Poll: Gimbal cover: on or off?

[MavicCF]

On a different note, for long distance flyers, could the gimbal protector possibly create a more aerodynamic shape and increase your flight time? Or would the benefit be negligable?

 

[AnzacJack]

then unsee it. no ones asking u to view the footage

to please the naysayers on this forum and remove cover, or to protect my 1600$ drone?. ill choose the latter, your just gonna have to suck it up with the flare.

dude. You were looking for opinions. If the opinions dont match yours, and you think it will annoy you, maybe dont pose the question
your defence that you want to protect your $1600 drone camera - such an expensive camera seems pointless of you are not going to get the best from it.

 

[Waynebru]

Here's a much better gimbel cover. I'm sure DJI will copy
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06ZYS58VN/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
it.

 

[Masa]

The protector always off. But with this sunshade you are a little bit safer, and it's great for the sun (rays and reflections). There is a little different one on sale too, tried that one too but this one is very good.



Actually, if I am flying in the dark on a big field with strobes, ledlights and sometimes when there is mist I attach a strong laserpointer (green) on top of the mavic, that's the only time I leave the clear gimbal cover on.

 

[FL1H1]

Alrighty, there appears to still be much "controversy" about the use of the gimbal cover during flight.

I personally keep it on, these are some of the observations i have made:

1. First and foremost it provides mechanical protection for the fragile gimble and camera.

2. It proves a physical barrier to bugs, dirt debris. cleaning the bugs off on the body after every flights is bad enough.

3. There is no noticeable affect that i could see on the heat sinks/electronics. most electronics operate from -20degressC to 150degress C, none of the components get anywhere near these extremes. they sit around 70degressC cover on or off

4. The mavic cooling system is trigger by a temperature sensor, it only turns on the fan when the temps reach a predefined level. my observations are that most of the time the fans are off during flight even after 20 minutes, this leads me to believe the passive airflow over the heatsinks as the drone is moving through the air is sufficient to keep the drone cool. only real times i heard the fan running is when its sitting on my desk during a firmware upgrade or when its sitting around stationary for 5 minutes or so. therefore if the fans not on than there no heating issues.
note: these observations 3 and 4 were made throughout winter and summer (10degressC to 30 degress C) for people in an Alaskan winter or the Sahara your results might vary significantly

5. if DJI really wanted people to take the cover off because they believed it would reduce the life of the drone they would have made the cover non-transparent with a label saying remove before flight.

6. there are multiple threads on the official DJI forums where DJI themselves had said its ok to fly with it on : heres one i just googled Gimbal cover for protection in flight?, im sure the guy from DJI who is saying this would have been fired by now if he is spreading misinformation.

7. I've had more than 30 hours 600km of flight with gimble cover on with no issues.

8. If i one day do intend to use the footage professionally i will not hesitate take the cover off, but for just recreational flying ill keep it on.

9. Most of all just have fun flying, do whats best for you don't be convinced by someone else. we come from all over the world, whats best for you is sometimes not necessarily best for others. operating environments are different from all over the world. some people here are too passionate about the the cover being on or off and end up spreading rumors or misinformation, and end up hijacking threads about something completely different.


Everyones welcome to vote in the poll, im curious as to what the percentage is using the gimble cover. i suspect most dont use it because points 1 and 2 (above) arent too important to them (which is completly fine!),
Cheer everyone

Get one of those grey gimbal sun covers, and a filter. Go in a tree and a filter will protect the lens from scratches, and the truth is the gimbal cover won't really offer any more protection than a dirt cheap grey sun cover.