEED to do better, & you help a lot!!! ( you are still my Spark "guru") lol. Luv your vids. Thank you
Thanks WG! Well, I don't think you're in the minority about the camera settings so with that I am planning more videos to break down the camera basics. It was reverse for me when I started flying the Spark. I knew all about photography (and a bit about video) so the camera settings were easy for me. What I didn't have was experience flying a drone, hence all my crashes - haha! Glad the videos have been helpful and thanks for watching. There is more to come. 😀
south african left , home with out my cable for the charging station... now in new zealand without juice, and about to go camper van across the country.,... can i charge using mobile phone cable ? AC and DC ?
Oh, tough luck but shouldn't be too hard to solve. I'm not sure what the charging station requires. Might be a good question to ask on the DJI Forums. Lots of friendly, helpful folks there. The Spark itself and the remote just use a standard micro USB cable so in a pinch you could plug that in to any portable battery with USB connections, a computer or pick up a cheap car charger with USB ports and charge your devices. Good luck!
I have been getting flickering video with my spark. Any suggestions?
Could be lots of things. My first instinct is you're doing something in post-processing. The Spark only shoots @ 30p (29.97fps), if you re-time that to 24p or 25p and don't do it correctly, you may get flicker. Try asking the question in the DJI forums. Good luck.
What editing software do you use?
Final Cut Pro X (FCPX). I have many FCPX tutorials on my channel too. 😀
Coooool🤟🤟😎🤤
And you won't capture good footage from a spark unless you remember to hit "Record." This is experience talking.
Haha! Oh, I've been there!! In one of my other tip videos I talk about hitting record on takeoff and only stopping recording when I land. Sure I end up with extra footage but deleting the excess is easy. Going back in time to get the shot you missed? Difficult. 😉
I have done that recently. I was out over a river that's about 1000 foot across and was just going about my shots when I realized I have not even hit the record! Ugh I hit it before I left the ground lol. So I thought lol. Hit the button and did the shots over again.
Can you take a picture while also recording video? Great tips by the way!
Another good tip is to take lots of video. Not one long video from take-off to landing. Shorter clips make it much easier to find the bit you want. Take-off and fly to where you are going, stop recording, start recording again. Do a 360 pan of the scene, stop recording, start recording again. Lots of short clips are easier to edit and are less likely to bog your computer down in processing. If you do an annoying jerk start and stop recording so it becomes easier to find it and remove it.
I tend to start recording just before take off and leave it on the entire time. There are exceptions when I will stop/start to capture a specific bit. I started doing this because too many times I missed something unexpected or my habit of stopping the video too early burned me too many times in post. It's easy to delete the unwanted bits. Everyone's workflow and shooting style is going to be different, it's all about whatever works best for *you*. 😀
@@SteveCoutts Indeed we are all different. Whenever you take stills there's a natural break in your videos, why not introduce more breaks so file sizes are smaller? If when you've finished your flight there's a couple of minutes where nothing interesting happened you can simply delete the whole file. I still record almost every part of every flight but in smaller files. When I first bought my computer I thought I would never get close to filling it up. Then I got into drones. Now I do have to treat hard drive space as finite!
If need be I can use QuickTime to break larger files in to smaller ones but I rarely do it. Lots of my footage ends up in the trash and the keepers get mirrored on inexpensive hard drives. My workflow serves me well.
Just subscribed
Thanks!
Ok.good!
2:26 - You said that you should throw out those jerky shots. You should have said to just edit out the jerky bits (and maybe show a nice cross-fade instead). So, instead of having a smooth shot, then a jerky Drone move (while re-composing) and then a smooth shot again. You should have explained that the jerky bit in the middle could just be cut out and replaced with a nice cross-fade or fade-to-black transition.
Yeah, you're right, the language wasn't very precise. My point was don't show jerky movements in your final edit. I think most will get the general idea. 😀
no use of nd filters in the tips?
I wanted to stick to the basic skills and things you could do to improve without having to buy anything extra. And, if you haven't mastered the fundamentals, especially manual exposure and white balance, straight-up (no polarization) ND filters won't provide any improvement. There were 11 distinct drone clips in the video. 7 were shot using Polar Pro polarizing ND filters, 4 were shot without. I bet most folks couldn't tell which ones used the ND filters and which did not just by looking at them. 😀👍
I was thinking it shoots with 60fps, only 30?
Nope. Just 30fps. 😀
@@SteveCoutts thanks, I think I going to buy it.
Am I the only one that just can’t fly the spark straight? It always seems to be turning left for some reason. Anyone else have this issue?
👍👍👍👍👍
Yes, there is a new tutorial. Haha
Damn! if only the battery would last longer
Haha! Yep.
BORING BORING BORING. did I mention it was BORING. 😴😴😴.
The number one way to get better footage is to buy a better drone than the Spark...The Spark is a toy, at the bottom of the real drone world....
Right, and get a better job, a faster car, be fitter and be more like you, huh?
A lot of people want to make the best of the drone they can afford. You can do great things with a Spark and there is little better advice out there on getting the most out of the Spark than from
Steve Coutts. The Spark is a great beginner drone or a drone for somebody who knows that whatever happens flying drones is only ever going to be a small part of how they spend their leisure time and leisure money. Yes, if you really want to make drone flying and aerial videography your main hobby and you can stretch to spending some more money you should not consider the Spark as the final solution. But that's not who this video is aimed at!
Thank you
Thanks for watching! 👍