Hover Camera:Super cool idea, but there is one main reason I won’t buy it

Hover Camera is aiming for selfies about $600.Worth it?

“I was thinking Hover Camera could be interesting for say group photos (after hike etc) or for videos where one participates in a sports event or say to take a video of climbing up the last little bit of a mountain peak, a team running by, etc. But there are probably more use cases once we understand how it really works.

USD $600 is a bit steep for just another camera though.

Also looks like it would only do close shots well give the size of the lens.”

“It lasts about 7 minutes. Probably too small for much longer. I also don’t see it working outdoor in windy conditions very well due to the small size of body + rotors, which probably also means it’s not the fastest.”

“My only reservation is if Hover Camera things are a bit like tampons, i.e. the ads. kinda imply that you’re going to turn into some kind of super outdoors adventure type if you buy one…and stick it up your whatever…(joke intended Hull/HC)

I bought a Garmin VIRB a couple of years back and stuck it on my helmet (I’m a mountain biker) and I have hours of video of flat trail. It seems so much more technical when you’re riding it!”

“This is amazing, the portability factor is a huge advantage over other drones. This can easily be brought on a hike and stowed in a camelbak.”

“Great first model! Put out a model for $1500+ targeting the videographer market with more dynamic range, faster rolling shutter, & recording in a LOG format and Hover Camera will make a KILLING. Somehow manage to record in a raw format on top of that and you guys will suddenly jump to being a new power player in the video scene. I promise you.”

“Super cool idea, but there is one main reason I won’t buy it, the video quality is pretty bad compared to the Karma drone or Mavic Pro. If you look at some of the footage on their website you’ll see what I mean. Most of the footage on YouTube was recorded by a different drone. Once they come out with a better quality camera, then I would consider it, IT’S SUCH A COOL IDEA! The other concern I have with this Hover Camera design is that if you have long hair and because you’re most likely going to launch it from your hands, I could see hair getting caught up in the propellers, … maybe.”

So will you go with the Hover Camera Passport at $599 or add $399 more to get the more powerful and feature-packed DJI Mavic Pro? But if you love capturing your own image, and want to put an aerial spin on your selfies, the Hover Camera looks like a promising option for narcissists with deep pockets.

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Hover Camera Design, Price and Battery

The Hover Camera by Zero Zero Robotics has a body made with carbon fiber that makes it lightweight and strong. This Hover Camera has a compact, small and light body is a combination of a camera and a drone. It also has four motors and propellers that are attached to the body. This is due to the design of the body that could be easy on the wallet.

It’s very fun and approachable to use, but the Hover Camera Passport definitely isn’t the drone to get if you’re looking for high-performance flight like Mavic Pro. It tops out at 17 miles per hour (In manual mode), doesn’t have GPS, and has a suggested max range of 65 feet, so it’s not nearly as sporty or nimble as some of the higher-end drones we’ve tested.

The Hover Camera Passport has an accompanying app that gives you a fair number of controller layout options. You can fly with two virtual joysticks if you’re familiar with traditional controls; use the simplified layout if you just need to get the camera in position; or even turn on tilt mode and steer the drone around by tilting your phone in any direction. As with most smartphone-based controls, the Passport’s manual modes do feel a bit loose and imprecise — but we still appreciate the ability to switch up the control scheme.

When it comes to image and video quality, on the other hand, the Hover Camera boasts of results with the same high-quality that most expensive smartphones capable of 4K video recording can offer. Other features include a processor that is used in most high-end smartphones which is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor. Moreover, storage of photos and video is possible using 32GB storage that can also be replaced. Also, the Hover camera uses “follow me” technology that makes it follow the user wherever the location is, either from behind or from above.

Internal battery life, though, is just roughly eight minutes but it can be changed easily as it can easily be removed from the upper section of the Hover camera. For the ease-of-use feature, the Hover Camera has automatic hovering capacity and by simply throwing it in the air, it can start operation. It also has an Algorithm Face tracking feature that makes it capable of following the user by just determining the face. It is also equipped with automated image stabilization and capable of shooting at 360 degrees. For controlling the device, an app can be downloaded to a compatible mobile phone or tablet.

The Hover Camera Passport is currently available for $599.99 with the extra battery pack running $44.99.So just what does your $600 investment in the latest drone to hit the market get you?You can get a very capable DJI Phantom 3 Standard $499 for less,or just $399 more to get DJI Mavic Pro.Or you could get them if don’t go with the $599 Hover Camera.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Yuneec Breeze VS Hover Camera Passport

Today the small drone trend is getting hotter. Yunnec initiated it back in September 2016 with the Breeze, a tiny drone. More recently, we got introduced to the Hover Camera Passport; another little book-sized drone which folds like one, Thus let’s compare the two drones in a Yuneec Breeze vs Hover Camera Passport showdown!

Camera

The camera department is probably the same. While they both shoot 4k 30fps, the Hover Camera Passport and Breeze sport a servo-controlled automated tilting camera, a slightly bigger field of view of 117° vs the 78.4° on the Hover Camera Passport.

Hovering system

Another important feature for those who get into drones for the first time, is the presence of some sort of hovering assistance, as it may come hard to keep the drone in a determined position when there’s wind and you still aren’t fully trained. Because of that, the Yuneec Breeze packs a GPS as well as GLONASS dual satellite navigation system to guarantee accurate hovering both indoor and outdoor.

On the other side, the Hover Camera Passport doesn’t seem to feature GPS-supported hover modes.

Flight time

Hover Camera Passport announced a 10 minutes flight time in perfect environment, Breeze has longer flight time of nearly 12 minutes. But if you want to shoot good video, better to carry more batteries.

Image transmission system

Both of them use WiFi to transmit image and controlling signal, but the controlling distance of Breeze (100m) is longer than Hover Camera Passport (20m)

Price

The most important feature that users can feel is the price, so we compare Hover Camera Passport’s price with Breeze. The Hover Camera Passport’s price is higher than Breeze which is $599 but $373 of Breeze

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Who will be the first to buy Hover Camera at this price?

Hover Camera unveiled at CES 2017 is striking for its unique design. Unfortunately, not all the attention has been favorable. Many people are expressing displeasure with its price $599. Before you part with your hard-earned cash, consider the following complaints regarding the Hover Camera Drone:

“Are they joking? $600 for this ? I will not name it, cause that would be downgrading on myself. I honestly wonder who will be the first to buy this thing at this price. Great joke for 2017, can’t stop laughing. I know, i should behave better, but just can’t .These people may think that consumers are complete idiots.”

“It’s a shame the Hover Camera price is so high. Guess we will see how it goes. I do love the fully enclosed design, but way too high of a price point. From the video and performance I have seen out of that thing (in various videos) it’s nowhere near 600 bucks.”

“Of course people will buy this! people have got enough money for $5000 drones so this will be cheap.”

“Yep waaay too expensive for little more than a toy that won’t get used much. The website states 6,500 feet max height but no more than 65 feet controller range! Love to see this at 6,500 feet!!! Where did they get that figure from??”

“To expensive, my first impression would be $299-$399 max…”

“Sadly if they can’t figure out a way to lower the price this likely won’t do well. The Hover Camera drone does look like a great product. But that price will really hurt them in the long run. Which is really too bad. But hey I do wish them luck. Maybe they will find a way to drop the price a bit and find their nitch.

“The AI tech and functionality is really good. The price-point may cause ppl to select another product. It’s like choosing between a great electric car and your dream sports car.”

 

 

 

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However, Hover Camera is not cheap

Introducing the Hover Camera. To be clear, this is not a drone with a camera attached but instead a high quality camera that is able to fly. To use, simply throw the Hover Camera into the air and watch as it immediately and automatically self-balances. It can also be stabilized to hover in one position to capture a single angle.

Equipped with 13 megapixels and 4K video quality, the Hover Camera can be set to automatically follow you wherever you go to record all of your adventures. Electronic image stabilization ensures the footage is always steady while the carbon fiber enclosure keeps the camera safe during the flight. Weighing just 250 grams, the Hover Camera doesn’t need to be registered with the FAA and is more portable than any other flying camera system.

A quick look at Hover Camera’s features

• Auto-Follow: Tracks your face and body to always keep you in the picture, even on the go, by way of two Auto-Follow modes including Face Tracking and Body Tracking
• Release & Hover: As soon as you let go, Hover Camera Passport hovers steady in place to allow you to quickly and easily capture any moment
• Portable: At just 242 grams, below the FAA 250 grams Hobbyist Drone Registration weight limit, Hover Camera is portable and convenient to carry for any photo worthy moments
• 13 MP Photos & 4K Video: Capture and relive your memories in lifelike quality
• 360 Spin: See a new perspective as Hover Camera Passport films a 360 degree panoramic video of you in your environment
• Orbit: A brand new feature that captures a unique point of view by circling you to capture an iconic 360 degrees wraparound video, even while you walk
• Safe: Hover Camera Passport is both fully enclosed in carbon fiber and boasts AI-based safety mechanisms to ensure the user and their surroundings are unscathed despite being flown indoors and out.
• Self-Positioning: Using a combination of sonar, its downward viewing camera and artificial intelligence, Hover Camera Passport hovers in place so that it’s able to be positioned or repositioned ‘anywhere’ in space like an invisible tripod

However, it’s not cheap. The Hover Camera Passport drone will cost at least $600 while its battery lasts only eight minutes.And its construction makes it feel like it costs a lot less.

And the prices are falling all the time: DJI’s Phantom 4 drone is on sale at $999 and can avoid objects while tracking moving objects at over 25mph. Component prices—sensors, microprocessors, and the like—are dropping as quickly as software to better interpret imagery is being developed.

And Hover Camera Passport isn’t the only company trying to usher in a world where we can all toss a drone into the air in a few seconds to capture life’s complexities. There are heavy-hitters like GoPro and drone maker DJI, and startups like Lily and Vantage Robotics, that are all trying to corner the personal flying camera market.

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