Why I Got a DJI Phantom 3 Standard + Details On Extra Accessories.

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I picked up a DJI standard end of November. I recently got back into photography and video and added the DJI to get Aerial visuals.
I'm focusing on Travel Photography and Video. I added the P3S to balance out my body of work by adding a different visual perspective.

My first travel photo adventure is this January, In Puerto Rico for a week. I'm taking it out and pushing it to the limits to see how it does. I'll update on findings when i come back mid Jan.

Below is a list of all the gear I got and why


DJI 3 Standard

In the Box

  • Phantom 3 Standard
  • Intelligent battery (comes already inserted in drone)
  • 8 propellers
  • Battery charger
  • Mini-Usb chord for charging remote
  • 8GB MicroSD SanDisk Ultra 40MB write speed
  • Remote Control with phone cradle (iPhone not included)
  • Manuals (that were never read!
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    )
  • Different colored stickers (same as the red ones on the image below)
DJI-Phantom3_Standard11.jpeg


I choose the standard because I'm just starting out in aerials and based on my research this was the best way to learn and acclimate to the gear then upgrade later. The 2.7K video will suffice because my work will be viewed online mainly rendered out in 1080p. The 12MP for pics does a pretty decent job the option of getting all my pictures in DNG Raw means I can edit them till i get the desired outcome. Plus the Intelligent flight modes was a huge selling point for me! being able to set the camera on a course and focus on shot composition.

1.) Batteries!

The Standard uses DJI’s new Intelligent battery with an advertised 23 mins flight time on the standard. If you intend on flying for more than 20 minutes you’ll need a couple of batteries to keep you going! Expect to shell out a small fortune here! each battery is $149.

I was lucky and got 3 extra ones at $138(i've read of people who got them for $100 on some of the threads here) a piece on sale, that plus my original one gives me about 1 1\2 hrs of flight time. I expect to be out shooting in remote places without immediate access to power so having a few batteries will guarantee that I won’t miss a shot!

2.) Battery Charger

You just bought enough batteries to start your car good job! Now how do you charge them all?

In comes Smartree batter charger, for $39.99 vs just buying 3 DJI chargers at $120 or one DJI charging hub at $90
The charger can charge all 3 of my spare batteries at once, while the fourth one charges with the charger that came in the box with the camera.

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Or i can charge 2 batteries and my remote at once.

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3.) Memory cards

All your videos and photos are saved to the camera on Micro SD cards (Inserted on top of the camera). My Standard came with a SanDisk Ultra 8gb HC1 Class 10 already inserted. I swapped that out with a couple of the SanDisk Extreme Pro 16GB MicroSDHC UHS-1 Flash Memory Card With Speed Up To 95MB/s. When shooting HD video and Pictures you want to avoid dropped frames or slow write speeds in between taking pictures so if possible get the fastest, highest rated card you can!

Also, a lesson I learned from doing video work on DSLR’s back in the day, don’t get cards over 16gb so you don’t end up loosing a lot of footage if it ever happens! This forces you to intentionally have to stop and swap cards. The last thing you want is having all your amazing video footage and those epic killer shots you just took on that 32gb or 64gb card to all get corrupted, lost or stollen by minions! (they usually come when its your best footage) I have several of these that I shuffle in between my cameras and any other equipment that uses SD.

4.) Bags

The first thing I realized after unboxing my Phantom 3 was how big it was! I tried fitting it into my regular daypack but that wasn’t happening! The camera has too many bulges where the propellers go and the landing gear. I needed to find a safe and discrete way to lug this bad boy around!

A simple search for DJI Phantom 3 bag, backpack etc, will lead you down a depressing road of financial torment! Most of the bags on sale for Phantoms were all in the $100-$200 range. In comes Amazon to the rescue! after 2 1\2 weeks of searching I came across the bag pictured below, The Ofeely Backpack for DJI Phantom 2 3 Vision Vision+ at only $56.

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The bag fits my Phantom 3, 4 batteries, chargers, propellers, remote, iPad as well as space for a water bottle on the side of the bag. I did however have to do some Macgyver-ing with a knife to where the remote controller was meant to go(the huge weird looking hole on the right of the quad cut out) it didn’t fit perfectly when i first received the bag. I’ll update on how the bag fairs after I take it out on a Photo Adventure

5.) ND Filters

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Another important lesson I learned from shooting video and photo work in the past, If you have any intentions of shooting out in the sun or anywhere near it GET ND FILTERS!

I got the PolarPo DJI Phantom 3 Standard 3-Pack these attach right onto the rim of the camera.

Neutral Density filters (ND-filters) reduce light intensity without changing color. The circular polarizer filter helps enhance aerial videos by reducing the amount of light reflecting off the ground, sky, or water. Removing this reflecting light allows the Phantom 3 to capture beautifully saturated colors and improves contrast.

2-Stop ND4: This 2-stop neutral density (ND) filter is the middle shade used for filming on mild days, i.e. partly cloudy or during the golden hours(sunset and sunrise). This filter helps reduce highlights as well as reduces lens flare when shooting into the sun. This is the most commonly used of the two ND filters. 3-Stop Neutral Density:

The 3-stop ND8 is the darkest shade and should be used on very bright days. This filter helps prevent lens flare, and reduces any mild rolling shutter. This filter also slows the shutter speed enough to blur the propellers when they are in frame.

6.) Random Knick Knacks and doo daas!

Everything below is just personal improvements that I made to aid in my workflow while using my Phantom 3. These are not necessities, like everything from #1-5.

FPV LCD Monitor Mount Bracket

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The silver bracket in the middle allows me to mount my iPad and replaces the flimsy iPhone holder that came with my remote control. This piece only serves the purpose of changing the weight of my Monitor to the center, as well as a better location in correlation to the controls. This comes with a lanyard loop to attach a lanyard or harness of your choice.

Square Jellyfish Mini Tablet Tripod Mount

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This mounts to the the top of the FPV bracket and holds my iPad Mini or any large screen smart phone(holds my iPhone 6 plus)

BW® JR PROPO RC Transmitter Neck Strap Neckstrap with metal Hook Adjustable

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To offset the weight of the DJI remote over a prolonged period of time, add a lanyard that attaches to the center of the remote controller.

Please let me know if you guys have any questions! I'de be glad to help.

Also if any of you are in the Raleigh, Durham Area lets link up!

Below are some pics that i've shot with the DJI Standard.
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I got a DJI hard shell backpack holder avai at Best Buy. $135.00
I don't know how to add a pic here. Sorry
 
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Awesome info. I also just got a standard. Would love to see the bag with the standard in it

Hey if you bought it at a retail store, you should go back and ask for free dji hardshell backpack... i bought mine during black friday and they still honored the christmas deals with the free backpack
 
Awesome info. I also just got a standard. Would love to see the bag with the standard in it


You're welcome! You'll enjoy it!
The image is attached below, I actually didn't end up having to cut the foam the remote fit after I just squeezed it.
 

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Good information, thanks for putting it together. I just got the same bag, looking forward to not using the box.

Thanks! I'm
Glad it was helpful. You'll enjoy the bag it's super light! I had read about the straps breaking. I'm waiting to see if that happens. But I'm sure I'll be okay.
 
I got a DJI hard shell backpack holder avai at Best Buy. $135.00
I don't know how to add a pic here. Sorry

Hey, at the bottom where it says post reply there is a tab right next to it that says 'upload a file' click or tap on that and you can attach and upload.
 
Last edited:
Hey if you bought it at a retail store, you should go back and ask for free dji hardshell backpack... i bought mine during black friday and they still honored the christmas deals with the free backpack

He's right about the free hardshell, I haven't tried to go and get one yet but they are doing a special for the free bag with any DJI. I'll go try it. I had spoken to a few people who had ordered and they all told me they are back ordered.
 
I have the same backpack and it fits everything perfect. Did have to trim a little to get the tx to fit but no big deal. works great

I'll add the only reason I didn't have to trim mine is because I replaced my phone holder with the FPV bracket. But he's right you'll have to trim it.
 
image.jpeg
Ty for letting me know how add pics.
Yes, my case was free. Out of stock at Best Buy. They ordered it and I had it in 2 days.
 
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He's right about the free hardshell, I haven't tried to go and get one yet but they are doing a special for the free bag with any DJI. I'll go try it. I had spoken to a few people who had ordered and they all told me they are back ordered.

I was actually ready to buy the same backpack as you since the price was great but found out about the free hardshell backpack the same day and went with that. Now that i went with the DBS Mods antenna (went 9500 ft today!!), i couldve cut out a spot for it if i bought it. Hard to do that with the Styrofoam on the hardshell.

How are the polar pro filters? I went with the thin, light filters but they arent glass. They do the job and I can adjust how dark I want it, but the polar pro glass probably makes the pics/videos look great.
 
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Looks like you have just about everything you need. There are some that will try to convince you that you cant take these kinds of video/pictures with a standard. I know better, and so do you. I can see no difference in the shots made with a standard, a pro, or an advanced. Cant wait to see what you do with it. BTW, I have a cheerwing backpack, looks identical to yours. Works great.
 
How are the polar pro filters? I went with the thin, light filters but they arent glass. They do the job and I can adjust how dark I want it, but the polar pro glass probably makes the pics/videos look great.
I got the polar pro filters and they work good. Some people say that some of the filters make the camera drop when flying. The polar pro's don't drop. It does drop when the camera isn't on but as soon as you turn on it points straight.
 
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View attachment 38493 Ty for letting me know how add pics.
Yes, my case was free. Out of stock at Best Buy. They ordered it and I had it in 2 days.

I got mine from Best Buy too, I didn't want to order one and wait for it to come in the mail lol. So I'll go back and tell them I want what belongs to Cesar!
 
I was actually ready to buy the same backpack as you since the price was great but found out about the free hardshell backpack the same day and went with that. Now that i went with the DBS Mods antenna (went 9500 ft today!!), i couldve cut out a spot for it if i bought it. Hard to do that with the Styrofoam on the hardshell.

How are the polar pro filters? I went with the thin, light filters but they arent glass. They do the job and I can adjust how dark I want it, but the polar pro glass probably makes the pics/videos look great.

I know exactly what you mean! I found out about the free bag after I bought my p3s. I didn't want to risk waiting for the free one because I need mine to travel in January. The styrofoam on this one is pretty hard too! It's a quality bag for a great price.

The filters are great! I'll post up some pics and video after Puerto Rico for you to see and see a comparison.
Is this bag okay for carry on for plane trips?
I got the polar pro filters and they work good. Some people say that some of the filters make the camera drop when flying. The polar pro's don't drop. It does drop when the camera isn't on but as soon as you turn on it points straight.

Actually I'm glad someone else chimed in on this, the filters perform perfectly! No complaints. I agree with with mikep they drop when the camera is off but as soon as you turn it on it stabilizes. What I'm actually concerned about is the gimbal over hearing from constant use and the added extra weight, I haven't had that issue yet. I'll keep everyone updated.
 
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I know exactly what you mean! I found out about the free bag after I bought my p3s. I didn't want to risk waiting for the free one because I need mine to travel in January. The styrofoam on this one is pretty hard too! It's a quality bag for a great price.

The filters are great! I'll post up some pics and video after Puerto Rico for you to see and see a comparison.



Actually I'm glad someone else chimed in on this, the filters perform perfectly! No complaints. I agree with with mikep they drop when the camera is off but as soon as you turn it on it stabilizes. What I'm actually concerned about is the gimbal over hearing from constant use and the added extra weight, I haven't had that issue yet. I'll keep everyone updated.


Yes sir! The bag is approved for travel and fits in an overhead compartment. I used it on domestic flight Raleigh to Washington, D.C. They put it through the X-ray and I picked it up on the other side no questions asked.
 
Looks like you have just about everything you need. There are some that will try to convince you that you cant take these kinds of video/pictures with a standard. I know better, and so do you. I can see no difference in the shots made with a standard, a pro, or an advanced. Cant wait to see what you do with it. BTW, I have a cheerwing backpack, looks identical to yours. Works great.

Thank you, I agree with you completely! I ran a production house 2006-2012 when the HDSLR was picking up speed and the 5dmk2 was all everyone was talking about. Then afterwards a new camera would Come out every year touting bigger and better features. I would see a whole bunch of terrible work shot on expensive rigs and really great work shot by people who had experience and cheap gear. It's all about what you know. I noticed how the Standard has been almost completely overshadowed by the Advanced + Pro. I feel like it has some really great features for someone just starting out in aerial plus 2.7k is enough for almost most delivery methods the true advantage of 4K right now is just giving you more real estate to edit With, but still 1080p is prime! 4K hasn't been adapted on a consumer level for it to become a regular delivery method. I'll tag you on the after Puerto Rico thread so you can see how things play out. Post a picture of your bag for the rest of the thread to see if possible. Also what do you have in your kit?
 

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