Is there anything specific that Pix4D does that can’t be done in Litchi?
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Probably not, but Pix4D and Dronedeploy are easier to use as they’ll calculate the grid/image overlap for optimum stitching results for you (and the UAV being used), whereas as I understand it, in Litchi you’d need to work it out yourself then set each picture waypoint individually.
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Thanks for that. Useful info.
Overlap isn’t that difficult to calculate, and I’m thinking in Litchi I’d use time-lapse mode on the camera to take a pic every n secs and move at a pace that is suitable for overlap in the direction of movement.
Might try some time, and then use WebODM and see how it goes.
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I knocked this out just now using the desktop DroneDeploy app … really quick to use.
I guess you can take the settings and mirror a waypoint mission in Litchi with similar settings - it’ll just take longer to create.
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Can the route gpx be exported?
Thats awesome but it doesnt work with the mini2. And for what I needs its also a ridiculous price.
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If you can do it with a Mini 2, I’ll be interested to see what the image quality is like - normally mapping is done with a camera with a mechanical shutter (e.g. P4P, Xenmuse) so that it can carry on moving when taking photographs without too much image blur.
I’ve only just started playing with Litchi and a Mini2, If you can ‘pause’ the aircraft at each picture location to take the image / it may be possible to get comparable sharpness, hmmm 
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Good point … I’ll check
edit: No 
But Pix4Dmapper still seems to be offering a 15 day free trial !
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I think on a good bright day with a fast enough shutter speed, and at a suitable speed, blur wouldn’t be noticed.
You can pause at waypoints to take pics in Litchi … but there’s a 100 waypoint limit, so limiting the area one can cover. Hence why suggesting using time-lapse mode so that only the turning points of each leg need be specified.
Obviously, a small area can be covered within 100 pics/waypoints.
Definitely worth a try, if a Mini2 can produce reasonable results it opens up loads of new sites to map 
Edit; and the higher the flight, the less relative movement of the ground image on the sensor for a given speed
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I don’t necessary want to map it I just want a nice picture.
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And nothing wrong with that
(careful though … at first it’ll be a couple of top down images photoshopped together, then a couple of DroneDeploy missions … but before you know it you’ll be knee deep in QGIS files, surface maps, and trying to work out how you can get your hands on a Zenmuse P1 - UAV load gimbal camera - DJI Enterprise !! )
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Do you know me in real life LOL 
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I am new to Litchi and Mission planner but couldn’t you just plan a mission and take pictures, say like this
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That’s exactly what I’d been suggesting further up.
What one needs to do, first, is the calculations to ensure overlaps. That’s where the other platforms help.
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Yes, that was just a 5-minute knock together, but it can be done. Its given me an idea to do my local nature reserve
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Indeed.
The Mini2 has 83° FOV - from 120m high that’s 78.5m x 58m ground coverage - so the legs need to be max 51m apart along and photos a max 38m apart, along each leg, to ensure 1/3 overlaps.
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The Isle of Wight might be a challenge … on one battery.
It’s more than that. I have one framed the imperial War museum north and its wider than 78 meters.
Ah - I missed the “x 2” bit at the end of the maths.
83° FOV is the diagonal angle
Ground diagonal = drone height x tan(FOV ° / 2) x 2
=120 x tan(41.5°) x 2 = 212m
4:3 sensor means that’s 169m wide x 127 high
So the legs need to be max 113m apart along and photos a max 84m apart, along each leg, to ensure 1/3 overlaps.
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