You can remove the propellers to ease transport, but there is no folding features on this one. DJI has released an update to this great drone, the DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 is updated in mostly the same way that the Mavic Pro Platinum improves over the original Mavic Pro. To be specific, new propellers and updated ESCs create more efficient and quieter flight.
Samll things I didn’t like included the rubber battery port cover, which I found too fiddly, and the choice of rubber used for the grip elements, which I can see getting dirty very quickly. There are also 2 customisable buttons on the base of the controller within easy reach. The camera and gimble are obviously more fragile, and require a protective guard to be used when transporting the drone.
Whilst you’re flying, the DJI Go app puts the dji drones’s main functionality only a tap away. It’s not the most user friendly set up, with several buttons taking you to the same menu, but I soon got used to it. The mapping functionality of the Phantom 4 quadcopter is also amazing. I loved the ability to see on a Google map exactly where the drone was located. Selecting a section of your video footage using the DJI Go app is simple and fast.
The onboard camera features a 1-inch 20MP CMOS sensor and a mechanical shutter, eliminating rolling shutter distortion. An advanced sensor and impressive processing capture every detail and provide the image data needed for advanced post-production. The Phantom 4, as mentioned, has a 1/2.3-inch camera sensor, the newer drones in the Phantom line come with a full 1-inch sensor. This new sensor has a mechanical shutter, captures 20 MP images and bumps the maximum video bitrate from 60 to 100 Mbps. The RTK module is integrated directly into the DJI Phantom 4 RTK, providing real-time positioning data for improved absolute accuracy on image metadata.
The included box for the fits everything you need to fly the drone. The drone itself is smaller than I expected, and fits rather neatly in its included polystyrene box. The box features a latch to keep it closed, and is intended to safely house and transport the drone. The controls of the Phantom4 do take some practice, but it’s the kind of thing that you’ll learn quicker via muscle memory – if I stopped to think which control would pan vs tilt for example, I got confused. However, if I just embraced the controls and corrected as I flew, I found it much easier. I find it absolutely incredible that something like this is possible at this price.
The standard DJI case is simply too bulky to fit into any bag smaller than a 60 liter rucksack. This discounted bundle has everything you’ll need to use the Survey3 cameras with the DJI Phantom 4, Phantom 4 Pro or Phantom 4 Advance drone. Our new tilting Phantom 4 mount allows you to lock the cameras in a tilted location such that during forward flight the cameras are parallel with the ground .
Now it’s time to look at the relevance of the phantom 4 for aerial drone photography, or photographers who are keen to shoot high quality stills, perhaps as a value-add to their current photography services. One important thing to remember though is that even with 20-ish minutes of flight time, you’ll always want to return with at least 5 minutes worth of battery power ‘in the tank’. This is just to ensure any unforeseen circumstances, such as a strong head wind, getting lost, or whatever else. The Phantom 2 was released in December 2013 after the Phantom 2 Vision.
It took a few flights for me to realise that whilst the battery life was limiting, you really need to slow your actions down whilst flying the Phantom 4. Thankfully, the DJI Go app does a great job at showing you an estimate of remaining battery time, both as a percentage and remaining flight time. By now you’ve probably seen the odd DJI Phantom 4 review floating around the Internet. You’ve been wowed by incredible 4k video footage taken from hundreds of feet up in the sky, and you’ve probably been tempted to buy your own Phantom 4 drone.
The DJI Go app also includes a simple way to piece together a movie on your iPad, along with free background music for you to use. It’s clear that DJI wants you to share as much footage as possible , and has made the process very simple. Immediately after landing the Phantom 4, you’re able to review photos and videos on your iPad. To be able to pilot your Phantom 4, you need to install the DJI Go app on your mobile device. You can see the Phantom 4’s video footage downsized to 1080p in my short review below.
If your landing area should become blocked by a vehicle or other equipment, landing in manual mode is secure and easy. Return to home automatically activates on low battery, or you can activate it at any time during the flight. DJI is a Chinese tech giant dominating the consumer drone market. The Phantom 4 RTK multicopter is their answer to the professional mapping drone segment.