Drones

I’m a bit biased when it comes to drones, as I only fly DJI products – but this was after evaluating reviews and considering other options such as those from GoPro, Parrot, and others. Overall, I have been incredibly impressed with the quality, durability, capability and picture/video quality from all of the DJI drones that I have owned. Below, I’ll go into a little more detail about the three DJI drones that I own and use.

Benefits of DJI Drones

Ease of flying
Battery life
iPhone integration
Programable “Return to Home” feature
Obstacle sensing capability
High quality mechanical gimbal (image/video stabilization)
Redundant controls in case of failure
Smart flying modes
HD Video recording
Portable and folding designs
Available Warranty ‘DJI Care’ for low cost replacement in event of crash or damage

Drawbacks of DJI Drones

Cost
DJI Flying App controls where you can and cannot fly
Not great camera for low light
Some calibrations can be cumbersome
Customer service quality is hit or miss

Drones I Fly

Mavic 2 Zoom

In December, I upgraded to the Mavic 2 Zoom from the Mavic Pro original. Some of the key improvements over the first gen Mavic Pro model include:

96mm equivalent optical + digital zoom
Quieter rotors
An extra 4-5 minutes of battery life
Upgraded 20.1 megapixel camera with vivid color
Obstacle sensing forward, backwards, side to side, above and below (compared to just forward facing on the previous Mavic
Toggle to easily switch to tripod mode (smoothed and slowed controls for better smoother video)

Overall, while a bit pricey, this drone offers the best combination of performance, safety, and camera capability, all in a conveniently folding package that can easily fit inside my backpack

Click here to buy the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom

Also, it is recommended to have a set of filters for your drone to control color and exposure in different light settings. I won’t go into the details here, but these filters easily screw onto the DJI lens, and help to cut out on glare and washout from bright sunlight. There are various options to choose from and can get quite pricey, but I went with a budget set for $49 that work excellently.

Click here to buy DJI Mavic 2 Zoom ND Filters

DJI Mavic Pro (1st Generation)

The DJI Mavic Pro was the first of DJI’s portable consumer drones to be released. Although this model is several years old, you will still be quite impressed with its features and capabilities. Many of the features that were pioneered on the Mavic Pro were carried over or improved upon for the second generation. For just over $1,000, you can get the Mavic Pro Fly More Kit with extra batteries, a carrying bag, SD cards, charging hub, extra propellers and more (compared to nearly $1,700 for the Mavic 2 Zoom kit).

For that reasonable price, you still get these awesome features and capabilities:

Forward and downward sensing obstacle obstruction and avoidance (so you don’t fly into things)
Fully stabilized, easy to control flight
4k Camera on a stabilized gimbal
Live video feed while flying
Portable and compact
41 mph top speed
27 minutes of approximate flight time
Ability to fly in strong cross wind
2x digital zoom

As you can see, the DJI Mavic Pro still is an incredible piece of equipment, however, it is not without some drawbacks (which, are still easy to live with)

Gimbal and camera cover are a bit cumbersome
Included bag is a little cumbersome
Doesn’t have side, rear or upward obstacle sensing
Zoom is not overly capable

Click Here to buy the DJI Mavic Pro Fly More Kit

DJI Spark

The DJI Spark is DJI’s lowest priced, entry level photography drone. For just around $550, you can get a DJI Spark Fly More Combo (extra batteries, carrying case, and other accessories). For this relatively affordable price tag, you still get these great features that will help you quickly learn how to fly your first drone.