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People are upset because they're new and unfamiliar. In a friendlier time, they'd be curious and go ask the neighbor and talk to him about it, let him show off his new toy.
We use it for our real estate business. It takes nice wide-angle shots of the property and the house and the general layout of the neighborhood and surrounding area. That's it - it's not going to see anything happening in any detail unless it is close enough to grab it. Honest.
Before I read this comment, I deduced from your pro-drone writings and the fact that you are a real estate agent that you actually own and use a drone. That means it helps you earn money.
In my opinion, you, or the neighbor who will use your services, need to seek out the neighbors over whose houses you might capture footage and ask them to sign a release (paying them a fair amount for the right to film over their property, of course) well before you begin filming.
Depending upon the altitude at which your videographer films, it would be possible to discern if there were children playing in the yard, pets outside, nudity, equipment in the backyard, etc., even if precise detail is not clearly visible. However, from watching hours of YouTube videos in HD or 4K, I judge the footage to show much more detail than you suggest, especially if the video begins or ends at the property and zooms up or down, as opposed to filming a general establishing shot from much higher up.
I know that Google and others do aerial photographs, but those are static and are not detailed. In some areas, they may not even go in as closely to the ground as others.
Nolo's 9th edition of Neighbor Law from March 2017 addresses "drones trespassing onto your property" to some degree.
Before I read this comment, I deduced from your pro-drone writings and the fact that you are a real estate agent that you actually own and use a drone. That means it helps you earn money.
In my opinion, you, or the neighbor who will use your services, need to seek out the neighbors over whose houses you might capture footage and ask them to sign a release (paying them a fair amount for the right to film over their property, of course) well before you begin filming.
Depending upon the altitude at which your videographer films, it would be possible to discern if there were children playing in the yard, pets outside, nudity, equipment in the backyard, etc., even if precise detail is not clearly visible. However, from watching hours of YouTube videos in HD or 4K, I judge the footage to show much more detail than you suggest, especially if the video begins or ends at the property and zooms up or down, as opposed to filming a general establishing shot from much higher up.
I know that Google and others do aerial photographs, but those are static and are not detailed. In some areas, they may not even go in as closely to the ground as others.
Hi SFBayBoomer.
Yes, we do have one. When we are doing Real Estate pictures, we actually rarely, if ever go over the property of others. The types of properties we use the drone for are usually larger properties with acreage, barns and outbuildings we can show perspective and layout. If we do fly over the neighboring property, it may be only incidental, like their back forty to be able to shoot back toward our subject, and not over homes or people.
We haven't done a lot of video. We don't do the types of artsy videos over an area like you see, set to music, on youtube... At least for work.
We have done a few of those at home, for fun and to learn better skills with it.
I know what the good cameras can see. Try not to take comments out of context when I say they're not super high quality zoom pictures. They are decent cameras, certainly equivalent to really good cell phone or digital point and shoot cameras... maybe even better. BUT - They generally are NOT zoom lenses that can show detail from high altitude. SO the point I was trying to make was, they won't be able to spy on you without you knowing they are there. They won't be taking super spy pics in your windows from 100 feet. If they are spying on people or looking in windows, they will be close, and you will see and certainly hear them. That's an important distinction, whether their presence is a secret or it's obvious.
Last edited by Diana Holbrook; 07-07-2017 at 07:29 PM..
Diana: I will even go further with this -- do you use chocolate over your own steak?
In other words -- do you fly your drone over your own kids' heads, 20 feet or so? Point blank question... Answer it...
I don't have kids, but hubby and I often fly it together, and we take it out and fly it over our own heads, and those of our farm animals whom we love. When we first got it, the horses and goats and pig would get a little snorty about it. Now they ignore it.
If friends brought their kids over to see the drone fly, I would not rush them in the house and hide them. We'd let them watch it of course! You are very afraid of these things. I understand that about you. I respect them and don't want to crash one, or grab it out of midair by the props, but I am not terrified to have it near me.
I don't have kids, but hubby and I often fly it together, and we take it out and fly it over our own heads, and those of our farm animals whom we love. When we first got it, the horses and goats and pig would get a little snorty about it. Now they ignore it.
If friends brought their kids over to see the drone fly, I would not rush them in the house and hide them. We'd let them watch it of course! You are very afraid of these things. I understand that about you. I respect them and don't want to crash one, or grab it out of midair by the props, but I am not terrified to have it near me.
As FAA stipulates drones are dangerous to operate over people. But if you're willing to take that risk for yourself, that's your prerogative.
But do your friends a favor -- keep your drone away from their kids. You will not be their friend if God forbid your drone malfunctions and slices some kid's fingers, or worse.
Sometimes you just have to go with your gut and let the chips fall where they may later.
If a drone was 20 ft over my kids on my property I would absolutely bring it down however I could.
Super soaker, bear spray, hose, power washer, paint ball gun, pellet gun, net, kite string, AR 15..
Henry, I've tried to be friendly with you, even though we disagree on the value and safety of drones. It's not personal.
You seem obsessed with their safety, even though I'm not sure you've even ever seen one in your vicinity. Maybe I missed it, it's been a long thread with lots of people on it.
Fact is, those of you who claim you will shoot them down, seem a far bigger danger in a suburban neighborhood than the guy puttering around with his drone. I just hope you consider that. Is your response reasonable? I don't think so, and the police may well agree with me. Your mileage may vary...
If it's 20 feet over your kids on any property, I'd suggest you tell the kid to move before you go shooting at it. Just an idea.
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