Toy-Grade Fun

My modest neighborhood via JJRC H12 and its low-grade 5MP camera (edited in On 1 Photo 10 software).

As nice as the high-end (and expensive), GPS quadcopters/drones can be, I have to confess here, I keep coming back to the toy-grade models. For me, they are just more fun because I don't have to worry about losing a flying piece of bling. And when I really stop to think about it, they really hold your attention rather than their GPS.

I came up with this image today during lunch when I stepped out on the back porch for a quick little peek over my neighborhood on a day that was way below freezing outside. As soon as the H12 took off, the lights started flashing with a low-battery power warning. Nevertheless, I had enough time to take it up 50 or 60 feet and capture my frozen neighborhood.

The low-grade cameras that come with such models are as fun to work with as the drones, and when used with a photo-editor like On1 Photo10, it's terribly liberating to toy with these toy images.

Along with my H12, I have a couple of H5Ps (another JJRC product) that provide the same results. Their extra large battery and flying time are a boon too. However, the first one came with a dysfunctional camera and I broke the second camera on a rough landing. It has been hell trying to find replacement cameras for these two low-fi drones. So, I'm reaching out to various drone groups on Facebook—hoping someone will shine a light for my downmarket drones. Let me know here if you know of a solution as well. Cheers.

The RunCam 1

RunCam 1 Specs:
Physical size: 60x35x18 mm (L x W x H)
Weight: 41 g
Field of View: 120°
Advertised Photo Resolution: 3MP
Actual Photo Resolution: 2592 x 1944 pixels = 5.03 MP
Adjusted Photo Resolution: 2592 x 1473 = 3.81 MP
File Formats Supported: JPG
Image Flip: yes
Battery: Rechargeable LiPo 850 mah
 

"Born for RC Fanatics," RunCam is now celebrating their third year of offering photographic equipment for the RC market. The RunCam 1 is a great camera for still work Internet images and smaller format printing. However, it has one slight problem that can easily be corrected in any basic photo editor application.

Distorted out-of-camera file: 2592 x 1944 (5.03 MP)

With photo files taken directly from the RunCam 1, they first appear distorted—elongated on the y-axis. This 5-MP-file measures 2592 x 1944 pixels, but those 1944 pixels on the y-axis are too many which results in the elongated image. A simple fix for this is to edit the image size down to 1473 pixels on the y-axis and keep the x-axis at the same value (2592). 

Adjusted RunCam 1 file: 2592 x 1473 (3.81 MP)

Using a credit-card gimbal mount, I use my RunCam 1 on typical toy-grade UAVs like the MJX-X600 or the Syma X8C. It's an easy payload for the X8C, but can be a slight tax on the X600—likely requiring the higher power mode. Not long ago, one of the six motors burned out in mid-flight on the X600 while hauling the RunCam 1. Luckily it wasn't too hard to navigate the craft back under five motors even if it wasn't a graceful landing.

As of this writing, the RunCam 1 is now available for $49.99 (U.S.) directly from RunCam's web site. It's likely that better deals can be found from other on-line stores.