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DJI discontinues MOST of Phantom 3 line – as well as Phantom 4.

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In a surprise move, DJI has announced the termination of production of many of their Phantom quadcopters. Here are the units they claim to have discontinued:
Phantom 3 Pro
Phantom 3 Advanced
Phantom 4 (original)

The communications from DJI do not mention the Phantom 3 Standard, however they do mention this:
“The (DJI) consumer drones will be limited to the Mavic Pro, the Phantom 4 Pro and the Phantom 4 Pro Plus.”

If we take them at their word, this would mean DJI isn’t going to produce models at the very low end of the price range ($400-$700). Given current prices, this would mean: [Read more…]

Best Selling Camera Drones on Amazon – December, 2016

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In approx. order of USA sales rank. # given afterwards is rank in Camera and Photo (or approx. calculated rank). Our commentary is given below this list.

Phantom 3 Standard – #59
Mavic Pro – #90
Phantom 4 – #200
Phantom 3 Pro – #260
Autel X-Star Premium – #300
Parrot BeBop 2 FPV – #350
Phantom 3 Advanced #500
Yuneec Typhoon H – #900
Yuneec Q500 4K – #1600

Parrot finally seems to have a winner with their BeBop FPV package – this features a smaller R/C controller as well as a headset to mount a smartphone into. Experts, including ourselves, have been telling Parrot for YEARS to forget about the “app control” and use a real R/C remote. It seems as if they have finally listened and consumers are thanking them for it.

While the Phantom 3 Standard is still the largest seller, the Mavic Pro and the Phantom 4 rank shows that consumers will spend more money (and even wait a month or two – in the case of the Mavic) for an advanced and feature-laden model.

Autel remains on the list largely due to their price reduction – the X-Star Premium introduced last May at $1199 is now $699, allowing some consumers to choose it over similar priced Phantom models.

Yuneec again lags the field – although the more expensive model H is selling better than their older Q model. Yuneec has also lowered their prices as much as $500 on the H (with RealSense) in order to stimulate sales.

Although it is impossible to accurately calculate exact market share – indications are that DJI still holds a solid 75-80% of the consumer level (less than $1500) stabilized camera drone market. Their 2016/2017 unit sales are likely to be in the millions (1.5 to 2.5 million units) while many of the other makers are measuring in 10’s of thousands or – at most – 100K to 200K units a year.

These numbers do not include toy models which are selling by the millions.
Rankings can vary daily due to special sales and general ups and downs of pricing and demand. However, many of these models have been Best Sellers for many months indicating a high degree of consumer acceptance.

Phantom 4 Professional – 20 Megapixel Prosumer Drone – First Look

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Introduction

DJI’s Phantom line is well known as the standard for consumer level Camera Drones. In our recent “Slugfest” of popular 2016 models we gave it our highest rating – an opinion shared by most experts. However, consumer-level ($400-$1200) Camera Drones have some limitations, especially when it comes to Photo and Video quality. Drones at this price level are closer to “smartphone quality” than the level of what many expect from fancier “prosumer” mirrorless cameras. As an example, my Sony RX-100 takes stunning pictures and videos – so good that many Aerial Photographers have attempted strapping them to drones to get these high quality images from aloft!

DJI has now, in effect, put the Sony RX-100 level imaging into the new Phantom 4 Professional (P4P) model – ($1499) providing an unheard of level of Aerial Photography for a price that won’t break the bank.

Until today, the pilot who needed better quality than the Phantom 4 had to step WAY up in price and size to the DJI Inspire line with the X5 Camera ($3400 plus extra batteries). With the release of the P4P, the price for a somewhat similar setup has now been cut in 1/2 or more – and cut down in size to allow for easier portability.
(Note – DJI also announced a new Inspire 2 today (starting at $2999) – see this link for details)

Larger Camera and Side Obstacle Avoidance System shown above

Larger Camera and Side Obstacle Avoidance System shown above

Sensors, Bitrate and Quality

Hang on, my dear novice friends! You are about to learn something! In general the quality of a video depends on the camera sensor size and type, the lens – AND – even more – by the ability (speed, bitrate) that the camera sensor can send those images into memory (the sd card). After all, 4K video at 30fps (30 frames per second) is a LOT of data (memory, bits and bytes).  All things being equal, the larger the sensor and the faster the rate…the better the potential quality of the final image and/or video. Technology also plays a role here – smaller sensors have gotten better and good results can be gotten from these new marvels by various tuning of both hardware and software.

The bitrate of a video camera is the speed at which it writes data to a storage device (usually an SD or MicroSD card). This is expressed in Mbps or MBits/s – both meaning “millions of bits (1’s or 0’s) per second. Another way to think of it is similar to your internet connection…often called “bandwidth”. This expresses how quickly data can download and upload from the internet to your computer.

Most consumer-level Camera Drones use bitrates of 20-50 Mbps with the Phantom 4 (plain) topping out at 60. Sports cameras such as the GoPro Hero are also in the range of 45-60 Mbps. All of these cameras shoot still photos in the range of 12MP – or 4000 x 3000 resolution.

In contrast, the new P4P features a video bitrate of up to 100 Mbps and a still photo resolution of 20MP. It uses a larger sensor – the well-known Sony Exmor 1″. This sensor is 4X the size (116mm vs. 29mm) of the 1/2.3 sensor used in most other consumer drones (as well as smartphones and GoPro cameras). This means more light hitting the sensor – and a better image quality. The combination of a better sensor and higher bitrate takes the Phantom 4 Pro to another level.

 

Size difference (not to scale) of the new larger P4P sensor as compared to P4 and others.

Size difference (not to scale) of the new larger P4P sensor as compared to P4 and others.

The Basics of the Machine

The improvements in the camera are the primary reason that that Phantom 4 Pro will become an Object of Desire for many photographers. However, DJI added a LOT more to the P4P – making it the most advanced drone – by far – in its class. Here are some of the improvements over the P4:
Longer range – now up to 4.3 miles (7KM).
Longer flight times – up to 30 minutes
Improved Computer Vision System rear and front- more speed, more range, etc.
New TOF Sensing System – Infrared Obstacle Avoidance on left and right side of Phantom
Improved Intelligent Flight Modes and Options!

Note: The physical size and weight are quite similar to the standard Phantom 4.
The camera is slightly larger – but if you didn’t already know this it would be hard for the average person to discern.

P4P Camera (bottom) vs P4 Camera (top)

P4P Camera (bottom) vs P4 Camera (top)

Another difference is the choice of Remote (R/C controllers). DJI offers a package with a built-in device/screen (Android) for those who desire such a setup. This Remote also features a standard HDMI output as well as a GPS, microphone and speaker capabilities. They also offer a more standard R/C controller which accepts a phone or tablet of your choice. The inclusion of a screen is a first for a DJI product and is very important to certain buyers for various reasons.  [Read more…]

DJI Mavic Pro vs. DJI Phantom 4 (and others) – Still Picture Quality

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DJI Mavic Pro vs. DJI Phantom 4 (and other models) – Still Picture Quality

No doubt that the DJI Mavic Pro is the hot item this holiday season. However, in the rush to line up for latest and greatest in new technology, buyers often forget the basics. In the case of Camera Drones, the IQ (Image Quality) is paramount and therefore worthy of some study.

The Mavic Pro features a completely different camera than previous DJI models. Not only is it tiny in size, but it also has a new feature called Tap To Focus. This is similar to many smartphones where you touch your finger to the screen in the area where you want the best focus…and also often the best exposure (light). Let’s examine this new feature as well as compare the final results to the Phantom 4 and to other popular mid-priced ( <$1200) Consumer Drones. Note that picture quality is often subjective – what looks good to some may not to others. For this reason we have included and linked to a number of samples – you can study them to make your own determination.

Still Picture Formats [Read more…]

DJI Mavic Pro – A Miracle Machine, but is it for you?

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The DJI Mavic Pro is a miniaturized folding ($1,000 US) camera drone with specifications that beat most other models under $2K.  The Mavic Pro started shipping to consumer in the middle of October and has quickly become the best selling consumer camera drone ever. In this post we will take a first look at this miracle machine and advise our readers as to where it fits into the current consumer drone landscape. This first look will contain information regarding the basics of Mavic Pro and address the subject who should consider buying this drone. Future articles will contain more typical review information such as flight manners, features, operation, links and more.

Nothing Like it in the World

With the introduction of the Mavic Pro, DJI has created an entirely new class of machine. Comparisons such as “Mavic vs. Phantom 4” or “Mavic vs. Yuneec” hold absolutely no weight since the Mavic is unique in most every way.

Size and weight are, of course, the first obvious differences.  To illustrate how vast the difference is, here are the square inches (total cubic size) of 4 well known drone models in their box or backpack:

Mavic Pro – 340 cubic inches (box size) -machine =1.62 lbs
GoPro Karma – 1587 (backpack) – machine = 4.3 lbs
Phantom 4 – 1645 cubic inches (included case size) – 3 lbs
Yuneec H – 3588 cubic inches (included foam packing size) – machine = 4.3 lbs

The Mavic Pro is a mind blowing 10% of the volume of the Yuneec H – yet it outpaces the Typhoon H in specifications such as range, obstacle avoidance, flight time and overall number of features. Of the models listed above it is the only one that is truly portable. If portability and stealth is your #1 concern, you may not have to read any further – the Mavic Pro may be calling your name. However, the purpose of this article is to educate consumers on why they may want – or not want – the Mavic Pro…so read on for more. [Read more…]

How DJI Dominates the world of Drones (Aerial Robotics)

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Why and How DJI Dominates the world of Drones (Aerial Robotics)

Introduction
The Basics of DJI – Founding and History
2006-2011 – Laying the Foundations
2013 – The Rise of DJI
2014 – Mass Market Camera Drones become Affordable
2015 – Competition and Clones
2016 – The Dust Settles and DJI Competes against themselves
Moving Forward – Much More than just Consumer Drones
So you want to start a Drone Company?
Additional DJI Links

Introduction

Consumer drones are hitting their stride this holiday season, with forecasts of the 2016/2017 revenue running into the billions of dollars. Despite the large and rapidly growing market, a single company – DJI – dominates to a degree rarely seen in the consumer technology industry. You can buy great digital cameras from Sony, Nikon, Panasonic, Canon etc. or smartphones from Apple, Samsung, Huawei, Google and dozens more – but you can only buy an advanced, mature and reliable consumer camera drone from one company…DJI.

While the tech world is very familiar with DJI drones, the company itself remains somewhat of a mystery. The Founder and CEO, Frank Tao Wang, is an engineer and workaholic who rarely hobnobs with the Press or at industry confabs. The same is true of many of the core C-Suite office holders, who seem laser focused on R&D, design and production and therefore leave the PR and Marketing to legions of hired surrogates.

It’s no accident that DJI dominates the Camera Drone Market. The company represents a “New Chinese Paradigm” that innovates at a speed that even writers find difficult to keep up with. This makes their story – or at least the parts of it which can be pieced together from the outside – an educational tale for those with interest in business, China, technology and leadership.

The Basics of DJI – Founding and History  [Read more…]

DJI Phantom – the Drone that Started it All.

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The Drone That Started It All = Phantom 1

The press release was only two paragraphs. “You can fly your Phantom the moment you receive it,” DJI wrote on Jan. 7, 2013. With those words, it announced the release of the product that revolutionized the drone industry. Here is a link to one of the first complete reviews of the Phantom 1 – Feb, 2013.

Phantom 1 - Credit as Shown - from RCGroups Review

Phantom 1 – Credit as Shown – from RCGroups Review

That year, DJI revenue soared to $130 million from about $4 million just two years prior. The market spoke, and the Phantom 1 propelled the company into its place as industry leader. Three three years and several iterations later, the Phantom series remains the most sought-after consumer drone and industry watchers suggest yearly sales of well over a billion dollars (DJI does not release sales numbers).

But what is it about the Phantom that lures all sorts of pilots, from amateur hobbyists to Hollywood film studios? Several analysts, pilots and retailers describe DJI as a forward-looking company that’s constantly pushing the envelope. Not only is the Phantom series affordable, they say, but every version adds significant new features well ahead of the competition.

Put it this way: Brett Velicovich worked with drones in the U.S. military before he moved to retail as managing partner at Expert Drones in Washington, D.C. “The stuff I used in the military for millions of dollars?” he says. “DJI made that look like crap.” [Read more…]

eBook – Buying and Flying DJI Phantom 3 and 4 Quadcopters – Chapter 8

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Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4  – Part 5 – Part 6 – Part 7 – Part 8 (this page)

The Phantom Camera

Taking pictures and videos from a new perspective is the main function of the Phantom drone. It functions as a tripod in the sky with its own built-in high quality video and still camera.

The Heart of the Phantom - Gimbal and Camera (Phantom 3 Pro shown)

The Heart of the Phantom – Gimbal and Camera (Phantom 3 Pro shown)

In this section we will describe both the hardware and the software which comprise the Phantom photography system. Following this chapter we provide a number of hints and tips which may help those new to Aerial Photography and Video produce better images.

Camera Hardware and Basic Specs

All models of the Phantom  use a similar looking camera – but there are some internal differences. The Professional model can shoot up to 4K video. The usefulness of 4K for the casual user is questionable as mentioned earlier in this book. The Standard model has less processing horsepower and uses a different sensor than the Advanced and Pro.

Basic Camera Specs:
Video: up to 1080P 60fps (Pro model has 4K 30fps mode, Standard 1080P 30fps).
12 MP still photos -JPG or DNG (RAW)Photo Capability
F2.8 lens with 94 degree FOV (Field of View)
High quality Sony camera sensor and lens (Advanced and Pro only)
DJI 3-axis stabilizing gimbal and controller
MicroSD slot and included card for image storage [Read more…]

eBook – Buying and Flying DJI Phantom 3 and 4 Quadcopters – Chapter 7

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Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4  – Part 5 – Part 6 – Part 7 (this page)

Phantom Modifications and Additions

There are many useful and decorative modifications you can make to your Phantom. A large aftermarket has sprung up online to satisfy the demand for various accessories.

Note: We advise using only DJI brand OEM propellers for your Phantom. These are specially designed and DJI has developed very high standards for both the shape and the materials used.

Here are some popular add-ons for the Phantom:
Backpacks and cases – these are available in hard or soft shell designs. DJI offers their own and other brands such as Thinktank, Mofrotto and GPC offers others. Cases are available from as low as $40 to $400+
ND and Polarizing Lens Filters (DJI, PolarPro, Taco, Snake River, etc.)
Lens Caps and Lens Hoods (petals)
Car charger (DJI) and Multiple Battery Chargers
Sunshades (hoods) for your smartphone or tablet
HDMI out module (sold by DJI for the Pro and Advanced) allows the video output of the Phantom to be shown on large screens (monitors, TV, etc.) and also on certain headset goggles.

Links to popular Phantom accessories and add-ons can be found on the popular site Phantominfo.com

Some Phantom add-ons are 3D printed and available from the popular site Shapeways.

Be sure to consider the added weight when adding accessories to your Phantom. A digital postal scale is part of the quadcopter pilot’s toolbox.

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Payload Capacities [Read more…]

eBook – Buying and Flying DJI Phantom 3 and 4 Quadcopters – Chapter 6

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Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4  – Part 5 – Part 6 (this page)

Advanced Flight Modes and Features

Return to Home (RTH) and failsafe – are functions built into all Phantom models. These functions work in various ways to assure recovery of your drone w

hen it has low battery or lost connection between your Phantom and the Remote.

RTH is an emergency function – it can save your machine however it can also kick into gear when you least expect it and could cause your Phantom to fly into a tree or other obstacle. The best advice I can give is:
1. Take some time to fully understand the failsafe and RTH functions. Read the manual section and try some of the RTH modes in a large open field.
2. ALWAYS start up your Phantom in an open area and not underneath or near trees or buildings. This will assure a safe return to home (RTH) if the mode is triggered.
3. Don’t take your Phantom to the limit – use LOS (line of sight) flying and your own piloting skills to bring your craft home with some juice left in the battery whenever possible.

There are various types of failsafes – out of range and low battery as well as user-initiated (smart).
1. Out of Range failsafe will automatically kick in the return to home….or land- depending on YOUR setting in the MC Settings –> Advanced Settings
2. Low Battery failsafes – this works differently and depends on user adjusted settings in the Aircraft Battery Screen of the DJI Go App settings.
There are two settings – Low Battery Warning and Critical Battery Warning. At the low battery warning the DJI Go App will give you a warning and the option to cancel out the RTH – but if you do not cancel it, it will initiate.
At the Critical battery warning level the Phantom will not RTH – but just descend and land immediately. With either you can still control the Phantom to a degree with the sticks in order to avoid obstacles.
3. Pressing the RTH button ( a switch on P3 Standard Model) on the Remote and in the DJI Go App will always initiate RTH – hitting it again should turn RTH off again.

If you are an experienced pilot and flying mostly over open land and close-in, you can probably set the low battery at 20% and critical at 10%.

The Phantom 4 will attempt to avoid obstacles on its RTH path if the OA system is turned on. However, the best course of action is to set your RTH altitude high enough to avoid any trees, buildings, power lines or other obstructions in your flying area.  [Read more…]