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Will A Drone Allow Video Download? Get The Details

Will A Drone Allow Video Download? Get The Details

Previously, photographers and videographers had to fly in a helicopter to capture aerial views of places, scenes, and sites. Now, all you need is a drone with a good camera and long battery life, and you will capture breathtaking shots and videos. If you are a beginner drone pilot, you need to know how to download videos recorded with your drone. Read on to find out.

Not all drones allow video downloads as the camera on some drones cannot record videos; they can only take photos. To download video from a drone, the drone must be able to record videos and have all the requirements for video capturing and downloads.

It will be a waste of time capturing videos with a drone without knowing how to download the video. If the video is left in your drone, there is no way you can use it. We will show you the steps to take to download videos from your drone.

How Do I Download A Drone Video?

There has been an increase in the usage of drones globally. Drones are now used to capture footage and photos at different events like fairs, carnivals, and weddings. The footage and pictures captured will be shared after the event. However, if you do not understand how to download a drone video, there is no way to watch it.

Most drones have storage onboard, although most drones have limited storage, they come with slots for micro SD cards, and some drones allow you to record directly to your mobile phone. Before you download a drone video, you must know the location of the video, whether on your phone, onboard storage, or the SD card.

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Downloading From DJI Drones

If your drone is a DJI Drone and the video is saved on the SD card of the drone, follow these steps:

  • Remove the SD card from the drone after the video is saved on it.
  • Power on your system and insert the SD card into the micro SD card slot.
  • After the operating system of your laptop has recognized the SD card as an external drive. Click on the videos and copy them into your system.

If you cannot use the card reader on your laptop, you can use an external card reader. These are the steps you should take:

  • Connect the card reader to one of the USB slots of your computer system after powering on your system.
  • After your system has recognized it as an external drive, click on the videos and copy the files from the external drive to your computer.

Downloading From DJI Drones

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To download videos from other drones, you need to follow these steps:

  • Before you eject the SD card from your drone, ensure you saved the video recording on it.
  • Power on your computer system and insert the SD card into the SD card slot.
  • After the laptop has identified the SD card as an external drive, click on the videos and copy the files to your laptop.

Downloading From A Drone’s Internal Storage

If you recorded on your drone's internal storage instead of the SD card, follow these procedures to download the video from your drone:

  • You need to download a third-party application that will work perfectly for the drone. For DJI drones, download the DJI GO 4 application.
  • You must not turn off your drone while you are downloading the video recording to your device.
  • Connect the drone to one of the laptop's USB slots using the drone's USB cable.
  • The internal storage will appear as untitled or DCIM; click on it to access the videos. Then copy or move the files to your laptop.

Downloading To Your Mobile Phone Or Tablet

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All the processes listed above are steps to download a video from a drone to your computer system. If you want to download to your mobile phone or tablet, follow these steps:

  • An application is specified in the drone's manual to download videos; if required, download the application.
  • Turn on the drone, keep the tablet or phone, and the remote control in their normal state.
  • In the shooting interface, click the play button. All the videos and photos in the memory buffer will be displayed.
  • Select the desired videos and click the download button at the bottom right. You can save the videos you selected to a clip directory.

Is It Illegal To Film With A Drone?

The most prominent use of drones is for photography and videography. If you own a drone and fly it recreationally or commercially, there is a ninety percent assurance that you are using it to capture pictures or film videos. However, is filming with a drone legal?

Of course, it is legal to film with a drone. As long as you comply with the FAA rules and regulations for using drones commercially, you will have no problem. Before you film with a drone, ensure you do the following:

Register your drone

Before you fly a drone commercially or recreationally, you must register your drone with the Federal Aviation Administration. If you are caught flying a drone that is not registered, you will pay a fine of $27,000. To register a drone with the FAA, you must meet these requirements:

  • Have an active email address
  • Possess a debit or credit card.
  • Be 13 years or older.
  • A citizen of the US or a legal permanent resident.
  • It is necessary for you to provide your mailing and physical address.
  • You must know the model and make of your drone.

Pass Knowledge Test

To fly as a commercial drone pilot, you must pass the knowledge test and register with an FAA-approved Knowledge Testing Center. If you pass the test, you are on your way to being a certified commercial drone pilot. If you want to fly recreationally, you must pass The Recreational UAS Safety Test. The knowledge test is to assess your knowledge of drone safety and regulatory information.

These are the basic requirements for you to use a drone to film legally. Using a drone to film without meeting these requirements can result in fines, and in some cases, a jail sentence.

Laws To Abide By When Filming With A Drone

It is one thing to meet the requirements for using a drone to film. Another thing you should note is the laws and regulations controlling drones in the location you are flying them. These are the basic laws that you must abide by:

  • Maintain a visual line of sight with your drone at all times.
  • Do not fly your drone over people unless you have an FAA waiver.
  • Your flight speed must not exceed 100 mph.
  • You must not fly a drone over buildings or moving vehicles.
  • You must only fly your drone in the Class G airspace.
  • You must not fly a drone under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
  • Your drone must be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration.
  • You must respect the privacy of other people, so all the footage you capture must not violate privacy laws.
  • Avoid flying close to aircraft, airports, and emergency response efforts.
  • Fly your drone during the day. If you want to fly at night, ensure your drone has adequate lighting.
  • You must not fly a drone from a moving vehicle, except in a sparsely populated location.

These are the fundamental drone laws enforced by the FAA. Nevertheless, if you receive a waiver from the FAA, some of these laws can be waived.

Final Thoughts

Drone filming is slowly revolutionizing the way people capture footage. With a good drone like the DJI Mavic 2 Pro or PowerVision PowerEgg X Wizard, you would capture some nice and beautiful footage that would have the same quality as a professional camera. However, you must fly in compliance with the federal, state, and local drone laws.