Sample Images from the DJI Mavic Pro

Mavic Pro is DJI’s first personal drone designed to be taken just about anywhere, small enough to toss in a bag and easy enough to launch quickly whenever the time and place are right. Its unique folding design compresses the entire drone to the size of a water bottle, and its intuitive interface can be controlled by a smartphone – making it easy to take aerial selfies or stream live video from the sky.

The Mavic Pro‘s camera is a new design, smaller than the 4K unit used by the Phantom 4, but matching it in video modes and bit rate (60Mbps). Its field of view is slightly narrower, closer to a 25mm full-frame lens than the wider 20mm optic on the larger Phantom. Landscapes won’t appear quite as wide, but you still get solid coverage for aerial video.

The camera is also the first I’ve seen attached to a drone that supports focus adjustment. Most are fixed focus designs that capture everything from a certain distance to infinity in crisp detail.

The Mavic Pro supports 4K DCI recording at 24fps, the more common 16:9 4K UHD format at 24 or 30fps, 1080p at standard frame rates up to 60fps, as well as at 96fps for smooth slow-motion playback, and 720p at the standard rates up to 60fps, with 120 and 180fps available for a more extreme slow-motion effect. Video is silent—not a bad thing, as the only audio you get from an aerial camera is propeller and wind noise.

The 4K footage captured by the Mavic Pro is just as crisp and detailed as that from the Phantom 4. The lens doesn’t show any noticeable barrel distortion, and video is steadied by a 3-axis gimbal.

Photos are captured at 12MP resolution in JPG or Raw DNG format. Image quality is what you expect from a point-and-shoot camera, which is typical for most drones. If you want to get more than that, you’ll need to go with a copter with a Micro Four Thirds camera, like the DJI Inspire 1 Pro ($1,999). Still shooters will appreciate the new Tripod mode, which slows the maximum speed considerably, making it easier to make very precise adjustments to the drone’s position so you can set up the perfect shot.

 

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Yuneec drone image quality lapses a function of data flow

Problems with connections likely account for Yuneec drone image quality complaints.

Yuneec drone users often find perceptible differences in image and video quality compared to DJI models and many of the problems are linked to problems with the internal WiFi card that makes data transfers glitchy.

Yuneec has attempted to fix some of the data issues by offering to solder a new antenna onto some Yuneec drone versions, such as the Yuneec Q400 4K, and address other issues such as upgrading firmware, but persistent complaints about missing frames or out-of-color video even with Yuneec Typhoon H models and the Yuneec Typhoon actioncam are hard to ignore.

Some comments from Seachange01 draw sharp attention to the image problems on the Typhoon H camera feed and raise an issue that is fairly important, whether or not they can be fixed under warranty.

“Like many of you, I really want to do a lot of video making with this, it’s not just a fun flying toy for me. That being said, I seem to see a LOT of issues of “washed out color” in the many videos I have seen posted by Typhoon H users online,” Seachange01 said, when talking about the large Yuneec drone, a hexacopter.

“I am wanting to see if anyone here has gone through that issue, and if there was much that could be done to fix that problem shy of spending hours at the computer doing video editing. I know in many cases, people just leave settings on ‘auto’ to make life easier, and while I am no photography guru, I would happily invest the time in learning how to manually set the camera if it was definitely going to fix the issues and give me a far superior quality of video. I guess if it’s not something that is realistically able to be fixed, then the Typhoon dream is likely to end for me.”

One review from Base Bundle was even more to the point in a posting on another Yuneec drone, the Yuneec Q500.

“I was just solely disappointed with the aircraft stability and image quality in comparison to other drones on the market like DJI,” Base Bundle said. And Kevin McRae who liked other features on the Q500 Yuneec drone repeated the complains about “washed out color” noted by Seachange01.

“The camera on the other hand can produce overly warm photos/videos and I feel like the camera on the Phantom was slightly better at producing the right colors,” McRae said.

One reason for these recurrent Yuneec drone problems is that the WiFi feed has to exchange data with the controller in packets that can drop in transmission. This can lead to delays in sending and receiving images and the color and blurry edge conditions often noted by users.

Unlike these different Yuneec drone models, DJI uses a proprietary Lightbridge or Lightbridge 2 technology that avoids these data transfer glitches and that sets it apart from other UAV drone manufacturers like Yuneec.

Many users also complain of a cumbersome process to get parts fixed and upgraded that might mitigate the issues with Yuneec drone models and that is particularly the case with transmission issues that affect a number of in-flight parameters.

That leads to a fix-it-yourself mindset among many first-time Yuneec drone  users — a plan of action that can end up voiding any remaining warranty.

 

 

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3 Options to connect to the Mavic Pro

Mavic Pro is so compact and light, I am able to take it anywhere. Truly.

I have mostly been using my DJI bags to transport the Mavic. I usually have my MacBook Pro, an iPad and other things packed with me. The Mavic fits in without a problem, including a spare battery or two.

Traveling with the DJI Mavic Pro is so easy and it felt great when I traveled from San Jose to Los Angeles. Everything I needed was in my messenger bag.

One cool features; the control sticks come off the radio and so you won’t damage them. Just keep them safe in a little pouch maybe. That alone makes things even easier. Not only for travel, but for a bike ride or a hike.

3 Options to Connect to the Mavic Pro

1. Radio Controller Only  3 Options to Connect to the Mavic Pro
You can fly the Mavic Pro with just the radio (telemetry information displayed on the radio, but no live camera view) and nothing else attached to it.

2. Radio Controller with Smart Device & DJI Go App
This is your standard configuration which allows the live camera view on your smart device. Just as operators have been doing on Phantom and Inspire platforms.

The connection from the radio to the Mavic Pro is called OcuSync and is DJI’s newly designed long range transmission technology capability of up to 4.3mi (7km) of transmission range, HD 720p long range, and Full HD 1080p short range video streaming – far surpassing the capabilities of any Wi-Fi transmission system.

Every time you fly, OcuSync scans a range of available frequencies to find and use the one with the least interference to give you more reliability and control. Tightly integrated with DJI GO, OcuSync transfers vital statistics of the Mavic to you in real time, and can also be used to download photos and videos at a maximum speed of up to 40Mb/s.

3. Smart Device Only (Virtual Joysticks)

Because Mavic Pro connects directly to a smartphone by a WiFi signal, not the more-reliable OcuSync signal to the controller, its range is limited to ensure the integrity of the wifi connection. Mavic Pro will travel no more than 260 ft (80 m) from the smartphone, to a maximum height of 160 ft (50 m), at a maximum speed of just under 9 mph (4 m/s).

This is a great feature if you want to travel light weight (let’s say up on a mountain hike) and you just want to take a couple of dronies from the peak. You can leave the radio behind and use your smart device to maneuver the Mavic Pro in place through your DJI Go app’s virtual joysticks.

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Vanity drone Yuneec Breeze 4K good for sunny, windless days

Limited range Yuneec drone is nothing but an expensive selfie toy.

Fun with the Yuneec Breeze 4K can happen on a windless summer day with perfect conditions from distance to the camera to getting the short-battery life just right for a lifestyle picture.

But the promise that a “follow-me” mode will work to allow first-time drone users to “vogue” as Madonna would say, that may not be enough of an incentive to buy the Yuneec drone. For starters, the 4K camera advertised is not the same as the one on the much more expensive and heavier Yuneec Typhoon Q500 model and certainly pales in comparison to DJI’s built-in 4K cameras.

One review of the Yuneec Breeze 4K said the camera’s video functionality as advertised full-spec at 4K can be misleading as well, because with the WiFi connection it is better to use the 1080P video to get a more stable and ready-to-use video.

The spec has a range of about 80 meters before the phone WiFi signal gets choppy, potentially sending the Yuneec Breeze 4K on its way home, or worse, a flyaway.

The Yuneec Breeze 4K is operated by an app on a smartphone and definitely has no frills in accessories and packaging. Apparently the idea is to fold the propellers and throw the Yuneec Breeze 4K in your own backpack to carry – a mode of transport that anyone who’s ever owned a drone or any sensitive electronic toy knows is bound to result in damage.

But initial reports suggest the oblong shape and weight of about 1lb of the Yuneec drone make it shaky in flight and easily blown off course by even light winds – defeating the idea of a selfie pose.

In fact, the beetle-shaped Yuneec Breeze 4K should be handled carefully if live and held at arms-length to avoid getting a hand caught in one of the unprotected blades. Still, to be fair the unit is compact and is certainly divergent from other Yuneec models such as the Yuneec Q500.

Probably the best feature of the Yuneec Breeze 4K is that once the 12-minute battery life ends, you can take the downloaded stream and post it to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram or WhatsApp from your smartphone.

R&D has not been a Yuneec strongpoint as can be seen in the faulty internal WiFi card and weak GPS connections. So the Yuneec Breeze 4K may be a rush job sent out to fill a market niche, though it has been widely noted that up-and-coming drone makers are offering fairly interesting entry models for as low as $99.

That also draws attention to the comparison of the Yuneec Breeze 4K with the $499 DJI Phantom 3 Standard, which does have lower specs than models such as the DJI Phantom 4, but also comes with more features and a dedicated controller as well as works with most phones.

The price point has also become a test of features and accessories that sees some UAV drone manufacturers looking to allow other types of cameras and tools to the mix, making the Yuneec Breeze 4K appear as a throwback.

 

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Yuneec Typhoon G disappoints on camera utility

As more Yuneec Typhoon G users attempt to flex their video and camera options, glitches with the gimbal operations of the RC quadzopter and communication issues between the controller and camera options have led to disappointing results.

The Yuneec Typhoon G is a Yuneec drone that is often compared to the DJI Phantom 3, even though any DJI vs Yuneec comparison is often skewed.

DJI Phantom drones are generally more expensive but do have much more powerful technology, such as Lightbridge or Lightbridge 2, which has a clearer edge in term of transmission distance. In the Phantom 3, that means 2,000 meters compared to 600 meters for the Typhoon class.

The distance metric captures the attention of first-time users in particular because of concerns about losing control and damaging a drone. That problem surfaces more with Yuneec models such as the Yuneec Typhoon G because of an internal WiFi card that pales in data links to the controller compared to Lightbridge 2. As well, a poor solder job for the antenna on the Yuneec internal WiFi card means users have to send it back to the factory for repairs.

Those problems on the Yuneec Typhoon G and other models manifest themselves even more as drone operators gain control confidence. Many want to focus on camera action either for good aerial shots, or for work-related projects that become possible with higher-end drones. Businesses such as roof repair contractors, for example, have taken to the skies to drum up business by surveying houses, office building and garages for patchy cover.

DEW2 said that one big problem in finding out problems with Yuneec drones and camera operations, which would include the Yuneec Typhoon G, is when the warranty is over.

“It took me calling six times about an issue I was having with the gimbal,” DEW 2 said in a review. “After being ran through several ‘trouble shoots’ they wanted me to send it in for ‘testing’. $80 an hour plus whatever needs to be fixed. Purchased in the winter, past its six-month warranty.”

That’s a big problem for the Yuneec Typhoon G, a drone designed to accommodate mounting a GoPro on the three-axis gimbal. Other problems with the Yuneec Typhoon G in that area include the neec to remove the struts to attach the unit onto the gimbal just below the undercarriage by using the Yuneec SteadyGrip. The fit can be awkward and the drone unsteady, according to several Yuneec Typhoon G reviewers as the SteadyGrip is made of weak plastic and sits uneasily on the bulky Yuneec drone.

A separate, but apparently larger issue for most Yuneec Typhoon G buyers is that the controller that comes with the unit does not communicate directly to the GoPro camera, requiring users to turn the camera on separately.

“I returned the product because the buttons that are on the controller to be used to do snapshots and videos could not be used with the GoPro hero 4 camera,” Skip writes. “ITS really stupid to have to buy a separate camera for the Typhoon G and not be able to use it.”

Even once the camera on the Yuneec Typhoon G is operating however, the short video transmission range and need to be ready to quickly switch to line-of-sight flying if the GPS drops, or the battery gets hot and dies faster than expected, grate on users.

 

 

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Yuneec Q500 4K: not advanced enough, not agile enough either

In the consumer-level-drones market, DJI is the boss. A short time after its launched, the DJI Phantom 3 became one of the biggest selling drones ever. Yuneec China tried to capture a piece of that market pie with the Yuneec Q500 4K – with specs that sought to appeal to professional videographers, drone enthusiasts, and increasingly, mass-market consumers.

Unfortunately for the Yuneec Q500 4K , even before it gained some foothold in the market, the DJI Phantom 4 arrived and impressed everyone with its superior R&D and advanced features.

Yuneec had marketed the Yuneec Q500 4K as an “easy to fly” RC quadcopter even for those who’ve never laid eyes on a drone before. In reality, it takes quite a while to initiate the drone and get it airborne, with the longest amount of time being required for the GPS lock to be established. Plus, unlike the Phantom, the Yuneec Q500 4K isn’t supported by a mobile control platform – so tje convenience of an app like the DJI Go app is absent.

Big, heavy and slow. That’s the three-word summary of first impressions of the Yuneec Q500 4K. While the slower speed and lower altitude may make it a safer choice for beginners, it makes the Yuneec Q500 less attractive for those used to the nimbleness of similar high-end drones in that price segment. The battery life is limited and so is the maximum operating range against a DJI Phantom 4 comparison.

Though similar on paper, in terms of their specs and features, the Yuneec Q500 is no real match to the Phantom. Both have their strengths, and which one is best for you depends largely on what you plan to do with it. The Yuneec Q500 camera produces some reasonable results, albeit with slightly washed out colors and a bit blurry edges of the frames. While the Yuneec Q500 4K is slower and more sluggish than others, it’s reasonably easy to pilot. It’s a toy for people nervous about trying to control their first drone.

The Yuneec Q500 looks a bit bulkier and more ‘stocky’ than the sleek drones DJI produces. It’s also larger than the more familiar DJI drones, and made of plastic far flimsier than drone experts would usually prefer. That’s probably partly why the landing gear and gimbal has been known to break off the Yuneec Q500 upon a hard landing.

Testing the Yuneec Q500 4K, one of several models available, confirms that it’s capable of shooting 4k video. But almost any DJI Phantom 4 review suggests that the Phantom’s footage is crisper and sharper. The control unit has a bright screen; though flying in direct sunlight remains difficult. The Yuneec Q500 box helpfully includes a sunshade that attaches, awkwardly, to the controller with suction cups. It doesn’t completely solve the problem, but it does help.

Flying drones can be an intimidating experience, especially if you are operating an expensive and complicated model. The result is that, unless you’re so rich you don’t care, you spend most of your learning time in a nervous sweat. At least that’s experience with the Yuneec Q500 4K reported by most pilots on on-line forums.

If you’re just learning to fly, the Yuneec Q500 sluggishness is a plus. If you’re already comfortable flying drones, the Yuneec Q500 will likely feel like a step backward.

 

 

 

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Harga Hover Camera Passport

The Hover Camera Passport from Zero Zero Robotics,is a self-flying drone – throw it into the air and it will follow you around taking photos and videos. Weighing just 242 grams, Hover Camera Passport is very compact and portable.

It also features a 13MP camera sensor that capture 4K video(with EIS) and is rated for about 10 minutes of flight time. If it’s not enough, you can buy additional batteries to pop in on the fly. The Harga Hover Camera Passport is currently available for $599.99 with the extra battery pack running $44.99.

“Since first announcing Hover Camera Passport in April, we’ve had a chance to listen to our community’s feedback to create a flagship model that is not only more technically advanced, but tailored to their travel and photography needs,” said Mengqiu Wang, CEO and Cofounder of Zero Zero Robotics. “Hover Camera Passport encourages you to look up from your screens and enjoy your memories unrestricted, exploring the world from your own point of view. We’re excited to share our first step towards a new future with the world, and can’t wait to see what our users will capture.”

How does your Hover Camera Passport work?Please feel free to join the discussion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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