The personal UAV can lug around mirrorless cameras

Nov 18, 2014 12:14 GMT  ·  By

It's one thing to strap a tiny digital camera to a quadcopter and send the drone flying off to take videos of everything in sight. It's another to strap a heavy, mirrorless camera to such a thing.

Usually it results in the inability of the drone to actually get off the ground. There are weight limits to those rotors.

However, 3D Robotics was not impressed with this limitation of personal unmanned aerial vehicles, so it set about making a UAV that is strong enough to handle the task.

The result is the X8+ drone, which uses its strong construction and powerful motors to lift up to 2 kilos / 4.4 pounds and keep it in the air for up to 15 minutes. The flight time depends on the load, and you'll get longer footage if you choose a GoPro or other small action cam instead of a normal, mirrorless one.

But at least now you have the option. You even get fully automated flight control, and a third-person view Follow Me mode which uses GPS to track your phone or whatever other mobile device you have on you.

All this in an aluminum frame that can fold on itself, taking a smaller size that renders it easy to carry.

The price is a pretty hefty $1,350 / €1,350, but if you own a mirrorless camera and are in the market for a personal UAV, you're probably not strapped for cash.

Photo Gallery (5 Images)

3D Robotics X8+ drone
3D Robotics X8+ drone with camera3D Robotics X8+ drone, morrorless cam deployed
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