Canberra, the drones are coming for you Canberra Times Fun Run through the eyes of a drone Canberra Times photographer Jay Cronan captured these images of the Canberra Times Fun Run using a homemade drone. PT1M57S http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/action/externalEmbeddedPlayer?id=d-25pw4 620 349 September 11, 2012 Far from being only the stuff of sci-fi movies and top-secret military efforts, drone technology is now easily accessible and more importantly, affordable. Everything you need to build a professional-level drone can be bought on the web, according to Fairfax technology editor Asher Moses. For as little as $350, you can buy a basic set up - controlled by your iPhone or iPad. An image captured at the Canberra Times Fun Run, using a camera attached to a drone. To the left of the photo, you can see a shadow of the drone. Drone technology is being used by everyone from backyard hobbyists, to real estate agents, to members of the military. And hobbyists don't need a license. On Saturday, Canberra Times photographer Jay Cronan took his own personal drone set-up for spin over the crowd at the 36th annual Canberra Times Fun Run. Canberra Times photographer Jay Cronan retrieves his quadcopter during the Canberra Times 10km Fun Run. Jay's $200 "quadcopter" is custom-made and radio-controlled, with four tiny motors that are independently controlled by a central computer. Home-made from carbon fibre and aluminium, Jay said his set-up offers the ability to fly further and carry more weight than the basic hobby drones available online. "With a pre-bought one, you're limited in what you can do with it," he said. They can't really carry much more than what they're made of. Jay's drone was built with photography and video in mind. And with a camera strapped in it's capable of capturing incredible images, travelling as far as 2km away from the controller. It even has a GPS set-up, and a "return to home" function built in. To see how Canberra feels about being peered at from the sky, check out the video above. And beware. Next on Jay's to-do list is an "octocopter," which will fly further, carry more weight and be twice as sneaky. For all the low down down on drones, the do and don't and potted history of technology, read this article by Asher Moses. Related coverage: