T3 - UK (2019-12)

62 T3 DECEMBER 2019

State of the Art

EACHINE E511

he E511 is one for those looking for a little,

lightweight drone that will easily pack into

a backpack side pocket and can be taken

anywhere, thanks to its folding design – the

arms pivot to sit right against the body. Flight times of 17

minutes are solid and more than enough to capture

stunning imagery from the 120-degree field of view,

90-degree tiltable gimbal-mounted 1080p camera. An

FPV mode is a big feature, with live video feedback to

the app, which is available for iOS or Android.

Those starting with a drone will appreciate the

‘headless’ mode. This ensures left and right are always

your left and right no matter which direction the drone

is flying. Despite the lack of GPS, there’s still a ‘return to

home’ feature, which is handy. As well as the stable flight

features, there’s also room for fun with easy 360-degree

rolls: this mode flips and rolls the drone at request for

some exciting aerial acrobatics.

Build quality of the drone is generally good. Yes you

can feel the lightweight plastic, but everything feels solid

enough for the size and weight. Getting started is fast:

unpack, charge, unfold the legs and pair the controller,

and you’re ready to fly.

At take off, the one-touch option on the controller sets

the props spinning, and within seconds the E511 is a good

metre off the ground. Because there’s no GPS, a slight

breeze will start to move the drone off course, requiring

some levelling with the controller. Finesse controls for

There’s plenty here to keep

you occupied, especially

considering the price

each direction are available – these are small adjustments

you can make to the drone’s calibration to ensure it flies

the way you expect it to. On first taking off, a little time is

spent just ensuring that the drone is flying true, since

there’s no GPS to handle this. Once finessed, the drone

performs well and provides good solid flight. The camera

is pretty good, and the 90-degree camera tilt that enables

you to shoot directly down at the ground is a huge

advantage – it gives you a great new angle.

Convenience and portability are the big selling points

for the E511, and of the three drones it was undoubtedly

the easiest to transport. The lack of GPS was noticeable,

and although the drone handles well in flight, you’ll

notice it start to drift away when stopped. The small

camera and its flexible angle work exceptionally well, and

there’s plenty here to keep you occupied, especially

considering the low price. If you’re looking for a drone to

throw in your backpack and to capture a few shots of you

and your friends, or the dramatic landscape, and just

generally have fun with, the E511 is a great choice.

EACHINE E511

PRODUCT 02:

Small in price, and also small enough to

easily transport to your destination

The E511 is easy to get started with: unpack, charge, unfold the legs and pair

the controller, and you’re ready to take to the skies

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