IFA 2018, the largest consumer electronics fair in Europe, had a lot of love for drones. From catering to the needs of drone photography enthusiasts to voice or gesture controlled drones, here's everything you need to know about those IFA flying machines.
Major releases came from two of the leaders in the drone space, DJI and Yuneec. DJI released two new sequels to its Mavic 2 series, one of which adds optical zoom while the other includes an excellent image sensor for serious drone photographers. Meanwhile, Yuneec has stuck to what he does best:cramming a ton of features into a drone affordable for the masses.
The two new releases from DJI, the DJI Mavic 2 Pro and the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom, share most of their features, except for the camera attached to the drone. They even look the same except for the camera unit, where the Mavic 2 Pro looks rectangular and the Mavic 2 Zoom is circular.
Aside from camera differences, the two drones are similar in size, shape, and features. They can be folded into smaller sizes for easy transport and come with the same kit of chargers, cables and adapters. DJI claims about 30 minutes of continuous flight time and a top speed of 72 km/h.
Both drones are now available for purchase or pre-order.
The Mavic 2 Pro features the Hasselblad L1D-20c camera with a 1-inch CMOS image sensor and 20-megapixel resolution. This is one of the best camera units on a drone today and more importantly it has an adjustable aperture with a range of f2.8 to 4.11. For a serious drone photographer, an adjustable aperture can lead to some cool drone shots. It can also do 10-bit HDR video to capture up to a billion colors.
The DJI Mavic 2 Pro costs $1,449 in the US.
DJI Mavic 2 PRO Drone Quadcopter with Hasselblad HDR Camera Video UAV with Adjustable Aperture 20MP 1" CMOS Sensor (US Version) DJI Mavic 2 PRO Drone Quadcopter with Hasselblad HDR Camera with Adjustable Aperture Video UAV 20MP 1" CMOS Sensor (US Version) Buy Now On Amazon $1,499.00
The Mavic 2 zoom, as the name suggests, is all about optical zoom. The 2x optical zoom (24mm-48mm) on the camera is decidedly more fun and better suited for casual drone photographers. You can push it even higher with the 2x digital zoom, but as it always is, it will introduce artifacts into the image. Still, it allows you to do some creative things, like in the DJI demo where the drone flew backwards but came close to a person, giving a cool effect. Oh yeah, it also shoots 4K video.
The DJI Mavic 2 Zoom costs $1249 in the US.
DJI Mavic 2 Zoom Drone Quadcopter with 24-48mm Optical Zoom Camera Video UAV 12MP 1/2.3" CMOS Sensor (US Version) DJI Mavic 2 Zoom Drone Quadcopter with 24-48mm Optical Zoom Camera Video UAV 12MP 1/2.3" CMOS Sensor (US Version) Buy Now On Amazon $1,159.96
Technology has a certain allure if you can interact with it in unexpected ways. You will have a tingling feeling when you look at the Yuneec Mantis Q hovering over her head, wave to her, and know that you took a wave-based picture of her..
Voice or gesture recognition in cameras is nothing new. But adding it to a drone elevates the way you use the drone. Since we haven't fully exploited the possibilities of what you can do with a camera drone, these features only open new doors.
Before you fly too high, here's a reality check. Don't expect the Mantis Q to have endless voice commands like Siri or Alexa. You need to learn the basic commands it understands, like "take a picture" or "take a selfie" to use it effectively. Yuneec was also incredibly helpful in not disclosing how far away the drone can hear him.
At least with face detection technology, Yuneec is clear that the Mantis Q works up to 13 feet away, recognizing your expressions (smile to activate the camera) or gestures (wave to activate the camera).
The controller is much simpler and more understated than what you see on Yuneec's flagship Typhoon H. With the Mantis Q, it's a simple drone controller that connects to your smartphone with the Yuneec app. Two joysticks allow you to control the drone, and there is a “Come Home” button to let you remember it.
But perhaps the most compelling feature of the Mantis Q is its price/feature ratio. For $500, this drone packs 4K video recording, boasts a top speed of 70km/h, and can stay in the air for 33 minutes. There isn't a reputable drone manufacturer on the market that offers anything else that comes close.
You can buy or pre-order the Yuneec Mantis Q for $500 from their online store.
The DJI Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 2 Zoom are aimed at people who have operated drones before and are looking for an upgrade. The Yuneec Mantis Q, on the other hand, is a better drone for newcomers who want all the bells and whistles a good drone should have.
We will try to review all three drones at IFA soon, especially the cheaper Mantis Q for beginners. Until then, if you want a taste of drone life, you can't go wrong with the $100 DJI Tello DJI Tello:The Little Drone Ever Drone, and only $99. DJI Tello:The Cutest Little Drone and only $99 with a Camera At 720p, 10 minutes of battery life, and priced at $99, Tello aims to set the standard for entry-level drones. Read more.
