DJI Phantom 4 Review

Everything you need is in the box, except for your smartphone or tablet, either of which you will connect by USB cable to the remote controller. Today, surveyors can gather accurate data as often as they want to fly a mapping mission with their drone, obtaining accuracy down to 1/10 of foot. With its high precision mapping capability, the RTK has helped provide balance between quality and pace, reducing survey time to a matter of hours, without forfeiting accurate metadata. In the past, worksites juggled speed and accuracy; quick data collection meant compromising accuracy. Because traditional surveying was time consuming and costly, worksites weren’t surveying frequently enough to extract as many useful progress-tracking metrics as they wanted. The Phantom 4 is powered by a single battery which slots into the rear of the craft.

The subject lifts their arms when facing the camera, and the aircraft will recognize this movement by locking on and placing the subject in the center of the frame. When ready for a photo, the subject holds their arms out to signal the aircraft. A three-second countdown will begin, making time to strike a pose, allowing moments to be captured without the remote control.

Timestamps are extracted from the module post-flight and combined with images taken in flight as centimeter-precision geotagging using various specialized software options available on the market. If used properly it produces up to 1cm resolution which in turn enables results that meet the requirements of any professional land surveying dji mini 2 fly more combo project. It is ideal for small and mid-size projects where the surveyed area is not bigger than 10-12ha and allows for flights fairly close to the ground. An electronic shutter may cause artifacts and distortion, such as jello, when shooting fast moving objects. A mechanical shutter prevents this and guarantees a high-quality image.

I must repeat myself, the phantom 4 is a fantastic drone, you will not be disappointed or ripped off for purchasing it. You can, however, get a better bang for the buck by considering the Phantom 3 for less camera intensive needs or the Mavic Pro for more portable needs. Same goes if you jump up to the Phantom 4 Pro or Advanced for the best camera in a DJI drone under $2000. I’m droning on about the newer quadcopters in the Phantom 4 line, what you came here for was to find out whether or not the Phantom 4 standard is worth buying. Admittedly, the Phantom 4 is a great drone, but we feel there are other drones that are a better purchase for your dollar.

Whatever the original camera sees so will the Survey3W camera. Aerial 4K video shot from a P4P is hard to separate from 4K video shot from more expensive drones. The 3-axis gimbal stabilizes it, and the 60fps rate lets you edit for slow motion. Video output is improved at 100mbps, up from 60 on older models of the Phantom 4.

PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. It’s not just the increase in resolution—the Phantom 3 series captures images at 12MP—but also the larger image sensor.

It provides proof of concept on how drones can change your workflow, and it’s a highly-portable and well-industrialized solution for such cases. However, it’s limitations will become obvious when you approach projects demanding large coverage along with higher image quality and accuracy. By comparison, the WingtraOne pre-flight checklist dji mini 2 fly more combo is drone-responsive, i.e., the WingtraPilot flight planning app pairs with the drone to give you feedback about where you are in the flight-prep process. Functions that have not been prepared on the drone are then highlighted on a list on the WingtraPilot. Once you have tapped all the points on that list, you are ready to fly.

phantom 4

The wifi module was moved from the camera case to the aircraft’s centerboard which unfortunately weakened the aircraft’s ability to receive GPS relative to the P2V due to EMF emanating from the module. The wifi patch antennas were moved from the camera case to the sides of the aircraft on either side of the battery. It received a no-fly zone software-implanted, warning the user of places where not to fly (ex. airports). It includes features, as the other models do, such as Point of Interest, Follow Me, GPS Waypoints, Course Lock and Home Lock. The remote for Professional and Advanced models also has 2 antennas. The maximum video transmission technology on the Phantom 4 is same as the ones on Phantom 3 Pro and Adv, which is Lightbridge 2, it has a maximum FCC flying range of 5 km.

I thought a phone was needed to control the drone along with the controller. FAA estimated ‘hobbyist’ drones reaching between 2.75 million and 4.5 million units by 2021. As of 2018, DJI controlled an estimated 74% of the global consumer drone market, with no other company controlling more than 5%. Announced at the 2017 IFA trade show, it gives the option to have the Phantom 4 Pro painted in obsidian black. Some build quality upgrades are included with the camera gimbal being made of magnesium.