My logic was that I should just get the official bag that came with it but it feels so flimsy like if I dropped it once it would be game over. Then I started looking at those hard shell cases with the foam inside but I don’t know if those are overkill for a beginner? Like is that just for professionals or something? I saw some on Amazon that are like $50 and then some others that are $200 and they look exactly the same to me so I'm super confused about what the difference is. Is it just the plastic quality?

I have maybe $120 max to spend on a case because I already spent way too much on the drone itself and some extra batteries. I really want something that can fit the controller too because I dont want that getting scratched up either. I was thinking maybe a hard case is better for the rain but then I have to carry it by a handle and that seems annoying if I'm hiking? But a backpack feels less safe. I dont know.

Are there specific brands that everyone uses? I keep seeing stuff like Nanuk or GPC but they look really expensive and I dont know if my tiny drone even needs all that. Should I just stick with a soft case and be careful or is that a recipe for disaster? I’m just so worried I’m gonna ruin this thing before I even get a good video...

Im looking for something that fits these specs:

• Must be weighted or have really good stakes because I dont want it blowing away and hitting the props


• Needs to fold up small enough to fit in my small hiking pack


• Budget is around $25 to $40 max


• Ideally something double sided with a bright color so I can see it from the air when Im coming back in

Ive seen those cheap orange ones on Amazon but they look like theyd just fly away the second the downwash hits them or a slight breeze kicks up. Has anyone found one thats actually heavy enough to stay put without being a massive pain to carry around?

• should I get the plus batteries or do they mess with the weight limit too much


• are ND filters actually necessary for that fixed 1.7 aperture


• maybe a better case than the fly more one because it feels cramped

I just dont want to get out there and realize I forgot something basic...

I have about 150 bucks left in my budget for extra gear and I do not want to blow it on stuff that just sits in the bag.

• Landing gear extensions?


• Extra batteries vs the hub?


• A specific hard case?

I am kinda worried about the wind and the uneven ground up there so I am not sure if those tiny legs are enough or if I should just hand launch...

It basically stops the recording or drops frames which is a total nightmare if Im halfway through a complex orbit. My logic was that as long as its V30 it should handle the bitrate but I guess the triple camera system and the higher 10-bit D-Log M processing is just way more demanding than I realized? Or maybe my cards are just getting old and the write speeds are degrading over time and I just didnt notice until now.

I was thinking about just grabbing some Extreme Pros and calling it a day but then I saw some people on a discord saying the Samsung Pro Plus or even the Lexar Professional 1066x are more stable for the Mavic 3 series specifically because of the way the controller handles high-temp writes during long flights. My budget for cards is around 200 bucks since I need at least three 256GB ones to get through a full day of shooting in the mountains without having to offload to a laptop in the dirt.

Im kind of panicking because I leave in four days and I really dont want to be stuck with corrupted files or a drone that wont record when the light is perfect over the peaks. Does the Pro definitely need V60 or V90 or am I just buying the wrong brand of V30? I heard some people saying the 3 Pro is way pickier about the bus speed than the standard Mavic 3. What are you guys actually flying with that doesnt fail during long 5.1K takes?

I was thinking about getting that Fly More kit but then my logic was like why spend another 300 bucks when I already spent a grand on the drone itself but now I'm realizing I definitely need more than one battery if I'm gonna be out on the trails all day. And don't even get me started on the gimbal protector thing. It feels so flimsy like I'm gonna snap it every time I put it on. I'm honestly fed up with how delicate everything feels for something meant to be used outdoors and im ready to just pack it back up if I cant make this process smoother.

I've been looking at ND filters too because everyone says you need them for that cinematic look but there are like a million brands and I don't want to get scammed by cheap glass that ruins the 4k quality. Then there's the whole landing gear thing because the grass is always wet in the PNW and I don't want to soak the sensors. Is a landing pad actually worth lugging around in a backpack or is that just overkill? I'm just stuck trying to figure out what is actually essential versus what is just marketing fluff to get me to spend more money.

I have maybe 250 left in my budget for accessories before my wife kills me lol. What are you guys actually using day to day that makes your life easier because right now I just feel like I have a very expensive paperweight that needs a bunch of side quests to work properly. Is there like a top 3 list of things that wont break the bank but stop me from being so annoyed every time I take this thing out...

I am basically looking at these three options right now:

• Freewell All Day 6-Pack


• PolarPro Vivid Collection


• Skyreat Budget Set

I have been leaning towards the Freewell set because everyone seems to use them and they have that lifetime warranty which is nice if I mess one up. But then I see the PolarPro stuff and they look so premium but they are like double the price for fewer filters and I am wondering if the glass quality is actually that much better for the Air 3 sensor size. Like will I even notice? My budget is tops $150 but I would rather stay under $100 if the cheap ones are good enough. The Skyreat ones are super cheap on Amazon and I am tempted to just grab those and save the cash for extra batteries but I am scared of color shifts or getting a gimbal error because they are too heavy.

I really want to make sure whatever I get doesn't mess with the 70mm telephoto lens sharpness because that is what I am most excited to use for those compressed mountain shots. The 70mm is the whole reason I upgraded so I dont want to ruin it with cheap glass. Does anyone have experience with these three on the Air 3 specifically? Is PolarPro actually worth the premium or is Freewell the sweet spot for the dual lens setup?