From what I was told by someone very involved with the RC's the FAA prohibits "Commercial Use" with UAVs. Can we say that the regulations have not kept up with the times? Absolutely. New regulations are in the works for the UAV's due out 2015.
I will note that it has been openly reported that the real estate market and commercial ads are already using these for their aerial photographs and video content. Also local here in NJ a company offers their services with drone videography and stills. One of the testing sites for the UAV's is also located here in NJ and a portion of the regulations will be developed from those tests.
In my opinion, it appears the FAA is not looking to enforce the outdated regulations unless you fly with complete disregard for safety of people and property or stupid enough to fly them around airports. Most of us have most likely seen the videos where a camera was mounted to a RC plane and flown over the skyline of Manhattan and surrounding bridges. Another flown up to the face of the Statue of Liberty. Just last week I saw a video of someone flying in fog and lost communication with his chopper. The video that was recorded came back showing it flying over neighborhoods and almost made contact with primary power lines with no one at the controls.
Hollywood has been using these UAV's for quite some time. Perhaps they are getting special permits that allows them to not have to follow the regulations? Anything Hollywood movie makers are doing is typically closed off to the public anyway and I would think this would also apply for the air space above the shoot as well.

For now, me personally I keep my cameras on a fixed pole or on my telephoto lens while I shoot stills. Should I need closer video I switch my Canon to video mode and shoot with the 400mm lens. My other option I have is a company that shoots UAV footage when there is a demand for it.

I have several people in the RC business that have offered me custom builds for a 6 or 8 rotor UAV. Both of them working with manufacturers and one specifically for Law Enforcement / Search & Rescue Ops. When I am ready to do it myself, I will work with one or both of these guys to build me what I need.

For now, I will concentrate on video editing, and specific gimbals for handheld, track and or cable cam recording with image stabilization technology. If my business finds it to be profitable to invest in something like the prototype I have been shown that could carry a payload of a full size DSLR with great reliability, I will go for it. I certainly will have to make sure though that the equipment will be covered under my insurance should something go terribly wrong. My DSLR does not come cheap and would hate for it to be destroyed from falling from the sky.

A quote from Great Lakes Echo “This is expected to be a $14 billion business in the next few years.” Regulatory hurdles remain. Exchanging money for the services of a drone for civilian use is illegal now. Congress has ordered the Federal Aviation Administration to come up with a regulatory system for the budding industry by 2015."

So it may seem as long as you are not paying for the services of a drone for civilian use, you just might be fine.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) doesn’t restrict hobbyists who fly below 400 feet. Therefore my hobbyist friends should be fine as long as they keep their UAV's below 400 feet.

Also in response to knocking a UAV out of the sky deliberately. Federal Law already prohibits that .

2 of my friend's UAV's . A 3rd is being developed to be water resistant.




Also one of the best vids I have seen of the PIPELINE:

http://vimeo.com/83187924

This should carry a full-size camera no problem. And you can use it on those pesky waverunner asswipes too!!

http://youtu.be/SNPJMk2fgJU

That is amazing.

Pics and videos of boats are nice.
Shooting things takes it up a notch.
This is where the sweet spot is....delivering beer!


http://www.businesswire.com/news/hom...n#.UuW63RAo7eO

I have a 1000mm hexacopter on order/build.... can't wait!!!

GREAT photography. TERRIBLE noise, er "music".

I wonder if that is staged......the kick from that gun would upset the copter no? I thought it was a dummy gun with someone shooting a real gun from off screen

I took my Phantom out on the boat Sunday and took some video. I was very surprised how fast it was, I went as fast as 32 mph with the boat and it was still able to catch and pass the boat! So here is my first attempt at editing what I shot, enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr-PC6QCfNE

How long did it take you to learn to fly it and how many times did you crash it??

That was my fourth and fifth time flying it! It is super easy, I crashed once landing it was windy out and I shouldn't have been flying it but I just got it and I couldn't resist. Just scuffed up the props no damage. Its confusing if you aren't flying it from behind that is why you see the camera do a left right some times or take off in some odd direction but it is a lot of fun.