A few years ago, I advised a large roofing contractor on their online presence. We rebuilt and optimized their site, initiated an ongoing drip campaign to capture reviews, and began publishing their projects online. One thing that was missing, though, was before-and-after photos of the properties.
With a login to their quote and project management system, I could see what properties were closing and when projects were being finished. After reading a lot of reviews online, I purchased a DJI Mavic Pro drone.
While the drone took fantastic photos and was easy to fly, setting up and operating was quite a pain. I had to log in to DJI through an iPhone application, connect the phone to the controller, and worse… log in on every single flight. If I was in a restricted region, I also had to register my flight. I used the drone for a dozen projects and sold it to the client when I finished the contract. It’s a good drone; they’re still using it today. It wasn’t easy to use, and I didn’t have another client with whom it made sense.
Fast-forward a year, and my Midwest Data Center was opening a new, state-of-the-art data center. It was time for me to capture some drone shots, so I contacted some photographers and videographers in the region.
The quotes I received for the work were quite expensive, with the lowest being $3,000 to capture video and photos of the company’s 3 locations. Given the drive time and weather dependence, that wasn’t astronomical, but I still didn’t want to incur that kind of expense.
Autel Robotics EVO
I read more reviews online and found that a new player on the market, the Autel Robotics EVO, was skyrocketing in popularity. With a built-in screen on the controller and no need to log in, I could take the drone out, fly it, and take the videos and photos I needed. It has a ceiling that’s plenty high enough, so there’s no registration or license required to fly it. There is no setup and no connecting cables… turn it on and fly it. It’s incredible… and was less expensive than the Mavic Pro.
Product details for the drone:
- The front of the EVO is equipped with a powerful camera on a 3-axis stabilized gimbal that records video at 4k resolution up to 60 frames per second and a recording speed up to 100mbps in an H.264 or H.265 codec.
- Using real-glass optics, EVO captures stunning photos at 12 megapixels with a wide dynamic range for more details and color.
- Advanced computer vision systems provide forward obstacle avoidance, rear obstacle detection, and bottom sensors for more accurate landings and stable indoor flights.
- EVO boasts flight times of up to 30 minutes and a range of 4.3 miles (7KM). Additionally, it offers failsafe features that let you know when the battery is low and it’s time to return home.
- EVO includes a remote controller that houses a 3.3-inch OLED screen. This screen provides critical flight information or a live 720p HD video feed, allowing you to see the camera view without the need for a mobile device.
- Download the free Autel Explorer app for Apple iOS or Android devices, connect to the remote controller, and gain access to more advanced settings and autonomous flight features like Dynamic Track, Viewpoint, Orbit, VR first-person view, and Waypoint mission planning.
- The Evo has a Micro SD slot for easy file transfer.
I did buy extra batteries and a soft case for the drone. The case folds up neatly and is easy to carry.
Buy the Autel Robotics EVO Drone Bundle
We held an open house at the new data center, and I took the drone up and took some photos and videos, and they all turned out beautiful. The local press was there, and I was able to send them the videos, which they subsequently used in their news story. A few weeks later, another news show interviewed the owners and included the video. I also optimized their website, including the images and video within it. Here are the photos:
It was the best $1,000 I ever spent. I am already getting a fantastic return on investment and a very happy client. Best of all, it didn’t require any understanding to operate at all. Read the instructions, and you’ll take perfect shots within minutes. I even took it out and tested flying it out of range… and it returned within minutes. Another time, I flew it into a tree and was able to shake it out. And yet, another time, I flew it into the side of a house… and it surprisingly had no damage whatsoever. (Whew!)
Side note: Autel has announced the newest version of this drone, the Autel Robotics EVO II… but I haven’t seen it on Amazon yet.
Buy the Autel Robotics EVO Drone Bundle
