We finally got our hands on a DJI drone … Sorry, not one, but actually two drones from DJI. The DJI Mavic Pro and the smaller DJI Spark. A big thanks to DJI for supplying the drones. We’ll be comparing the two drones in terms of video quality, ease of use and battery life.
From what I can gather, the DJI Mavic Pro is designed for the prosumer who wants a full-featured, portable and compact drone, that can shoot 4K video on the go. While the DJI Spark is more for the beginner and selfie-shooter with 1080p recording capability.
Let’s begin with short hands-on video and unboxing of the DJI Mavic Pro …
There are many drones available on the market. Some cheap, some expensive … but all fail on one thing. And that’s the ease of use and the software controls. I’ve tried one drone before (no names mentioned here), and it was a complete disaster. Flight time lasted only 7-8 minutes, and the software control was complex and not very intuitive. I must have crashed it more times than I flew it. I guess you pay for what you get.
DJI drones are a completely different kettle of fish. They are pricey and with good reason. All of their drones have return-home function, collision detection and gimbal included. And what’s more their software and controller are so simple to setup and use. Just check out the video above and you’ll see what I mean.
Here’s a little blurb taken from DJI’s website …
Creativity is at the heart of every dream. Every idea, every groundbreaking leap that changes our world starts with the vision of talented creators. At DJI, we give these creators the tools they need to bring their ideas to life.
Our platforms empower them to capture images that were once out of reach. Our flying and camera stabilization systems redefine camera placement and motion. Amazing photos and video, treasured personal memories, and high-end professional imagery are captured every day, in every corner of the world using DJI products.
DJI technology does more than simply enable creators. We push visionaries to go beyond the limits of what is thought possible, inspiring them to inspire the world.
Headquartered in Shenzhen, widely considered China’s Silicon Valley, DJI benefits from direct access to the suppliers, raw materials, and young, creative talent pool necessary for sustained success. Drawing on these resources, we have grown from a single small office in 2006 to a global workforce.Our offices can now be found in the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, South Korea, Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. As a privately owned and operated company, DJI focuses on our own vision, supporting creative, commercial, and nonprofit applications of our technology.
Here’s a comparison table between the two drones.
| Features | DJI Mavic Pro | DJI Spark |
| Weight | 734g (1.62 lbs) | 300g |
| Dimensions (mm) | 83(H) x 83(W) x 198(L) | 143(H) x 143(W) x 55(L) |
| Battery Life (flight time) | 21 mins | 16 mins |
| Video recording | Native 4K @ 24/25/30 fps | FHD 1080p @ 30 fps |
| Max range/Distance | 8 Miles (16km) | 1.6 Miles (2km) |
| Max height | 5000 m | 4000 m |
| Max speed | 40 mph | 31 mph |
| Gimbal | 3-axis (pitch, roll, yaw) | 2-axis (pitch, roll) |
| Operating Frequency | 2.4/5.8GHz | 2.4/5.8GHz |
| Camera | 12.71 megapixel | 12 megapixel |
We got both the Mavic Pro and Spark to play with, so it will be interesting to see what my thoughts are after I get my hands on them … setting up, flying and recording the video footage.
Let’s begin with the specifications of the DJI Mavic Pro …
- Buy the DJI Mavic Pro (Fly More Combo $1,299)
from Amazon – http://amzn.to/2wk4kBq
- Buy the DJI Spark
(Fly More Combo $689) from Amazon – http://amzn.to/2xzWQZI
