Even if you don’t have a compelling reason to get one, you have to acknowledge that drones are cool like those of DJI Mavic pro. While some are only glorified tech toys, the models highlighted here are suitable for image and cinematic applications of all sizes. If you believe you can include a flying camera in your next project, there is some good news—tech has advanced significantly in a relatively short period of time. Currently, there are models on the market that surpass the video quality and stabilization of prior copters.
Let’s look at some of the top models from DJI Mavic pro.
Table of Contents
DJI Mavic Pro Drone Reviews
Review of the DJI Mavic Pro Platinum
The DJI Mavic Pro Platinum is the most incredible tiny drone available and is an excellent pick for most aerial videographers and YouTubers.
The DJI Mavic Pro Platinum ($1,1149) is the most advanced small drone available. Its small design fits easily in a camera or messenger bag, and it includes a separate remote control that is likewise extremely compact. As a result, its flight performance is exceptional, complemented by 4K video and integrated safety measures such as autonomous return to home and forward obstacle avoidance.
Video and Image Quality
The DJI Mavic Pro Platinum’s image capabilities have not been enhanced. It is equipped with the same nose-mounted camera, stabilized by a three-axis gimbal. It has a field of vision comparable to that of a 25mm lens on a full-frame camera—wide, but not ultra-wide—and is capable of recording 60Mbps 4K video as well as JPG and Raw (DNG) still photos. The video quality is outstanding, with fine details and various presets available, including a flat color scheme. The gimbal performs an excellent job of maintaining smooth and steady footage. The image quality is comparable to that of a point-and-shoot camera (12MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor).
If you’re concerned about shooting at a high ISO, the Phantom 4 Pro and Advanced’s 1-inch sensor will perform better and provide more resolution at 20MP.
Along with shooting in landscape mode, the DJI Mavic Pro Platinum’s lens can be rotated to shoot in portrait mode. That is more applicable to still images than to video. It’s not a frequently used function, and wide landscape images in the wider landscape position are preferred, and it’s unnecessary when shooting straight down. UHD 4K at 24 or 30 frames per second, DCI (the larger cinema 4K format) at 24 frames per second, 1080p at conventional frame rates up to 60 frames per second and 96 frames per second for slow-motion viewing, and 720p at up to 180 frames per second.
The Mavic camera permits focus adjustments, which is not true of all drone cameras—many are fixed focus, which eliminates the need to set a focus point manually. If your footage appears blurry, tap on a distant topic on the screen to refocus the camera.
Verdict
The DJI Mavic Pro Platinum is the industry’s best small drone. Its foldable shape makes it a versatile alternative that fits easily into a gear bag. It’s a little quieter and has a longer flight time than the original Mavic Pro, but it’s also more expensive. So consider the first option, particularly if you’re on a budget and don’t mind missing a few minutes of flight time.
Review of the DJI Mavic Pro 2
The DJI Mavic Pro 2 is the best small drone on the market, boasting greater image and video quality, obstacle avoidance, and a long flight time.
DJI’s Mavic family of consumer drones has supplanted chiefly the Phantom series. Mavic drones are compact in every way and foldable for easy storage and transportation. The Mavic 2 Pro ($1,729), the top-of-the-line model, features the largest picture sensor you’ve seen in a drone this small.
Superb Video and Imagery
The DJI Mavic Pro 2 delivers the highest-quality drone footage and photos in a small package. To improve it, you’ll need to consider upgrading to a larger, more expensive aircraft equipped with an SLR-sized sensor and interchangeable lenses, such as the DJI Inspire 2.
The sensor size is why its footage is clearer than that of competing 4K drones. The majority of drones employ a 1/2.3-inch sensor, similar to that found on a smartphone. However, the Mavic 2 Pro features a 1-inch imager, which is almost four times the size of the Mavic 2 Zoom, Mavic Air, and other folding drones.
DJI has utilized the sensor size before; it is also available in the larger Phantom 4 Pro and Phantom 4 Advanced models. Both remain available and offer certain benefits, most notably support for the larger 4K DCI format. However, suppose you’re comfortable with UHD. In that case, the Mavic includes several of DJI’s more recent advancements, such as more sophisticated automated shoots and APAS, that are not accessible on the Phantom series.
What you do get is 4K UHD footage compressed at 100Mbps in either H.264 or H.265 format. In addition, you can shoot edit-ready footage using a standard color profile—DJI included color science tech from Hasselblad into the Mavic 2 Pro’s camera. All of the test footage was captured with the factory default color profile.
Additionally, when shooting in 4K, two other points of view are available. Unfortunately, DJI’s app does a poor job of identifying them, which is unfortunate because it effectively provides the Mavic 2’s camera the same coverage area as the Mavic 2 Zoom for 4K footage.
Additionally, imaging is highly adaptable. You’ve seen the 1-inch sensor size find a home in tiny cameras, where it produces images that are superior to those produced by a smartphone. How high can a DJI Mavic Pro 2 fly? The Mavic 2 Pro shoots in JPG or Raw DNG format, and most serious photographers will likely utilize the latter. With an ISO range of up to 12800km, the large sensor simplifies low-light aerial imaging. Although ISO 3200 has the maximum for this type of sensor, it will still provide some fantastic twilight images.
Verdict
Is there a foldable drone more capable than the DJI Mavic 2 Pro? Unfortunately, no. It’s tiny enough to fit in a backpack alongside your terrestrial image and video equipment, but it makes few compromises compared to larger drones. Assuming you are not shooting material for theatre projection, the 4K UHD format (as utilized by your TV) is more than adequate for any project intended for viewing in a living room.
Combine the video quality with the ability to capture footage from two different perspectives, superb still imaging, and the remarkable stabilization provided by the Mavic 2’s gimbal stabilization, and you have an easy-to-love drone. So how to charge DJI Mavic pro controller? There’s a micro USB port on the remote’s left, which you’ll need to connect to the charger.
Review of the DJI Mavic Pro 3
DJI Mavic Pro 3 is the world’s first folding, tiny drone built for professional use. It’s not cheap, but how could it be with a four-thirds camera sensor, a dedicated telephoto zoom camera for exploring distant subjects, obstacle avoidance in all directions, and a flight time of more than 40 minutes? Matchless.
DJI products rarely fail to impress (like the DJI Inspire 2, which was a hit, see full review here) – the firm currently leads the list of the finest drones – but this model is literally on another level in drone design and performance skill. The price (GBP 1,879 / USD 2,199 / AUD 3,099) also places it in a higher price bracket for prosumer drones, which means it’s genuinely just for people with big wallets.
First, the camera – and the three-axis gimbal to which it is mounted – is built like a brick, meaning it should survive a minor collision, lens included. Second, it features a four-thirds sensor capable of filming at up to 50 frames per second in 5.1K, 4K at up to 120 frames per second in 4K, and 1080p at up to 200 frames per second in 1080p. It’s 24mm lens has an aperture range of f/2.8 to f/11, and it captures still images at a resolution of 20 megapixels in JPEG and RAW formats. How to calibrate the DJI Mavic pro vision sensor? Just connect the Mavic to your laptop or pc using USB. Switch on the Mavic quadcopter and open the DJI assistant 2 software.
Apart from its capacity to capture stunningly clear images in broad daylight, one of the most impressive features of this new camera is its ability to shoot in extremely low-light circumstances with minimal image deterioration.
Verdict
Having a drone equipped with a camera of this caliber is one thing; having two cameras onboard is an entirely different story. Indeed, the second camera, which is positioned right above the primary camera, is not ideal for taking footage, as it is ostensibly intended for step zooming in on targets that are too far away to fly to until absolutely necessary. The telephoto camera and its 28x hybrid zoom as a scout, allowing pilots to conserve DJI Mavic pro battery( see the full guide here) life by zooming in on an object that appears interesting from a distance. If the subject is discovered to be completely irrelevant, the pilot will have saved important flight time. It’s an excellent idea, but I’m not sure how often it will be implemented in practice.
Conclusion
Today’s significant difference is that drone camera technology has advanced significantly, with larger sensors, higher video resolutions, and enhanced stabilization systems powered by onboard gimbals. Additionally, sophisticated flying controls are improving, making drones so simple to fly that even a complete novice can pick up the basics in minutes.
Naturally, drone flying comes with restrictions and obligations. So before you take a drone into the air, it’s a good idea to review the guide on drone regulations in the United States, the United Kingdom, and beyond. Laws vary by country, so even if you’re flying a tiny drone, it’s essential to read it.
Each drone included in this guide will provide you with fantastic photo and video results. Each one features a camera mounted on a motorized gimbal for stabilized shooting that compensates for the bumps and buffets associated with flying.
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