Nadir vs. oblique: which to fly

The camera angle you fly determines what you can build well. It's the most common reason a capture disappoints — the wrong angle for the intended deliverable.

Nadir (straight down)

Nadir photos are the foundation of a good orthomosaic and elevation model. If your goal is a 2D map, measurements, volumes, or contours, fly a nadir grid with solid overlap.

Oblique (angled)

Oblique photos see the sides of buildings, stockpiles, and structures, which is what a convincing 3D model needs. For 3D, orbit the site or fly a grid with the camera tilted 15–45°.

Best of both

For a site where you want maps and a 3D model, fly a nadir grid for the map and add oblique orbits for the structures. When you create the project, set the scope to match what you captured — a mostly-oblique flight is a 3D only job.