A 4K camera paired with DJI’s autonomous features make this drone an especially good value. DJI is well-known for its Phantom 3 consumer drones, and today it has added a new low-end model to the line.It’s called the DJI Phantom 3 Standard, an… DJI has officially launched the Mavic 2 Pro And Mavic 2 Zoom advanced camera drones. DJI has officially unveiled the latest in its Mavic lineup of consumer drones, and it sounds really impressive. The Mavic Mini was always a good deal; proper camera with gimbal, altitude control, GPS, a remote controller, and subject-tracking QuickShots all for less than a pair of batteries for the Inspire 2.
We find it a more intuitive way to fly because you can see that you’re about to fly into a tree, as opposed to guessing from several hundred feet away. Traditionally, FPV headsets have required quite a bit of technical skill; DJI’s solution requires very little and has the added bonus of a 4K camera and obstacle sensing. However, it lacks the larger sensor and autonomous flight modes of our top picks, which means it doesn’t provide a thorough experience for people focused on cinematography.
Sure, pros will say it misses a little of the nuance, and with normal 8-bit rather than 10 there is less room for color grading, if that’s your thing, but in exchange it’s not only cheaper but features a 2x optical zoom lens . That’s great because it ties so well with DJI’s software to create the dollyzoom “horror movie” effect and a cunning panoramic dji drones stitching system, not something yet re-created with the Mavic 3. Constantly adjusting the zoom isn’t good practice as a pilot – it’ll confuse you – but then you should always watch the drone, not the screen. This small drone is designed with kids in mind, with one-key take-offs and landings, and an altitude hold mode for easy operation.
It’s worth noting that the intelligent flight mode Quickshots will not be available until January 2022. You can fly the Mavic 3 Pro up to 18.65 miles away, though US rules say you or a spotter must always have the drone within your line of sight. The Mavic 3’s 20-megapixel, 5.1K camera is branded by Hasselblad (a Swedish company known for medium-format cameras), which DJI acquired in 2017. Considering that this camera is as small as a fun-size candy bar, it can’t capture the same quality as Hasselblad’s larger cameras can.
Because it has a smaller sensor than its siblings, image quality naturally falls short of the Mavic 2 Pro and Air 2S, but its videos and photos are more than good enough for pro use in the right light. That zoom is particularly useful because distortion is minimal and control is intuitive via the partner app. And it packs in all of the usual intelligent flight modes that you’d expect from a DJI drone, including Active Track and Hyperlapses. With a decent 30-minute flight time too, it’s still worth considering if you need a super-versatile drone with zoom powers, though its overall performance is certainly eclipsed by the pricer DJI Mavic 3. The DJI Mavic Air 2 is the best drone for budding aerial photographers and videographers because of its automated obstacle avoidance and 4K camera, as well as how easy it is to fly. Its three-axis gimbal provides effective image stabilization, and its 34-minute battery life means you need to land less often.
In flight, the Mavic 3 uses sensors to detect obstacles up to 656 feet away approaching from its sides , front, back, bottom, and top. The Mavic Air 2 does not include obstacle sensing on its sides dji mini 2 fly more combo or top, and it does not have the latest version of APAS, which is DJI’s sensing and obstacle-avoidance system. During our testing, the Mavic 3 stopped short when we tried to fly it at a tree.
I’ve extensively studied photography-focused quadcopters and their smaller, more-agile cousins, built for racing. I have also spent hundreds of hours flying drones in all sorts of environments, and I’m the writer of Wirecutter’s guide to drones under $100. DJI’s pilot software allows switching between visible or IR images, or viewing them phantom 4 side-by-side, and the 16x zoom is ideal for looking closely at areas identified by the thermal camera. The high price is in part explained by the 30fps thermal camera – very useful on a drone – when so many have a lower frame rate, but the device can be adapted further with accessories like spotlights, a loudspeaker and a RTK module.