Some great comments and anecdotes below from people with actual experience of flying in hostile weather and very often with an actual need to do so. Keep them coming!
Flying in the rain also keeps your skin smooth and moist. That's probably why you are looking younger and younger each year. It has always been a pleasure following your channel. Best wishes from Germany.
The point of analysis in this video is incorrect. The problem is not if the rain "damages the photographs", the real problem is if any drop of water or humidity that may enter the drone does not cause corrosion over time. That is the real point, and therefore, FLYING IN THE RAIN IS NOT RECOMMENDED. Greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
I had an incident in Iceland last month where my little DJI neo wouldn’t land on my hand, tried to grab it and it sent it in a spin and straight into a fast flowing river! By the time i ran down off the bridge and got into a position where i could use my monopod to scoop the fully submerged neo from the underwater rock it had wedged itself in the poor little drone had been submerged for around 5 mins. Was a recovery mission to then make a claim on DJI protect but thought I may as well take off the battery and place it on the heater when back at hotel - to my utter amazement it is fine! No issues with either drone or battery! Little Neo is indestructible! Would not want the same to happen to my Mini 4 Pro mind!
DJI should start making their drones water-resistant with proper IP ratings. They should also make clip-on hoods for the camera modules, that'll protect from rain and reduce lens flares. That said, right now, I'd only consider flying in the rain *only* if you can afford to lose the drone. It may still work immediately after that, but if water has gotten inside, it can cause corrosion and failure in the very near future.
Drones with IP rating would be 10-20% more expensive, so it's surely not a priority for DJI unless there is a competition with IP rating. Anything over the lens is degrading the quality and a high quality clear glass filter may cost 50 USD so also not in interest of DJI.
@@TheXone7 I didn't say anything about a lens filter, just e lens hood, that every normal camera lens has. Otherwise, yes, it will be a little more expensive, but it will be absolutely worth it for flying with confidence in snowing conditions, for example.
I never fly in the rain, at least not on purpose. But I do realize it can be done, especially when you take precautions, like the ones you went over in the video. I do mostly real estate work, and those realtors want good light, not dark skies. If your shooting time sensitive news events, I understand the need to go up in the rain and get the shot. Great video, thanks for sharing.
I recently flew for the first time in both snow and rain...I had always been very concerned about it, but thankfully no issues - in fact, the drones perspective in the snow was quite cool!
I really enjoy your channel and the courtesy that you showed me by responding to a query / comment that I once made. I live in Thailand and I once quipped to a friend “In Manchester you do not have real rain, just the occasional free sample”. When it rains here it comes from above, front, back and below. If I ever win the lottery I will fly an old drone in a monsoon and share the results ! Great channel.
Great test! Humidity, mountain mist, fog, etc all cause moisture so it's impossible to keep flying machines 100% dry. Looks like you're at Glen Nevis. I must go there again soon. My last visit was with my Mini 2.
I got the Air 3S at the start of November. Went out for first flight after work so it was getting dark. No chance of rain in the forecast. About halfway through my first battery it started raining pretty hard. I flew back and landed and wiped the drone off. So far, no problems found. I was very upset it happened ON MY FIRST FLIGHT with the drone! To your point, it’s probably not a big deal occasionally. Certainly wouldn’t make a habit out of it.
this is an interesting subject, i personally won't fly in rain unless I'm already out there and it rains then sport mode to get it back, but seeing this video might steer me to staying up there a bit longer thank you.
Bought an air 3 mainly to look around my sheep . I have flown in 50 mph winds and torential rain , the air 3 has not missed a beat . Only once could I not fly because of strong winds . I cant compliment this drone enough .
Thanks for this Stewart. Its kinda like back in my running days when we lived in England..... I don't mind so much getting caught in the rain, pretty harmless, but I don't fancy starting in the rain. I appreciated your assessment of this predicament.
I haven't flown in the rain/snow yet...yet. This makes it seem more possible than I would have thought. Snow seems like it might be fun to try, not sure of when/why I would want or need to fly in the rain versus waiting. Great content, thanks for the show!
I crashed a Mavic two in the sea the next day I snorkelled out to retrieve it & found it in 1.5m under the water I washed it in fresh water 💦 Dried it off for 2 months and yes you have guessed it ! New battery in and it flew again 😅 The camera was a bit damaged but it worked I have flown in rain snow and cold conditions in Antarctica These DJI drones are incredible, but I wouldn’t recommend flying in rain unless you’re able to replace your drone or have a spare
Wow, what a channel you have! And the perfect example of how not flying in hostile conditions could be more costly than putting the drone at risk. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I live in a marine environment which has killed three Panasonic cameras chasing storms along the prom. GH4, GH5 and G9M2. My GH6 survived with some corrosion. I know that flying my drone on a damp breezy day on the prom is a game of Russian Roulette where the electronics will never recover from. Just landing on wet sand gives me palpitations. Just the thought of a corroded battery gives me the shivers. Flying in the rain is just not worth the effort for me. Where there is rain, there is always wind. I also flew my original mini 1 just before Storm Ciara hit town. That did not end well. Three broken limbs, swollen battery and knackered gimbal.
Great video guys enjoyed that , lots of useful information! I have personally flown a few times in the rain and I’m pretty heavy rain too, I have one drone that I take out in the rain , don’t use them all for rainy days though! Brilliant , have a great Christmas! 🎄🙂
The first time I flew my Mini 4 Pro in light rain the camera got corrupted. The colors started to change on half of the screen randomly and I had to send it back for repair.
I have to say, my tendency would be to read the manufacturers guidance and follow that. If the product hasn't been designed to get wet then you could be introducing problems that aren't immediately obvious. It might drop out the sky next week when it's hovering over a crowd in the warm sunshine.
I’ve done it before during a commercial real estate shoot in LA. I was flying with my Mavic 3. I felt like the drone functioned very well. What I did immediately was dry the drone off as soon as I brought it down.
I wouldn’t recommend flying in the rain if it’s significantly pouring down. I wouldn’t fly just because, but if I’m getting paid, then just make sure you have a good insurance policy for your drone in case you need to replace it.
Typically the motors are an inductive brushless design so no exposed brushes or commutator to worry about. They have to be made from enameled wire too so the don't short once wound. The only spot for trouble would be where the 3 leads solder to the coils depending on how well the manufacturer build them.
The only drone they made that was waterproof was the DJI Spark. They never stated it was waterproof, but it was and it was a tank. My friend lost it in a river. It was submerged underwater for 2 days until she finally recovered it. Then she let it dry off and the thing flew as if nothing ever happened. That thing was indestructible. DJI doesn't make drones like this anymore. I had my DJI Mini submerged underwater for just 10 minutes after I flew into a branch and the thing was toast.
I’m not too worried about the motors, they are a brushless design similar to the ones used in RC cars that can wade through mud and water. Of concern are the circuit board, the sensors and most importantly, the camera lens. Videos and photos don’t look good with water drops smeared all over
In the US you need to have VLOS on your drone when flying (unless you have an exemption). Flying in rain or fog will reduce how far away you can legally fly your drone.
flown my mini 3 pro and mini 4 pro in rain and snow never had an issue infact the first day i got the mini 4 pro i did a video about it and it in the rain as it chucked it down when i was out for its first flight lol
Also, doing pipeline inspections we use rainx on the camera lens to have the water run off the lens to not ruin a video or picture. You can definitely use that in this scenario
Ok. Worst idea ever to be honest. The water gets where it should not be. That drone may work for 5 flights, but later on may get and probably will get bricked.
Flying in the rain isn’t too bad! I didn’t keep the battery warm last winter before a flight and it took off lasted about 3 seconds then dropped out off the side of a Munro! RIP mavic 2 pro
Wouldn't reccomend. My drone stopped responding to remote inputs and the gimbal started to malfunction. Totally ruined my trip to Mauritius as it stopped working when I needed it the most.
Before flying in the rain in the UK, probably best to check the fundamentals of the law, the drone IP rating and your insurance policy. Knowing a drone isn’t spec’d to fly in rain will not be insured if you fly in the rain. Also if it crashes or malfunctions and causes injury / damage to others the Court would see you have flown it out of its specified weather conditions. Try and explain that to the judge… Also if you’re a commercial operator why wouldn’t you have prevailing weather conditions factored into your T&C’s to cover this?? Just because it can fly in the rain doesn’t mean you should. Fly safe, fly happy.
This is an completely wrong concept to attempt to promote. This is extremely risky and potentially will cause your drone to fail in the future. My advice is to not do this. The consequences could be catastrophic, dangerous and harmful.
Some great comments and anecdotes below from people with actual experience of flying in hostile weather and very often with an actual need to do so. Keep them coming!
Flying in the rain also keeps your skin smooth and moist. That's probably why you are looking younger and younger each year. It has always been a pleasure following your channel. Best wishes from Germany.
Ha! Thank you! "Younger and younger" is a stretch but I'll take it!!
The point of analysis in this video is incorrect. The problem is not if the rain "damages the photographs", the real problem is if any drop of water or humidity that may enter the drone does not cause corrosion over time. That is the real point, and therefore, FLYING IN THE RAIN IS NOT RECOMMENDED. Greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Thanks for these great tips! I will also try to use my Mini 3 in the rain to bring different content
I had an incident in Iceland last month where my little DJI neo wouldn’t land on my hand, tried to grab it and it sent it in a spin and straight into a fast flowing river! By the time i ran down off the bridge and got into a position where i could use my monopod to scoop the fully submerged neo from the underwater rock it had wedged itself in the poor little drone had been submerged for around 5 mins. Was a recovery mission to then make a claim on DJI protect but thought I may as well take off the battery and place it on the heater when back at hotel - to my utter amazement it is fine! No issues with either drone or battery! Little Neo is indestructible! Would not want the same to happen to my Mini 4 Pro mind!
Great story! Glad you recovered it!
What a story! It just shows how well made dji products really are!😀
Glad to see this with YOUR drone. No chance I’m doing this with MY drone. Great job!
DJI should start making their drones water-resistant with proper IP ratings. They should also make clip-on hoods for the camera modules, that'll protect from rain and reduce lens flares. That said, right now, I'd only consider flying in the rain *only* if you can afford to lose the drone. It may still work immediately after that, but if water has gotten inside, it can cause corrosion and failure in the very near future.
Drones with IP rating would be 10-20% more expensive, so it's surely not a priority for DJI unless there is a competition with IP rating. Anything over the lens is degrading the quality and a high quality clear glass filter may cost 50 USD so also not in interest of DJI.
@@TheXone7 I didn't say anything about a lens filter, just e lens hood, that every normal camera lens has. Otherwise, yes, it will be a little more expensive, but it will be absolutely worth it for flying with confidence in snowing conditions, for example.
I never fly in the rain, at least not on purpose. But I do realize it can be done, especially when you take precautions, like the ones you went over in the video. I do mostly real estate work, and those realtors want good light, not dark skies. If your shooting time sensitive news events, I understand the need to go up in the rain and get the shot. Great video, thanks for sharing.
I recently flew for the first time in both snow and rain...I had always been very concerned about it, but thankfully no issues - in fact, the drones perspective in the snow was quite cool!
I really enjoy your channel and the courtesy that you showed me by responding to a query / comment that I once made. I live in Thailand and I once quipped to a friend “In Manchester you do not have real rain, just the occasional free sample”. When it rains here it comes from above, front, back and below. If I ever win the lottery I will fly an old drone in a monsoon and share the results ! Great channel.
I have always shied away from flying in rain. You make some excellent points, and the tips for keeping the lens clean during flight are gold. Thanks!
Great test! Humidity, mountain mist, fog, etc all cause moisture so it's impossible to keep flying machines 100% dry. Looks like you're at Glen Nevis. I must go there again soon. My last visit was with my Mini 2.
I got the Air 3S at the start of November. Went out for first flight after work so it was getting dark. No chance of rain in the forecast. About halfway through my first battery it started raining pretty hard. I flew back and landed and wiped the drone off. So far, no problems found. I was very upset it happened ON MY FIRST FLIGHT with the drone! To your point, it’s probably not a big deal occasionally. Certainly wouldn’t make a habit out of it.
this is an interesting subject, i personally won't fly in rain unless I'm already out there and it rains then sport mode to get it back, but seeing this video might steer me to staying up there a bit longer thank you.
Bought an air 3 mainly to look around my sheep . I have flown in 50 mph winds and torential rain , the air 3 has not missed a beat .
Only once could I not fly because of strong winds . I cant compliment this drone enough .
Thanks for this Stewart. Its kinda like back in my running days when we lived in England..... I don't mind so much getting caught in the rain, pretty harmless, but I don't fancy starting in the rain. I appreciated your assessment of this predicament.
Love flying in the rain
I haven't flown in the rain/snow yet...yet. This makes it seem more possible than I would have thought. Snow seems like it might be fun to try, not sure of when/why I would want or need to fly in the rain versus waiting. Great content, thanks for the show!
I crashed a Mavic two in the sea the next day I snorkelled out to retrieve it & found it in 1.5m under the water
I washed it in fresh water 💦
Dried it off for 2 months and yes you have guessed it !
New battery in and it flew again 😅
The camera was a bit damaged but it worked
I have flown in rain snow and cold conditions in Antarctica
These DJI drones are incredible, but I wouldn’t recommend flying in rain unless you’re able to replace your drone or have a spare
Wow, what a channel you have! And the perfect example of how not flying in hostile conditions could be more costly than putting the drone at risk. Thanks for sharing your experience.
been in Scotland 8 times on holiday.....and risking it in rain is very normal. Wind is biggest danger.
I live in a marine environment which has killed three Panasonic cameras chasing storms along the prom. GH4, GH5 and G9M2. My GH6 survived with some corrosion.
I know that flying my drone on a damp breezy day on the prom is a game of Russian Roulette where the electronics will never recover from. Just landing on wet sand gives me palpitations. Just the thought of a corroded battery gives me the shivers.
Flying in the rain is just not worth the effort for me. Where there is rain, there is always wind.
I also flew my original mini 1 just before Storm Ciara hit town. That did not end well. Three broken limbs, swollen battery and knackered gimbal.
Such an excellent video. The perspective in snow and rain is amazing.
Great video guys enjoyed that , lots of useful information! I have personally flown a few times in the rain and I’m pretty heavy rain too, I have one drone that I take out in the rain , don’t use them all for rainy days though! Brilliant , have a great Christmas! 🎄🙂
The first time I flew my Mini 4 Pro in light rain the camera got corrupted. The colors started to change on half of the screen randomly and I had to send it back for repair.
I have to say, my tendency would be to read the manufacturers guidance and follow that. If the product hasn't been designed to get wet then you could be introducing problems that aren't immediately obvious. It might drop out the sky next week when it's hovering over a crowd in the warm sunshine.
I’ve done it before during a commercial real estate shoot in LA. I was flying with my Mavic 3. I felt like the drone functioned very well. What I did immediately was dry the drone off as soon as I brought it down.
I wouldn’t recommend flying in the rain if it’s significantly pouring down. I wouldn’t fly just because, but if I’m getting paid, then just make sure you have a good insurance policy for your drone in case you need to replace it.
I wonder if you could apply some rain-x to the lens so any water does run off….?
Typically the motors are an inductive brushless design so no exposed brushes or commutator to worry about. They have to be made from enameled wire too so the don't short once wound. The only spot for trouble would be where the 3 leads solder to the coils depending on how well the manufacturer build them.
The only drone they made that was waterproof was the DJI Spark. They never stated it was waterproof, but it was and it was a tank. My friend lost it in a river. It was submerged underwater for 2 days until she finally recovered it. Then she let it dry off and the thing flew as if nothing ever happened. That thing was indestructible.
DJI doesn't make drones like this anymore. I had my DJI Mini submerged underwater for just 10 minutes after I flew into a branch and the thing was toast.
There is at least one company making rain protection add-ons for DJI drones. I keep meaning to buy a set.
I’m not too worried about the motors, they are a brushless design similar to the ones used in RC cars that can wade through mud and water. Of concern are the circuit board, the sensors and most importantly, the camera lens. Videos and photos don’t look good with water drops smeared all over
The motors dont actually get hot on the dji consumer drones. They are also technically water proof. They will work under water.
In the US you need to have VLOS on your drone when flying (unless you have an exemption). Flying in rain or fog will reduce how far away you can legally fly your drone.
friend, rain does not harm motors because these visible wires are insulated with a layer of epoxy
flown my mini 3 pro and mini 4 pro in rain and snow never had an issue infact the first day i got the mini 4 pro i did a video about it and it in the rain as it chucked it down when i was out for its first flight lol
Get DJI engineers design windscreen wipers for camera lenses
Bet Alina loves assisting on your sodden shoots. 😅
Awesome
Flown my Mavic 3 in pouring rain for work. No issues.
Very nice
Apparently dji uses the same motors on the their drones that are used for RC boats.
Also, doing pipeline inspections we use rainx on the camera lens to have the water run off the lens to not ruin a video or picture. You can definitely use that in this scenario
Rapidly Googling 'rainx'...great tip, thanks for sharing!
In the USA you can buy a rain suit for your drone
Wonder if anyone has tried using rain/water repellent on the lens or even a filter.
Ok. Worst idea ever to be honest. The water gets where it should not be. That drone may work for 5 flights, but later on may get and probably will get bricked.
I'm flying it in snow and rain because it looks cool on the camera. I have DJI care so I'm not concerned if it suddenly stops working from some rain.
RC controller says Indoor use only, not much waterproofing in DJI products!!
Flying in the rain isn’t too bad! I didn’t keep the battery warm last winter before a flight and it took off lasted about 3 seconds then dropped out off the side of a Munro! RIP mavic 2 pro
Seriously, drones and rain don’t mix! 🤨😁
good idea but not good for drone health, what would you expect to see unless it was created specifically for rescue.
Wouldn't reccomend. My drone stopped responding to remote inputs and the gimbal started to malfunction. Totally ruined my trip to Mauritius as it stopped working when I needed it the most.
The best tip: do not fly in the rain!
Get A Wet Suit from Phantomrain and you can fly everday in the Pouring Rain.
Before flying in the rain in the UK, probably best to check the fundamentals of the law, the drone IP rating and your insurance policy.
Knowing a drone isn’t spec’d to fly in rain will not be insured if you fly in the rain. Also if it crashes or malfunctions and causes injury / damage to others the Court would see you have flown it out of its specified weather conditions. Try and explain that to the judge…
Also if you’re a commercial operator why wouldn’t you have prevailing weather conditions factored into your T&C’s to cover this??
Just because it can fly in the rain doesn’t mean you should.
Fly safe, fly happy.
flying drone in rain yes you can ,flying fine mist conditions or low cloud no, it gets into camera on mavic pro
I crashed my mini 3 into a waterfall (it survived) 😂😂
Not that bad
Don’t fly in the rain. For what shot?? No.
Are you MAD, sir???
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 no
Yes, you can! Dome it yesterday, I had to because I had to get this job done! Christmas tractors.
th-cam.com/video/cZdPSpJqZ8Q/w-d-xo.html
This is an completely wrong concept to attempt to promote. This is extremely risky and potentially will cause your drone to fail in the future. My advice is to not do this. The consequences could be catastrophic, dangerous and harmful.
👍, Two years ago I flew a DJI Mini 2 drone in wet snow and sleet, no problems 😀. th-cam.com/video/BF2oelNX0VI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=dXAnzrx_d59z0dBy
I will make sure I never buy a used drone from you. lol
Mine got hit by lightning
Was the footage cool?
@ I wish I was recording