DJI is definitely in a league of its own when it comes to reliable and effective machines of the air. It’s fleet seems to be expanding more and more every day and new and improved version are released within a year of the original. With so many choices it may seem difficult to decide which one is the best for your needs.
Just because one looks sexy does not mean it will function best in the environment you want to use it in, and in the way you want to use it. A consideration of what you want to accomplish with it, the time you will need to fly it for, software that you wish to interface it with, and the cost of operation will help you decide the most appropriate. This is a brief overview of some of the top applications that we can see for this versatile fleet of rotaries.
The Phantom 4 and the Phantom 4 Pro are the most current versions of the super successful and easily recognizable Phantom series. This is great for filming high quality 4K videos for many commercial and recreational needs. With top speeds of 72 km/h this is a nifty machine in many situations. It takes about a minute to get it ready for the air, and is easily programmable for waypoints and automatic flight patterns for mapping. The original 4 comes with 270 degrees of obstacle avoidance coverage, whereas the newer Pro comes with full 360 degree coverage, and the aircraft will either come to a stop or fly over obstacles that get in the way. This makes for smooth footage in even the tightest of spots
The Mavic Pro is quickly proving to be one of the most popular DJI drones to date, with the company still working overtime to meet the demands. Why? It is small, takes great quality 4k video, has the ability to detect and avoid objects up to 49 feet away and has a maximum flight time of 27 minutes. This is ideal for the adventurer who video blogs and who wants to be able to release the drone at a moments notice. With a size 1/6th that of the Phantom, it makes it ideal for situations where you want to be carrying around minimal equipment and yet still capturing awesome 4k video and high resolution photos. It takes moments to get prepped for flight and folds away neatly into any backpack.
Inspire 2. If you are filming high speed chases, or have a dedicated video filming and editing business, then this could be the choice for you. The camera is the best quality that you will find on any of the fleet and allows for 360 degree shots (the legs will raise up after takeoff so that it is not in camera shot, a frequent issue with a fast flying Phantom). It can fly up to speeds of 94 km/h and has Spotlight pro to allow for tracking of individuals that it is flying over or around. It is a high ticket price, but any business worth their weight in gold would do well to consider using this to capture and tell the best stories.
The Matrice 100 is the toolkit for developers. If you are looking to innovate in your industry, then this could very well be the one for you. It comes to you as a simple quadcopter, with no previously mounted cameras or sensors. You add the sensors of your choice, rapidly if necessary, which makes it great for commercial use where you intend on using multiple sensors. The surveying industry has really adapted this one due to the fact that, with two batteries on board, it can fly for up to 48 minutes, allowing for large areas to be mapped in a single flight.
The Phantom 3 is a great choice if you are on a bit more of a budget. You get all the fun of flying some of the higher end aircraft, with many of the built in redundancies that kick into gear when the aircraft faces and emergency situation. In fact, some argue that because it has less built in software that it makes for an even better training vehicle because you learn to fly better, rather than relying solely on the machine. It is speedy, takes great pictures (in 2.7 and 4K versions) and can fly for over 2 km.
This is by no means all that you need to consider when choosing an aircraft, especially for commercial needs. Contact Dronelabs.ca and speak to us, we can help you determine exactly which of the aircraft in our inventory will do the best job for you. If you intend on using it for mapping, flying over uneven terrain, all kinds of weather patterns, or any other extraneous conditions, then it is best to get very clear on the requirements you have of the aircraft so we can come up with the best solution.