NEWSLETTER
After creating a stir with the $ 200 neo, DJI is back with another innovative drone, Flip. It has a folding design of its kind and wrapped propellers to keep people safe. It also integrates the detection of 3D infrared obstacles to track subjects and has a long list of impressive features.
With a chamber borrowed from the mini 4 pro, the <a target="_blank" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=7b9e9aa1-7802-4d0c-b616-5637e0cc26c4&featureId=text-link&merchantName=amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL0RKSS1TdGFiaWxpemF0aW9uLTQ0MDAwZnQtVHJhbnNtaXNzaW9uLUludGVsbGlnZW50L2RwL0IwREoxSDZLQ1A_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiN2I5ZTlhYTEtNzgwMi00ZDBjLWI2MTYtNTYzN2UwY2MyNmM0Iiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL0RKSS1TdGFiaWxpemF0aW9uLTQ0MDAwZnQtVHJhbnNtaXNzaW9uLUludGVsbGlnZW50L2RwL0IwREoxSDZLQ1AiLCJkeW5hbWljQ2VudHJhbFRyYWNraW5nSWQiOnRydWUsInNpdGVJZCI6InVzLWVuZ2FkZ2V0IiwicGFnZUlkIjoiMXAtYXV0b2xpbmsiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJ0ZXh0LWxpbmsifQ&signature=AQAAAaX1WoiKTvfyi9oAmonw3IxA9g8u4n4Vx91a94CUjszL&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FDJI-Stabilization-44000ft-Transmission-Intelligent%2Fdp%2FB0DJ1H6KCP” class=”rapid-with-clickid”>Flip You can take high quality 4K 60P video inside or leave with little risk. It comes with friendly characteristics for Vlogger such as the direction track and fast shots for social networks. And you can fly with DJI controllers, a smartphone, voice control or the presentation of a button.
There is no need for permission to fly it, and best of all, it is <a target="_blank" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=7b9e9aa1-7802-4d0c-b616-5637e0cc26c4&featureId=text-link&merchantName=amazon&custData=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&signature=AQAAAd8aTlOLCT0_IQH6x7ZHJW4I_3flCoY-8l-_hUaD13KJ&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FDJI-Stabilization-44000ft-Transmission-Intelligent%2Fdp%2FB0DJ1H6KCP%2Fref%3Dsr_1_1″ class=”rapid-with-clickid”>With a price of $ 439
Design
Flip has an intelligent and easy to use design. The four propellers fold and stack under the body as a kind of Star Wars spacecraft. DJI chose this construction so that it can incorporate permanent stains (instead of removable) that protect accessories to limit damage or injuries in case of a collision. The design also uses large propellers that help performance and reduce noise. In comparison, DJI's neo has small rapid girming propellers that make a noise of acute squeaky.
DJI maintained the weight of the takeoff, including the battery and the microSD card of less than 250 grams through the use of carbon fiber and other light materials. This means that flip can fly without special permits. However, it is still quite bulky, especially compared to the elegant Hoververoir X1 Pro.
However, Flip has a much better battery life duration. DJI promises up to 34 minutes of maximum flight time (approximately 27 minutes in real world conditions), compared to only 16 minutes for the X1 Pro. The batteries can also be loaded quickly, taking approximately 35 minutes each with the optional charger of four batteries. However, you will need a memory card, since the flip only has 2 GB of internal storage.
Flip is DJI's first light drone with a 3D infrared sensor to avoid obstacles forward and also has a down vision sensor for the detection and stability of landing points. However, unlike the mini 4 PRO and other DJI drones, it has no lateral or posterior obstacle sensors.
A small problem is that Flip propellers do not have much free space, so they can get hooked even on short grass in takeoffs. However, like the NEO, it is designed more for take -offs and landings of your hand. To that end, it has a button on the opposite side of the ignition switch to select a flight mode and take off automatically, as is the neo. You can also fly with the application, voice control or manually with a controller, whether the DJI RC-N3 controller (which requires a smartphone) or the RC 2 controller with a 5.5-inch built-in screen.
Characteristics and performance
Steve Dent for Engadget
Flip can hum up to 26 mph in Sport mode, which is not bad for a light drone, but a little slower than the mini 4 pro (37 mph). However, reduced weight and large surface means that it is not the best in strong winds. When he flew on the roof of a castle, for example, he was beaten by a burst that pushed him almost back.
However, Flip can do things that would never try with a mini 4 PRO. The complete protection of propeller, stability and relatively low noise make it very suitable to fly within large rooms full of objects and fragile people. That, together with the excellent image quality, means that it is an excellent option for event professionals and content creators who work in public spaces.
It is also perfect for beginners, because like the neo, you can start the flip by your hand when pressing a button. Then a preprogrammed mode will fly and land where it began. One of those modes, the direction track, allows the drone to fly back and follow it for Vlogging. There is also a monitoring mode for activities such as running and hiking, along with friendly flight modes with social networks such as Dronie, Rocket, Circle, Helix and Boomerang. Note that the video in these automatic modes is limited to 4K 30 fps.
At the same time, Flip is easy to fly manually with a smartphone or compatible controllers. Although it is not as maneuverable as the mini 4 pro, it is easier for rookies to fly and is a stable camera platform. You must be careful in areas with non -textured floors (painted concrete, for example), since you can discard flip sensors and make it unstable. When that happens, its best option is to change it to Sport mode to disable vision -based flight stability sensors (and then fly carefully because obstacle detection will also be disabled).
Steve Dent for Engadget
Interestingly, the flip does not work with the Goggles N3 and Motion 3 controller of DJI, unlike the cheapest neo. This is because DJI sees it predominantly as a camera drone instead of an acrobatic device.
If you hope to use flip to track yourself or others, there is a big problem: it lacks obstacle detection in any direction, except forward or down. If the drone is flying back, for example, you must make sure there is nothing behind what can be blocked. And automatic obstacle avoidance does not work at all when it uses the intelligent characteristics of the flip such as direction track or activetrack, although the drone will stop 10 feet before hitting anything it detects. The lack of this characteristic is strange, since the avoidance of obstacles is an important part of the monitoring of the subject, and DJI did not say if he had plans to rectify that problem through a future update. None of this is a problem with the Hoverrair X1 Pro, which can track forward, back and even on the side with a complete obstacle detection enabled.
The flip has an excellent range for such a small drone up to eight miles, thanks to the DJI O4 transmission system. At the same time, you can send a high quality video signal of 1080p 60 fps that can be recorded to the controller as a backup. However, if you are flying using your smartphone with a Wi-Fi connection, the range is limited to only 165 feet.
Camera
Samuel Dejurs for Engadget
The cameras are the biggest difference between flip and neo. The flip comes with a 48 megapixel sensor much larger than 1/1.3 inches and a F/1.7 lens with a 24 mm equivalent wide angle. It is the same as that of the Mini 4 Pro and provides an acute video without noise with good light.
You can record a 4K to up to 60 fps video (100 fps in a slow mode and average mode), instead of only 30 fps such as the NEO. In addition, the FLIP admits a 10-bit D-Logm video that allows an improved dynamic range in bright lighting, as on ski slopes. You can also capture 12MP or 48MP RAW (DNG) photos.
The quality of the video is remarkably clear than in the neo and the flip is a much better drone for night sessions or the internal configuration with little light thanks to the lowest noise levels. Although the DJI Air 3S and Mavic 4 offer greater quality due to the largest sensors, there is no big difference in good light. Since the flip has only one camera, the video is remarkably louder when the 2x zoom is used. Keep in mind that when it is triggered in automated modes (direction track, dronie, etc.) there is no manual camera control to adjust the exposure, the shutter speed and ISO.
Hoverrair X1 Pro has the 1/1.3 -inch sensor of the same size and offers a very similar video quality (also with a registration mode), although I believe that DJI's colors are a more precise touch. The Hoberair has a slightly lower 4K 60p video than spending $ 200 for the Pro Max version to get 8K 30 FPS and 4K 120 FPS.
With a three -axis cardan, the flip shoots a soft and silky video, even if it is being beaten by winds. You can choose the tracking mode to maintain the camera level even when drone banks, or the FPV mode that allows the camera to lean for a more exciting first person perspective. In general, the video is still soft even with sudden maneuvers, while the footage of the Hoververair X1 Pro exhibits occasional shakes and Jankky movements.
The Flip camera does not rotate 90 degrees such as the Mini 4 Pro, so the maximum resolution for the vertical video is 2.7K, one step back from the 9K 60 FPS vertical video 9:16 in the Mini 4 Pro.
Conclusion
Steve Dent for Engadget
He <a target="_blank" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=7b9e9aa1-7802-4d0c-b616-5637e0cc26c4&featureId=text-link&merchantName=amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL0RKSS1TdGFiaWxpemF0aW9uLTQ0MDAwZnQtVHJhbnNtaXNzaW9uLUludGVsbGlnZW50L2RwL0IwREoxSDZLQ1A_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiN2I5ZTlhYTEtNzgwMi00ZDBjLWI2MTYtNTYzN2UwY2MyNmM0Iiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL0RKSS1TdGFiaWxpemF0aW9uLTQ0MDAwZnQtVHJhbnNtaXNzaW9uLUludGVsbGlnZW50L2RwL0IwREoxSDZLQ1AiLCJkeW5hbWljQ2VudHJhbFRyYWNraW5nSWQiOnRydWUsInNpdGVJZCI6InVzLWVuZ2FkZ2V0IiwicGFnZUlkIjoiMXAtYXV0b2xpbmsiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJ0ZXh0LWxpbmsifQ&signature=AQAAAaX1WoiKTvfyi9oAmonw3IxA9g8u4n4Vx91a94CUjszL&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FDJI-Stabilization-44000ft-Transmission-Intelligent%2Fdp%2FB0DJ1H6KCP” class=”rapid-with-clickid”>Flip It represents a bold change in the address (and design) for DJI. Unlike open support drones, it provides creators with the ability to shoot indoors and around people with relatively high video quality. And this does for only $ 439, much less than the mini 4 pro of $ 759. However, the flip is not perfect, with its main failures such as reduced maneuverability, wind problems and the lack of evasion of obstacles to the Use intelligent modes as ActiveTrack.
As I mentioned, DJI also has a serious competition in this category, namely, the Hoververair X1 Pro of $ 500. Both offer characteristics such as palm takeoff, smart flight modes and the follow -up of the subjects and have a similar quality, But Hoververair X1 Pro offers active collision detection in the rear, a broader lens and greater internal storage. It is also approximately half the size of the flip. For its part, the FLIP has twice the flight time and a much longer transmission range.
The choice depends on what you want. If portability, the follow -up of the subjects and the avoidance of obstacles are key, the Hoververair X1 Pro is a better option. Others that prioritize the battery life, the softer video and a more established company must choose the flip. In any case, the DJI generally dominates all categories of drones, so it is good to see multiple products faced in this space centered on the creator.
This article originally appeared in Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/dji-Flip-review-a-unique-and-usful-creator-drone-with-a-few-flaws-181507462.html?src = RSS
