I remember back in the days, before the DJI age, when drone pilots were a bunch of over-enthusiastic freaks who have built their own drones to carry a heavy DSLR up in the air.

Since then I have always admire those who build their own drones, and i’m talking about those huge drones that are capable to lift up in the air those heavy duty cinema cameras with cinema lenses.

DJI has changed the game

Nowadays, DJI has crushed the market with its ready and easy to fly- out of the box drones. Yet due to productions demands, there is still a strong needs to other more professionals drones that can carry an ALEXA (or a RED) and even film cameras.

The company XM2 is one of those companies that try to redefine heavy lift drones in the cinematography industry for the productions who need it, by build those special drones from scratch. The drones are created in the company’s lab. It’s like a startup company for drones, which leads to research and development flexibility that allows to elevate innovation in regard to drones capabilities, which can be tailored to meet high-end production needs.

The XM2 Sierra

The company’s last invention is a drone named Sierra, which offers a payload capacity of 65 pounds and a maximum takeoff weight of 150 pounds. The drone can carry the Alexa 65, ARRI 435 and also Panavision cameras and it’s dedicated for Hollywood and high budget applications, when a high-end cinema cameras are needed.

Take a look at the drone in action. Pictures taken from XM2 FB page:

The Sierra was recently used in flying a Millennium DXL camera in an indoor location for the video demonstrates the dedicated drone lenses – the Panavision Primo X series.

Take a look at the video below, which you can see the Sierra in action:

Heavy lenses

Another most crucial application of those heavy drones is the ability to lift cinema lenses, long lenses and zoom lenses, and not just the wide angle lenses which are commonly used by most of the ready to fly drones. This advantages grant filmmakers much more cinematic and professional aerial look.

Heavy drone – more complicated operation

Off course those big drones are much more challengeable in term of operation and the support of a professional drone team is mandatory.

Did you get the chance to fly cinema cameras using big drones? Let us know in the comments!