Is there a particular site (or thread here) that gives a good general - call a review, of sorts - of the various copters now most popular with shooters? All the vids here are interesting, but I may be in the market for one soon and would like to find some real-world comparisons/pros-cons/etc before I pull out the credit card... so, I'm looking for one that can use a GH2/4-type camera solution, not a "one-in-all-GoPro" thing.

Well, budget is always a relative thing... but the Phantom series hasn't overly impressed me. I've worked with footage from that rig shot by others, so wanting to be able to provide a step or three up from that. I see that DJI makes higher-end solutions though, so perhaps worth considering...

Most of the helis used to fly DSLRs and up are custom built. Only a handful of manufacturers are offering true RTF packages and even less that are worth it IMHO. But end user experience will vary based on all sorts of factors. Most important of those being flight experience and a solid understanding of the entire system. I'm comfortable behind the lens or flying around. But only been combining the two for the last few years. So still learning everyday. I've learned a ton over here:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/channels.php?id=34

And here:

http://www.multirotorforums.com/forum.php

Regarding stepping up from GoPro rigs, expect to spend at least $3-4k minimum to get anything worthwhile that you can count on for paying clients. And let me also add that flying smaller, simpler craft first is highly recommend as a primer. Just like in your shooting kit, always have a back up on jobs. The back up Phantom2 has save the day for us on a couple of occasions. GoPro footage from it IMHO can cut with our other cams (FS700, GH2, GH3, 5DIII and 7D.) Here some examples sprinkled in with all the others. Everyone seemed happy.

How much weight can a phantom 2 fly anyway ..any chance the new panasonic g5 with panasonic 14mm plus gimbal might fly ?

I posted a video of this on the other section but it belongs more here. I've included 2 other videos.

Sensefly eXom https://www.sensefly.com/drones/exom.html

It's too bad the FAA and MPAA have spent four years totally screwing up the US for doing this kind of footage in any professional capacity. Infuriating in fact. Yet they have (so far) nothing to say about the bigger threat to public safety which is the non-professional hobbyist with a Phantom. If they end up making a mess it's just a local law enforcement thing, maybe civil court thing for damages. Like if your dog got out and destroyed a neighbor's property or bit a kid down the street.

Dronecode Project

Info about it from the official site:

https://www.dronecode.org/news-faq/announcement/2014/10/linux-foundation-and-leading-technology-companies-launch-open-source

Sensefly eXom - Flight demonstration

Highly anticipated federal rules on commercial drones are expected to require operators to have a license and limit flights to daylight hours, below 400 feet and within sight of the person at the controls, according to people familiar with the rule-making process.

The agency also plans to group all drones weighing less than 55 pounds under one set of rules. That would dash hopes for looser rules on the smallest drones, such as the 2.8-pound Phantom line of camera-equipped, four-rotor helicopters made by China’s SZ DJI Technology Co.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/drone-flights-face-faa-hit-2014-11-23-231032216

EXEMPTION FROM SECTIONS 602.41 AND 603.66 OF THE CANADIAN AVIATION REGULATIONS
Pursuant to Subsection 5.9(2) of the Aeronautics Act, and after having determined that the exemption is in the public interest and is not likely to adversely affect aviation safety, I hereby exempt persons conducting flight operations utilizing unmanned air vehicles (UAVs), with a maximum take-off weight not exceeding 2 kilograms, operated within visual line-of-sight, from the requirements of sections 602.41 and 603.66 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), subject to the conditions set out below.

Here's my showreel 2014.