We test four options
Drone technology has come a long way in a short time – some drones are now foldable and come with top-quality cameras. But if you’re new to this, where do you start? Gear Editor MATTHEW STERNE decided to find out
DJI Mavic Air r15 999, dronedeals.co.za
range 4km
Battery life 21mins
Wind tolerance 35 km/h camera quality 12mp video quality 4K
Weight 430g
The Mavic Air is one of the more popular drones around, and has a legion of supporters to prove it. The reason is that it packs 4K video recording, a three-axis gimbal and 8GB internal storage into its small frame. Its specs are very similar to those of the Anafi (see page 65) and it also folds into a compact, easy-to-transport bundle. But it’s simpler to fly, thanks to an improved object-avoidance system and gesture controls, which give this drone more mainstream appeal.
DJI Mavic 2 Pro r30 999, dronedeals.co.za
range 8km
Battery life 31mins
Wind tolerance 35 km/h camera quality 20mp video quality 4K
Weight 900g
This drone, along with the Mavic 2 Zoom, was released in late 2018 and drone-lovers around the world got excited. It has the sharpest videos and stills of any consumer drone because of its gimbal-stabilised Hasselblad camera, which boasts a one-inch CMOS sensor and takes hyper-lapses, which create beautiful aerial imagery. It has improved battery life and range, 8GB onboard memory, plus it’s the first DJI drone with front, back, bottom, top and side sensors. It’s foldable and fits into a camera bag with other photo gear. However, this all comes at a price, costing twice as much as other drones we looked at.
DJI Fpv Goggles: Racing Edition r10 999, dronedeals.co.za
Take your flying up a notch with these FPV (first-person view) goggles that work with any of the DJI products and give you a perfect bird’s-eye view. The goggles help to eradicate glare, which can be a problem at midday if you are using your phone to control the drone. It’s recommended that you don’t walk around while wearing them and to be accompanied if using them in a public space to avoid injury.