I have been on the sidelines for a long time to buy a drone. This new one from DJI caught my eye this morning. Other than flare caused by the camera bubble it seems like an excellent drone to use:
http://www.pcmag.com/news/348175/dj...ws&mailingID=6D45C69B2A7A017CBB05DE88FD4B7F83
DJI Unveils Compact Mavic Pro Drone
Small drones are the next big thing. New models like the Yuneec Breeze andGoPro Karma emphasize size above all; they fold and fit easily into a small backpack so you can take them anywhere with ease. Now, dominant drone maker DJI is joining the party with the svelte Mavic Pro quadcopter.
The Mavic Pro features a black finish, a stark contrast to the smooth, white lines of the Phantom 4$1,095.99 at Amazon. Its design is more angular, and sits low to the ground thanks to short landing gear and a gimbal-stabilized 4K camera that's stabilized on three axes and can record 4K video at up to 30fps and 1080p footage at up to 96fps—perfect for smooth slow-motion capture. Its field of view is narrower than the Phantom 4—78.8 degrees versus 94 degrees—about the same as a 25mm lens in full-frame terms.
The camera also captures stills at 12MP resolution in Raw DNG or JPG format. In a first for a drone, it can rotate to shoot in a portrait orientation as well as landscape. Its focus is fixed from 19 inches (0.5 meter) to infinity. The camera module is protected by a clear plastic bubble.
The nimble Mavic is designed to fly low and high. It has downward-facing sensors to maintain position when close to the ground and forward sensors to avoid obstacles. There's even a new Terrain Follow mode that can follow a subject while maintaining a constant distance from the ground, which can be set from 1 foot (0.3 meter) to 33 feet (10 meters).
If you're concerned about adhering to regulations, you can trust DJI's automated geofencing tools to prevent you from inadvertently flying in a restricted area. Of course, the system has an override for those times when you have permission to operate near an airport or in another area that's normally off-limits per the FAA. At 1.7 pounds (750g), the drone does require FAA registration.
The Mavic Pro goes on sale in mid-October for $999, with additional batteries selling for $89. A premium bundle, the Mavic Pro Fly More Combo, includes two spare batteries (for a total of three), an extra set of propellers, a charging hub, a car charger, and a carrying case for $1,299.
If you're concerned about crashes, DJI offers a protection plan, called DJI Care Refresh, for the aircraft. It covers repairs of accidental damage for 12 months at the lower tier, with an upper tier that covers two complete drone replacements in the event of total loss of the aircraft. Pricing for the protection plan is not announced at this time.
http://www.pcmag.com/news/348175/dj...ws&mailingID=6D45C69B2A7A017CBB05DE88FD4B7F83
DJI Unveils Compact Mavic Pro Drone
Small drones are the next big thing. New models like the Yuneec Breeze andGoPro Karma emphasize size above all; they fold and fit easily into a small backpack so you can take them anywhere with ease. Now, dominant drone maker DJI is joining the party with the svelte Mavic Pro quadcopter.
The Mavic Pro features a black finish, a stark contrast to the smooth, white lines of the Phantom 4$1,095.99 at Amazon. Its design is more angular, and sits low to the ground thanks to short landing gear and a gimbal-stabilized 4K camera that's stabilized on three axes and can record 4K video at up to 30fps and 1080p footage at up to 96fps—perfect for smooth slow-motion capture. Its field of view is narrower than the Phantom 4—78.8 degrees versus 94 degrees—about the same as a 25mm lens in full-frame terms.
The camera also captures stills at 12MP resolution in Raw DNG or JPG format. In a first for a drone, it can rotate to shoot in a portrait orientation as well as landscape. Its focus is fixed from 19 inches (0.5 meter) to infinity. The camera module is protected by a clear plastic bubble.
The nimble Mavic is designed to fly low and high. It has downward-facing sensors to maintain position when close to the ground and forward sensors to avoid obstacles. There's even a new Terrain Follow mode that can follow a subject while maintaining a constant distance from the ground, which can be set from 1 foot (0.3 meter) to 33 feet (10 meters).
If you're concerned about adhering to regulations, you can trust DJI's automated geofencing tools to prevent you from inadvertently flying in a restricted area. Of course, the system has an override for those times when you have permission to operate near an airport or in another area that's normally off-limits per the FAA. At 1.7 pounds (750g), the drone does require FAA registration.
The Mavic Pro goes on sale in mid-October for $999, with additional batteries selling for $89. A premium bundle, the Mavic Pro Fly More Combo, includes two spare batteries (for a total of three), an extra set of propellers, a charging hub, a car charger, and a carrying case for $1,299.
If you're concerned about crashes, DJI offers a protection plan, called DJI Care Refresh, for the aircraft. It covers repairs of accidental damage for 12 months at the lower tier, with an upper tier that covers two complete drone replacements in the event of total loss of the aircraft. Pricing for the protection plan is not announced at this time.
