Mavic still issues

Still not sure what to make of this with stills, it seems to be hard work processing from RAW, but if you persevere the overall impression is quite good with very natural colours.

But even at largest size the resolution isn't quite there for pixel peepers!

It has become apparent that using RAW there's a somewhat serious pink spot in the middle of the frame - easily clicked away with Lightroom circular filter thing.
This seems to be widely reported though not especially obvious in a varied image like this (I have removed it..)

First proper use of Mavic Pro

This little drone was ordered at the end of September and has taken two months to come (originally it was supposed to be two weeks!)

This seems to have been due to huge demand and some technical issues ramping up production.

There is a widely held view they released it early to beat GoPro's new drone called Karma.
Needn't have worried though as Karma seems to have been a total disaster with early units losing power in flight - and they have been recalled.
It was ridiculously crude compared to the amazing mavic in any case.

What I'm finding is a very sharp crisp image but in video there's quite a lot of H.264 compression/smoothing going on - though you don't really see it on smaller screens.

Slight compromises in quality can be forgiven as the great trump is being unbelievably tiny.
When folded up it easily fits in my small SLR bag which *only* held a Canon 5D with 24-105 lens on. There's room in the bag for controller, charger, spare battery and can of beer or sandwich too at a pinch.
This means it is easily carried when walking or biking,
This was always a real pain with the phantoms as even the most compact backpack was too big and quite heavy. Even in the car it took up a whole seat or half the boot so not something you always wanted in there.

Snow on high ground

This is at least the third time this November which is quite unusual, but we normally get at least one snowy day in the second half of the month.
(DJI Phantom 3)

slightly snowy run to Ruswarp

Taking a trailer load of bullocks to Ruswarp market's special sale on the 9th of November.
Roads were mainly clear but it looked quite worrying earlier on and the high moors further inland continued to get whiter most of the day.

Bransdale on the big bike

This bike will soon be (mainly) confined to quarters as the roads get salty.

From Malton in 08:30 minutes

Due to half term and a mild fine day it was quite busy which had idiots taking risks on the A169 between Malton and Pickering.
Even when it's quiet there are few safe overtaking spots on this snaking road with lots of junctions and lots of impatient holiday traffic.

Worst was an ambulance car (no blue lights on) which drove so close behind a cattle trailer that he could not see ahead - missing 10 seconds safe overtaking chance - then casually dithered past on a RH bend with limited visibility - scaring an oncoming car into panic braking and headlight flashing.

Hero4 Black does a nice job as dash cam but getting white balance right is more difficult with greenish glass.
Watching original on large PC screen you see more than you ever could actually driving along the route.

Back home in 5 minutes

With £200 of new glass in the back for a building project I was actually driving rather gently!