Drone help needed
Discussion
I've come to conclusion I need/want a drone in my life.
After doing some research it seems that DJI is the preferred brand but I cannot decide which model.
The Spark looks like great value but I think I could just about stretch the budget for the Mavic Pro. Obviously the latter will be better but I'm wondering if for relatively occasional rather than serious use it's worth spending the extra (i.e. driving trips or family hols and days out). However I'd rather not fall into the "buy cheap buy twice" trap. Any thoughts from those with any experience of these models or similar alternatives?
And how hard are they to fly? The blurb says they are easy but in reality is that correct?
All advice much appreciated
Cheers,
L'rs
After doing some research it seems that DJI is the preferred brand but I cannot decide which model.
The Spark looks like great value but I think I could just about stretch the budget for the Mavic Pro. Obviously the latter will be better but I'm wondering if for relatively occasional rather than serious use it's worth spending the extra (i.e. driving trips or family hols and days out). However I'd rather not fall into the "buy cheap buy twice" trap. Any thoughts from those with any experience of these models or similar alternatives?
And how hard are they to fly? The blurb says they are easy but in reality is that correct?
All advice much appreciated
Cheers,
L'rs
I recently bought my first drone, and went for the Mavic Air, smililar size to the Spark, (went for a walk the other day with the drone in one coat pocket, and the remote in the other) but records 4K. It seems a brilliant little thing, and very well made. I find it very easy to fly, and never have used one before this one, very stable, if you release the sticks, it will hover perfectly in the same position via GPS.
https://www.techradar.com/reviews/dji-mavic-air
https://www.dji.com/mobile/mavic-air
https://www.techradar.com/reviews/dji-mavic-air
https://www.dji.com/mobile/mavic-air
I'm thinking of upgrading my drone (currently a Phantom 2) and was looking at the Mavic Air. More capable than the spark, and cheaper than the Pro. Only downside I can see when comparing the Air to the Pro is a shorter flight time, but I never push my flights out to the max anyway, so that won't be a problem for me.
May be worth looking at as an additional option.
May be worth looking at as an additional option.
Thanks for the replies 
I had thought about the Air but my man maths calculator came to the conclusion that it was only a (relatively) small amount extra to pay for the Mavic. However adding the cost of a spare battery or batteries stretches the overall budget even further.
After reading some more reviews this afternoon the Air does seem to be very capable and very portable. Mmmm... I think it might be time to hunt out a good deal on one of those...
Cheers,
L'rs
I had thought about the Air but my man maths calculator came to the conclusion that it was only a (relatively) small amount extra to pay for the Mavic. However adding the cost of a spare battery or batteries stretches the overall budget even further.
After reading some more reviews this afternoon the Air does seem to be very capable and very portable. Mmmm... I think it might be time to hunt out a good deal on one of those...
Cheers,
L'rs
DIW35 said:
I'm thinking of upgrading my drone (currently a Phantom 2) and was looking at the Mavic Air. More capable than the spark, and cheaper than the Pro. Only downside I can see when comparing the Air to the Pro is a shorter flight time, but I never push my flights out to the max anyway, so that won't be a problem for me.
May be worth looking at as an additional option.
The biggest downside for the Mavic Air, for me, is the lack of occusync or lightbridge connection between the drone and the controller. May be worth looking at as an additional option.
The Air is Wifi connection only meaning less flight distance, and potentially more interference.
Occusync and lightbridge are extremely stable
I'm a basic user, (use DSLR, Go-Pro and wanted something different) so purchased a Spark last year as a 1st Drone.
So far I'm very happy with it and haven't felt it's lacking anything I need (unlike most other things I purchase......), the only point I can critisise is the active track as the reality is it's very poor in the real world to the point of unusable for anything except walking.
So far I'm very happy with it and haven't felt it's lacking anything I need (unlike most other things I purchase......), the only point I can critisise is the active track as the reality is it's very poor in the real world to the point of unusable for anything except walking.
I had a similar dilemma about this time last year, as I previously built a DJI F550 for fun and filming our motorsports events.
Whilst it was a good drone, the battery life was quite poor, and I had no control over the camera settings for shutter and exposure etc.
So I bit the bullet and bought the DJI Mavic Pro.
That was a year ago, and it has been a truly fantastic experience in every way.
Battery time is much improved, I can get up 25 minutes on each battery, but as it’s so much fun, I now have 6 of them, so get a good 3 hours filming.
Very easy and stable to fly, and can also be put into sport mode when you become more confident too, which makes it a scream to fly.
The new Mavic Air looks good on paper, but with a new Mavic Pro V2.0 rumoured to be announced soon, you can now get the Mavic Pro for £725 on Amazon.
As someone who else said, the great strength and reliability of the Mavic Pro transmission system over the WiFi based Mavic Air is a blessing, have you ever seen how many potential WiFi conflict hotspots in most areas these days?
The Mavic Pro is still ultra portable too, took mine a month ago to Lillehammer and for some great shots with it of the Olympic runs etc.
Whilst it was a good drone, the battery life was quite poor, and I had no control over the camera settings for shutter and exposure etc.
So I bit the bullet and bought the DJI Mavic Pro.
That was a year ago, and it has been a truly fantastic experience in every way.
Battery time is much improved, I can get up 25 minutes on each battery, but as it’s so much fun, I now have 6 of them, so get a good 3 hours filming.
Very easy and stable to fly, and can also be put into sport mode when you become more confident too, which makes it a scream to fly.
The new Mavic Air looks good on paper, but with a new Mavic Pro V2.0 rumoured to be announced soon, you can now get the Mavic Pro for £725 on Amazon.
As someone who else said, the great strength and reliability of the Mavic Pro transmission system over the WiFi based Mavic Air is a blessing, have you ever seen how many potential WiFi conflict hotspots in most areas these days?
The Mavic Pro is still ultra portable too, took mine a month ago to Lillehammer and for some great shots with it of the Olympic runs etc.
tvrforever said:
thinking about getting a DJI Mavic Pro Platinum (for filming sports) - any views? good deals? and info on the rumours re a v2?
I posted this in the other DJI drone thread“I’m thinking of getting a Mavic Pro Platinum, found one at WOWCamera that’s around £400 cheaper than every other retailer. Has anyone used this company before, just seems too good. “
syko89 said:
Get some insurance for it too. Birds like to go for them....
Yes, sometimes, but I flew 241 times (over 133 miles) with my first drone and have done 63 flights with my second without issue (the software keeps count) ... and where I live is teaming with black back gulls, buzzards and Eagles.It's not a huge problem.
Trying to choose between Mavic AIR and Mavic pro platinum. Would prefer the portability of the AIR but a little worried about the wifi link compared with the seemingly rock solid occusync.
Not sure whether I would ever buy the goggles but don't want patchy video as that is rather a buzzkill for a photography drone.
Anyone have experience of either to say how much more stable occusync is?
I have to say if the Mavic Air gave rock solid video to 4000m I would be more than happy as I certainly don't need the range of the pro. However I don't want lapses in video, or transient fuzzy screen flying an AIR a 1000m or so
Would appreciate some real world experience..
Not sure whether I would ever buy the goggles but don't want patchy video as that is rather a buzzkill for a photography drone.
Anyone have experience of either to say how much more stable occusync is?
I have to say if the Mavic Air gave rock solid video to 4000m I would be more than happy as I certainly don't need the range of the pro. However I don't want lapses in video, or transient fuzzy screen flying an AIR a 1000m or so
Would appreciate some real world experience..
julian64 said:
Trying to choose between Mavic AIR and Mavic pro platinum. Would prefer the portability of the AIR but a little worried about the wifi link compared with the seemingly rock solid occusync.
Not sure whether I would ever buy the goggles but don't want patchy video as that is rather a buzzkill for a photography drone.
Anyone have experience of either to say how much more stable occusync is?
I have to say if the Mavic Air gave rock solid video to 4000m I would be more than happy as I certainly don't need the range of the pro. However I don't want lapses in video, or transient fuzzy screen flying an AIR a 1000m or so
Would appreciate some real world experience..
In my experience, atmospheric disturbance, physical obstructions and too much metal around will have way more influence on the range. I've done 6000 yards with no prob, but yesterday 500 yards and lost signal (the drone immediately started to return home as soon as it lost signal).Not sure whether I would ever buy the goggles but don't want patchy video as that is rather a buzzkill for a photography drone.
Anyone have experience of either to say how much more stable occusync is?
I have to say if the Mavic Air gave rock solid video to 4000m I would be more than happy as I certainly don't need the range of the pro. However I don't want lapses in video, or transient fuzzy screen flying an AIR a 1000m or so
Would appreciate some real world experience..
My point. Either will be fine in good conditions.
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 4th July 14:14
GetCarter said:
julian64 said:
Trying to choose between Mavic AIR and Mavic pro platinum. Would prefer the portability of the AIR but a little worried about the wifi link compared with the seemingly rock solid occusync.
Not sure whether I would ever buy the goggles but don't want patchy video as that is rather a buzzkill for a photography drone.
Anyone have experience of either to say how much more stable occusync is?
I have to say if the Mavic Air gave rock solid video to 4000m I would be more than happy as I certainly don't need the range of the pro. However I don't want lapses in video, or transient fuzzy screen flying an AIR a 1000m or so
Would appreciate some real world experience..
In my experience, atmospheric disturbance, physical obstructions and too much metal around will have way more influence on the range. I've done 6000 yards with no prob, but yesterday 500 yards and lost signal (the drone immediately started to return home as soon as it lost signal).Not sure whether I would ever buy the goggles but don't want patchy video as that is rather a buzzkill for a photography drone.
Anyone have experience of either to say how much more stable occusync is?
I have to say if the Mavic Air gave rock solid video to 4000m I would be more than happy as I certainly don't need the range of the pro. However I don't want lapses in video, or transient fuzzy screen flying an AIR a 1000m or so
Would appreciate some real world experience..
My point. Either will be fine in good conditions.
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 4th July 14:14
julian64 said:
The conventional wisdom seems to be that the occusync is better, I just didn't know how much better. Are you saying you think they are the same in terms of performance?
No. I can't comment on either (I have had P3 Pro and P4 Pro). My point is that range is HUGELY determined by environment, and that is the most important factor. Both your drones will be fine, but both are far more affected by surroundings than tech.GetCarter said:
julian64 said:
The conventional wisdom seems to be that the occusync is better, I just didn't know how much better. Are you saying you think they are the same in terms of performance?
No. I can't comment on either (I have had P3 Pro and P4 Pro). My point is that range is HUGELY determined by environment, and that is the most important factor. Both your drones will be fine, but both are far more affected by surroundings than tech.No current intention to get goggles but nice to think it were ready and willing
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