Help me buy a... Camera drone
What to look for
in a camera drone
Take a closer look at the
DJI Mavic 2 Prohttp://www.digitalcameraworld.com OCTOBER 2019 DIGITAL CAMERA^131
Battery
The intelligent battery can store enough
energy to keep the 900g aircraft aloft
for up to 30 minutes. Not only does it
have a built-in charge monitor, but
will also discharge to a safe level
if left for a couple of weeks.Storage
The Mavic 2 series drones record at
up to 100MBps either directly onto a
high-speed microSD card or to a 16GB
built-in store – a handy backup or, if
you’re organised, all you’ll ever need.Collision sensor
The two sensors on either side
of the front can detect objects
up to 40m away and make a
precise determination of distance
at 20m, even while the drone
is travelling at up to 30mph.Propellers
Diagonally opposite propellers spin
in opposing directions to balance the
angular momentum. These blades
are shaped to reduce overall noise,
while the propeller is foldable for
portability. You can protect it
with a detachable guard.Gimbal
The lens is kept almost tripod-
steady in up to around 20mph
wind thanks to powered
three-axis stabilisation. The
camera can be remote-tilted
from 30 ̊ above the horizon
to straight down.Camera
Both Zoom and Pro cameras can
capture 4K video at up to 30fps,
2.7k at 60fps and 1080p at
120fps. Both can shoot raw
stills, but the Pro manages a
more impressive 20 megapixels
(5,472 x 3,648 pixels).Filter mount
Both the Mavic models have
detachable lens covers, and
manufacturers offer a range of
ND and polarising filters. These
are an essential purchase if you’ll
be shooting in sunny conditions
(as we all hope to occasionally).Drone
As with any camera drone,
the Mavic 2 Pro is designed to
be compact and light, which
helps to prolong battery life
to around 30 minutes of flight.
The Mavic 2 weighs 900g and
measures 214 x 91 x 84mm in
its folded-up configuration.Controller
DJI’s Smart Controller costs
£579 if you want more
advanced controls than the
standard console provides.
A 1080p display provides
high-quality video feedback,
while a built-in mic means
you can add commentary
to livestreamed footage.