DJI Spark VERSUS DJI Mavic Pro

DJI are marketing the Spark as a ‘drone for everyone’. Packed with all the intelligent features of its predecessors while bringing a few new additions to the table, there’s a lot to be excited about with this new mini quadcopter. However, they only recently released the precursor to this diminutive drone, the Mavic Pro which received rave reviews from users and tech journalists alike.

Will the Spark be able to live up to both the hype surrounding it and the level of quality demonstrated by its larger foldable sibling? Heliguy’s Insider takes a look at both aircraft to give you an idea of which is best suited to your needs.

Before we delve into the main comparison, let’s take a look at the specs of both aircraft:

Spark
DJI Spark
Mavic Pro
DJI Mavic Pro

Aircraft

Dimension

143 × 143 × 55 mm 83mm (H) x 83mm (W) x 198mm (L) (Folded)

Diagonal Size (Propellers Excluded)

170 mm 335 mm

Weight (Battery & Propellers Included)

N/A
734 g (exclude gimbal cover)

743 g (include gimbal cover)

Takeoff Weight

300 g N/A

Max Ascent Speed

3 m/s in Sport Mode without wind 5 m/s in Sport mode

Max Descent Speed

3 m/s in Auto Landing Mode 3 m/s

Max Speed

31 mph (50 kph) in Sport Mode without wind 40 mph (65 kph) in Sport mode without wind

Max Service Ceiling Above Sea Level

4000 m 5000 m

Max Flight Time

16 minutes (no wind at a consistent 12.4 mph (20 kph)) 27 minutes (no wind at a consistent 15.5 mph (25 kph))

Max Hovering Time

15 minutes (no wind) 24 minutes (no wind)

Overall Flight Time

N/A 21 minutes (In normal flight, 15% remaining battery level)

Max Flight Distance

N/A 13 km (no wind)

Operating Temperature Range

0° to 40°C 0° to 40°C

Satellite Positioning Systems

GPS / GLONASS GPS / GLONASS

Hover Accuracy Range

Vertical:
+/- 0.1 m (when Vision Positioning is active) or +/-0.5 m
Horizontal:

+/- 0.3 m (when Vision Positioning is active) or +/-1.5 m

Vertical:
+/- 0.1 m (when Vision Positioning is active) or +/-0.5 m
Horizontal:
+/- 0.3 m (when Vision Positioning is active) or +/-1.5 m

Transmitter Power (EIRP)

2.4 GHz
FCC: 25 dBm; CE: 18 dBm; SRRC: 18 dBm
5.8 GHz

FCC: 27 dBm; CE: 14 dBm; SRRC: 27 dBm

N/A

Operating Frequency

2.400 – 2.483 GHz; 5.725 – 5.825 GHz N/A

Remote Controller

Operating Frequency

2.412 – 2.462 GHz; 5.745 – 5.825 GHz 2.4 GHz to 2.483 GHz

Max Transmission Distance

2.412 – 2.462 GHz (unobstructed, free of interference)

FCC: 1.2 mi (2 km); CE: 0.3 mi (500 m); SRRC: 0.3 mi (500 m)
5.745 – 5.825 GHz (unobstructed, free of interference)

FCC: 1.2 mi (2 km); CE: 0.18 mi (300 m); SRRC: 0.7 mi (1.2 km)

FCC Compliant: 7 km

CE Compliant: 4 km (Unobstructed, free of interference)

Operating Temperature Range

0° to 40°C 0° to 40°C

Battery

2970 mAh 2970mAh

Transmitter Power (EIRP)

2.4 GHz

FCC: ≤26 dBm; CE: ≤18 dBm; SRCC: ≤18 dBm
5.8 GHz

FCC: ≤28 dBm; CE: ≤14 dBm; SRCC: ≤26 dBm

FCC: ≤26 dBm

CE: ≤20 dBm

Operating Current/Voltage

950 mAh @3.7V 950mA @3.7V

Supported Mobile Device Size

Thickness range: 6.5-8.5 mm

Max length: 160 mm

Thickness Supported: 6.5-8.5mm
Max length: 160mm

Supported USB port types: Lightning, Micro USB (Type-B), USB (Type-C)

Charger

Voltage

13.05 V 13.05 V

Rated Power

N/A 50 W

Input

100-240 V; 50/60 Hz; 0.5 A N/A

Output

5V / 3A; 9V / 2A; 12V / 1.5A 5V / 2A

Intelligent Flight Battery

Capacity

1480 mAh 3830 mAh

Voltage

11.4 V 11.4 V

Battery Type

LiPo 3S LiPo 3S

Energy

16.87 Wh 43.6 Wh

Net Weight

Approx. 95 g Approx. 240 g

Charging Temperature Range

5° to 40° C 5° to 40°C

Gimbal

Controllable Range

Pitch: -85° to 0°
Pitch: -90° to +30°

Roll: 0° or 90° (Horizontally and vertically)

Stabilization

2-axis mechanical (pitch, roll) 3-axis (pitch, roll, yaw)

Vision System

Vision System

N/A Forward Vision System; Downward Vision System

Obstacle Sensory Range

N/A Precision measurement range: 0.7 m to 15 m; Detectable range: 15 m to 30 m

Operating Environment

Surface with clear patterns, enables diffuse reflection with >20% reflection rate; Adequate lighting (lux>15) Surface with clear pattern and adequate lighting (lux > 15)

Velocity Range

≤22.4 mph (36 kph) at 6.6 ft (2 m) above ground ≤22.4 mph (36 kph) at 2 m above ground

Altitude Range

0 – 8 m 0.3 – 13 m

Operating Range

0 – 30 m 0.3 – 13 m

3D Sensing System

Obstacle Sensing Range

1-16 ft (0.2 – 5 m) N/A

Operating Environment

Surface should be larger than 20×20 cm and enable diffuse reflection, with reflection rate >20% (eg. wall, tree, people) N/A

Camera

Sensor

1/2.3″ CMOS, Effective pixels: 12 MP 1/2.3″ (CMOS), Effective pixels: 12.35 M (Total pixels:12.71M)

Lens

FOV 81.9° 25 mm (35 mm format equivalent) f/2.6 (shooting range: 2 m to ) FOV 78.8° 28 mm (35 mm format equivalent) f/2.2; Distortion < 1.5% Focus from 0.5 m to

ISO Range

100-3200 (video); 100-1600 (photo) 100-3200 (video); 100-1600 (photo)

Electronic Shutter Speed

2s – 1/8000 s 8s – 1/8000s

Image Size

3968 × 2976 4000 × 3000

Still Photography Modes

Single Shot; Burst Shooting: 3 frames; Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 3 bracketed frames at 0.7; EV bias; Interval: 2 / 3 / 5 / 7 / 10 / 15 / 20 / 30 / 60s Single shot; Burst shooting: 3 / 5 / 7 frames; Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 3/5 bracketed frames at 0.7; EV Bias; Interval

Video Recording Modes

FHD: 1920×1080 30p
C4K: 4096×2160 24p
4K: 3840×2160 24 / 25 / 30p
2.7K: 2720×1530 24 / 25 / 30p
FHD: 1920×1080 24 / 25 / 30 / 48 / 50 / 60 / 96p; HD: 1280×720 24 / 25 / 30 / 48 / 50 / 60 / 120p

Max Video Bitrate

24 Mbps 60 Mbps

Supported File Systems

FAT32 (≤ 32 GB)
FAT32 (≤ 32 GB)

exFAT (> 32 GB)

Photo

JPEG JPEG, DNG

Video

MP4 (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264) MP4, MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264)

Supported SD Cards

Micro SD Cards

Recommended: Sandisk 16/32 GB UHS-1 Micro SDHC, Kingston 16/32 GB UHS-1 Micro SDHC, Samsung 16/32 GB UHS-I Micro SDHC, Sandisk 64 GB UHS-1 Micro SDXC, Kingston 64 GB UHS-1 Micro SDXC, Samsung 64 GB UHS-I Micro SDXC

Micro SD; Max capacity: 64 GB. Class 10 or UHS-1 rating required

Wi-Fi

Operating Frequency

2.4 GHz/5.8 GHz 2.4G/5G

Max Transmission Distance

100m (Distance), 50m (Height) (Unobstructed, free of interference) 80m (Distance), 50m (Height) (Unobstructed, free of interference)

Max Speed

N/A 14 km/h (9 mph)

Max Ascent Speed

N/A 2 m/s

Max Descent Speed

N/A 1 m/s

App / Live View

Mobile App

DJI GO 4 DJI GO 4

Live View Quality

720p@30fps, 1080p@30fps (Remote Controller)
720p@30fps (Wi-Fi)

720p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (DJI Goggles)

720p@30fps, 1080p@30fps (Remote Controller)
720p@30fps (Wi-Fi)

720p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (DJI Goggles)

Latency

160-170ms (depending on conditions and mobile device) 160-170ms (depending on conditions and mobile device)

Required Operating Systems

iOS 9.0 or later

Android 4.1.2 or later

iOS 9.0 or later

Android 4.1.2 or later

Recommended Devices

ios: iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPod touch 6, iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad Air Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini 2, iPad mini 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 2, iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 3 Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini 4, and iPad mini 4 Wi-Fi + Cellular. This app is optimized for iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
Android: Samsung S7 Edge, Samsung S7, Samsung S6, Samsung S5, Samsung NOTE4, Samsung NOTE3, Samsung tabs 705c, Ascend Mate 9, Ascend Mate 7, Huawei Honor 8, Huawei P8 Max, Vivo X7, Xiaomi 5, MI 3, Google Nexus 6p, Nexus 9, Google Nexus 7 II, LG V20, Sony Xperia Z3, Smartisan T1.

*Support for additional Android devices available as testing and development continues.

ios: iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPod touch 6, iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad Air Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini 2, iPad mini 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 2, iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 3 Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini 4, and iPad mini 4 Wi-Fi + Cellular. This app is optimised for iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
Android: Samsung S7 Edge, Samsung S7, Samsung S6, Samsung S5, Samsung NOTE4, Samsung NOTE3, Samsung tabs 705c, Ascend Mate 9, Ascend Mate 7, Huawei Honor 8, Huawei P8 Max, Vivo X7, Xiaomi 5, MI 3, Google Nexus 6p, Nexus 9, Google Nexus 7 II, LG V20, Sony Xperia Z3, Smartisan T1.

*Support for additional Android devices available as testing and development continues.



DJI Spark VERSUS DJI Mavic Pro Key Features

Now that we’ve looked through the specifications of these two small but mighty quadcopters, this article will dig a bit further into what makes them so intuitive and enjoyable to fly.

What’s In The Box?

First things first, let’s start with what you can expect from both products straight out of the box. To give you the most comprehensive idea of what both these quadcopters offer, we’ve included both the standard versions (Spark / Mavic) and the Fly More Combo versions (SparkMavic).

What’s Included?

DJI Spark
DJI Spark
Spark
  • Aircraft
  • Propeller Pair
  • Intelligent Flight Battery
  • Charger
  • Micro USB Cable
  • Storage Box
Spark Fly More Combo
  • Aircraft
  • Remote Controller
  • Propeller Pair
  • Propeller Guards (Pair)
  • Intelligent Flight Battery
  • Charger
  • Power Cable
  • Battery Charging Hub
  • Micro USB Cable
  • Storage Box
  • Shoulder Bag
Mavic
  • Aircraft (Intelligent Flight Battery and Gimbal Cover Included)
  • Remote Controller
  • Battery Charger
  • Power Cable
  • Propeller Pair
  • Gimbal Clamp
  • MicroSD Card (16 GB)
  • Micro USB Cable
  • RC Cable (Lightning connector)
  • RC Cable (Standard Micro USB connector)
  • RC Cable (USB Type-C connector)
  • RC Cable Slider
  • Manuals
Mavic Fly More Combo
  • Aircraft (Intelligent Flight Battery and Gimbal Cover included)
  • Remote Controller
  • Charger
  • Power Cable
  • Propeller Pair
  • Gimbal Clamp
  • MicroSD Card (16GB)
  • Micro USB Cable
  • RC Cable
  • RC Cable Slider
  • Manuals
  • Extra Battery
  • Battery Charging Hub
  • Car Charger
  • Battery to Power Bank Adaptor
  • Shoulder Bag
Mavic Pro
DJI Mavic Pro

Appearance

Featuring an aerodynamic, lightweight design, the DJI Spark‘s sleek design is optimised for minimal wind resistance. The front-mounted gimbal and camera are flush with the aircraft which increases the overall stability of the system. The fact that it doesn’t fold away like the Mavic Pro isn’t much of an issue at all considering that, astoundingly, it is still smaller and more portable than the Mavic’s folded state.

DJI has also given people a choice of colours to further personalise their aircraft. As well as the default Alpine White there is also the option of Sky Blue, Meadow Green, Lava Red, and Sunrise Yellow (these coloured shells are part of the aircraft and aren’t interchangeable so choose wisely!). There will be plenty of demand for this customisation and it shows that DJI still knows how to give consumers a little bit extra.

The DJI Mavic Pro‘s now iconic design incorporates innovative folding functionality. As is to be expected, the Mavic benefits from the solid construction & high-quality materials synonymous with the Shenzhen brand. There’s also an intuitive and ergonomically enhanced controller with dual display ensuring fewer distractions on your device’s camera view.

All sharp lines and metallic grey, you can tell the Mavic is superbly aerodynamic before you’re even seen it in the air. When it’s folded away, you’ll be left wondering how DJI have managed to pack in all the functionality. Then there’s the camera and the optional clear housing which offers protection for the lens and 3-axis gimbal, rounding off the attractive aesthetics.


Performance

For such a small drone, the DJI Spark certainly has a lot of power behind it. 50kph of propulsion means you can expect a steady flight at speeds of up to 31mph in Sport Mode. This setting switches the gimbal mode to FPV by default, so the camera intuitively moves with you as you fly. For an upgraded FPV experience, the Spark is fully compatible with the DJI Goggles.

DJI has also developed an advanced flight control system to make flying more fun and intuitive. Controlled via a custom built RC device, your mobile device or even your hands, the DJI Spark offers a great deal of variety in use. An innovative HD Wi-Fi system allows 720p video transmission from up to 2km away.

The addition of ‘Deep Learning Gesture Recognition’ lets you capture ‘Dronies’ using simple hand motions and PalmControl mode controls the DJI Spark’s aerial movement by hand. DJI’s new FaceAware system means that the Spark can lift off from your hand by utilising face recognition alone. Once it has locked on to you, it can take off and hover within seconds of powering on.

 

The DJI Spark features TapFly and ActiveTrack which have now become DJI mainstays. The mini quadcopter also makes use of a powerful FlightAutonomy system which includes the front-mounted camera, its vision positioning system, a 3D sensing system, dual-band GPS, an inertial measurement unit and 24 computing cores. This allows Spark to hover accurately with VPS assistance at up to 98ft, sense front-facing obstacles from up to 16ft away and also land safely every time.

It’s also compatible with DJI’s SDK (Software Development Kit) allowing you to customise the Spark to fit your needs and makes use of their GEO system which lets you know where drone flights may raise security concerns, such as near airports or stadiums.

The Mavic Pro utilises and builds upon its predecessors (the Phantom quadcopter series). This means that DJI’s ActiveTrack and TapFly, as well as new features like TerrainFollow – which enables the Mavic to intelligently follow you up inclines without crashing – are available in a smaller, more portable package. The fact that the arms fold flush into the drone’s body thanks to some brilliant engineering from DJI ensures that it’s even smaller and easier to transport.

mavic-2

The Mavic Pro also comes with a Sports Mode allowing it to reach speeds of up to 40mph in optimal conditions. This speedy feature has been advertised alongside the DJI Goggles which allow for a VR FPV drone flying experience including the ability to use ‘head tracking’ to control the camera.

As for ease of use, the Mavic has been hailed as one of the simplest drones on the market to get to grips with. While there is plenty of depth available for seasoned flyers looking for an easily portable aerial camera, it’s also ideal for those just starting out with its advanced visual positioning and obstacle avoidance (up to a range of 15m) making sure that your flights are issue free. Pinpoint locational sensors also ensure that the aircraft remains impressively steady even indoors out of satellite range.


Battery Life

The DJI Spark uses a high-energy density LiPo battery (1480mAh) and features 12 intelligent protection features which ensure greater safety during flights. Additionally, the mini drone’s battery can estimate remaining flight times, which offers a heads up on when to land in real-time. Even with all of its smart features, you can get up to 16 minutes of flight with a fully-charged battery, allowing you to capture more footage.

The Mavic Pro is powered by a purpose-built Intelligent Flight Battery (3830mAh) featuring built-in sensors and LEDs that display the status and remaining power. Despite the smaller power source, the Mavic is able to remain airborne for up to 27 minutes which rivals the DJI Phantom 4 and offers you plenty of time to capture all the imagery you need.


Camera Specs

DJI has designed the Spark’s camera to ensure that all imagery us consistently sharp with little-to-none colour aberration and distortion. Featuring a f/2.6 wide-angle lens with a 25mm equivalent focal length, the camera’s five elements are arranged into a single group that fit into a compressed frame. Small and compact like the drone itself, the camera features a 1/2.3″ CMOS sensor which allows for stabilised video at 1080p and stills at 12MP.

The use of larger pixels means that the DJI Spark is sensitive to light and can record colours with precision. Keeping the camera in place is the 2-axis mechanical gimbal coupled with UltraSmooth technology which dramatically reduces shake and rolling shutter effects. The Spark has adopted all of the previous DJI shooting modes while adding two new features: Pano and ShallowFocus.

  • Pano: This mode shoots both horizontal and vertical panoramas by automatically adjusting its gimbal and heading.
  • ShallowFocus: This feature uses the DJI Spark‘s 3D vision technology to create photos with a shallow depth of field.

Additional camera modes include:

  • Rocket: The Spark ascends with the camera pointing downwards, capturing the scene below
  • Dronie: This setting makes the drone fly backwards and upwards, with the camera locked on its subject
  • Circle: A self-explanatory feature that circles around the target
  • Helix: With Helix, the Spark flies in an upward spiral around the subject

Featuring DJI’s smallest ever stabilised 3-axis integrated gimbal and camera, the DJI Mavic Pro is capable of shooting in 4K and 12MP with Adobe DNG RAW functionality. There’s also a new ‘Gesture Mode’ which allow you to command the Mavic to take pictures with a wave of your hand and a ‘Tripod Mode’ which ensures that every manoeuvre becomes precise and slow for optimum shot quality.

One thing to note is that you can expect a narrower FOV than you’ll get from the Phantom 4 but far from being a drawback, this ensures a higher level of image quality. There are additional sensors which are refined versions of the P4’s obstacle avoidance solution and the visual positioning introduced with the Inspire 1 range. Utilising these sensors, the Mavic has one of the most stable stationary hovers you’ll see from any drone on the market.


Get in Touch

If you want to learn more about the DJI Spark, the Mavic Pro or any of their other products, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us via the details listed below.

Call

0191 296 1024

Email

info@heliguy.com

 

Keep checking back to Heliguy’s Insider Blog to learn more about DJI’s latest products, read our in-depth VERSUS series and, of course, stay up to date on the goings on in the drone industry.

Full post available at – https://www.heliguy.com/blog/2017/05/25/dji-spark-versus-dji-mavic-pro/

Introducing the DJI Spark Mini Quadcopter

The DJI Spark is the latest consumer quadcopter from the market leader in drone manufacture. With tonnes of functionality packed into an aircraft that’s smaller than their popular foldable Mavic Pro, this affordable unit is aimed at hobbyists looking to have a great time with a solid platform. The Spark also comes in a range of colours for those of you who like to put a personal stamp on your gear.


CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER THE DJI  SPARK TODAY


So, without further ado, Heliguy’s Insider Blog presents all the information you need to know about the all-new DJI Spark.


Key Features

Before we delve into DJI’s new quadcopter in more detail, here are the main things you need to know about the Spark:

  • Capable of 31mph in Sport Mode
  • 16 minutes of flight time
  • A 1/2.3 inch CMOS sensor captures video at 1080p and stills at 12MP
  • Plenty of shooting options including advanced gesture control
  • All the familiar intelligent camera modes are included plus Pano & ShallowFocus
  • Use the Spark’s controller, your mobile device or even hand gestures (PalmControl) to fly the Spark

The DJI Spark Has Landed

Featuring an aerodynamic, lightweight design, the DJI Spark‘s sleek design is optimised for minimal wind resistance. The front-mounted gimbal and camera are flush with the aircraft which increases the overall stability of the system.

A powerful 50kph of propulsion offers means you can expect a steady flight at speeds of up to 31mph in Sport Mode. DJI has also developed an advanced flight control system to make flying even more fun and intuitive.

Controlled via a new remote controller, your mobile device or even your hands, the DJI Spark signals the next generation of intuitive drone operation.

Introducing the DJI Spark

The DJI Spark uses a high-energy density LiPo battery and features 12 intelligent protection features which ensure greater safety during flights. Additionally, the mini drone’s battery can estimate remaining flight times, which offers a heads up on when to land in real-time. Additionally, an innovative HD Wi-Fi system allows 720p video transmission from up to 2km away. Even with all of its smart features, you can get up to 16 minutes of flight with a fully-charged battery, allowing you to capture more footage.

 

Intelligent battery specs are displayed in real-time on your device

 

DJI has designed the Spark’s camera to ensure that all imagery us consistently sharp with little-to-none colour aberration and distortion. Featuring a f/2.6 wide-angle lens with a 25mm equivalent focal length, the camera’s five elements are arranged into a single group that fit into a compressed frame.

Small and compact like the drone itself, the camera features a 1/2.3″ CMOS sensor which allows for stabilised video at 1080p and stills at 12MP. The use of larger pixels means that the DJI Spark is sensitive to light and can record colours with precision. Keeping the camera in place is the 2-axis mechanical gimbal coupled with UltraSmooth technology which dramatically reduces shake and rolling shutter effects.

The DJI Spark is a small, powerful & affordable aircraft

 

The Spark has adopted all of the previous DJI shooting modes while adding two new features: Pano and ShallowFocus.

  • Pano: This mode shoots both horizontal and vertical panoramas by automatically adjusting its gimbal and heading.
  • ShallowFocus: This feature uses the DJI Spark‘s 3D vision technology to create photos with a shallow depth of field.

Additional camera modes include:

  • Rocket: The Spark ascends with the camera pointing downwards, capturing the scene below
  • Dronie: This setting makes the drone fly backwards and upwards, with the camera locked on its subject
  • Circle: A self-explanatory feature that circles around the target
  • Helix: With Helix, the Spark flies in an upward spiral around the subject

 

Control the DJI Spark using hand gestures

 

The addition of what DJI has named ‘Deep Learning Gesture Recognition’ lets you capture ‘Dronies’ using simple hand motions. Another step in the direction of autonomy is PalmControl mode which controls the DJI Spark‘s aerial movement by hand. This means that you can leave your remote controller and phone at home and still have the ability to fly the Spark.

  • Dronies: Simply raise your arms, wave your hands, or make a frame with your fingers to manoeuvre the Spark and shoot photos.
  • PalmControl: The Spark can follow your hand movements or even take off and land in your palm.

The new features keep on coming and with DJI’s FaceAware (coupled with PalmControl) the Spark lifts off from your hand by utilising face recognition. Once it has locked on to you, it can take off and hover within seconds of powering on.

 

The all-new Spark controller

 

Switch the DJI Spark to Sport Mode to unleash its 31mph speed potential. This setting switches the gimbal mode to FPV by default, so the camera intuitively moves with you as you fly. For an upgraded FPV experience, the Spark is fully compatible with the DJI Goggles.

Now we’re back in familiar territory, the Spark features TapFly mode which enables you to control your drone with a simple tap of your mobile device. Using DJI’s bespoke vision technology, the drone either flies in the direction of your tap or exactly where you tapped while actively sensing obstacles depending on the settings you choose.

ActiveTrack makes its return and allows the Spark to automatically recognise objects of different shapes and sizes to enable tracking based on what they are and how fast they move. There are two versions of this feature currently available on the Spark:

  • Trace: Track your target from in front or behind, or even circle around it.
  • Profile: Follow your subject from a fixed perspective

The DJI Spark also makes use of a powerful FlightAutonomy system which includes the front-mounted camera, its vision positioning system, a 3D sensing system, dual-band GPS, an inertial measurement unit and 24 computing cores. This allows Spark to hover accurately with VPS assistance at up to 98ft, sense front-facing obstacles from up to 16ft away and also land safely every time.

DJI’s Spark quadcopter is available in a range of colours

 

Like all of this generation’s DJI drones, the Spark can return to its home point automatically. If the battery gets too low, the connection is lost or you hit the Return To Home button, the little quadcopter flies back to a pre-set home point while avoiding obstacles in its path. The Spark’s downward-facing camera also captures images of the area surrounding home point and references these images for a safe landing.


CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER THE DJI  SPARK TODAY


It’s also compatible with DJI’s SDK (Software Development Kit) allowing you to customise the Spark to fit your needs. Finally, DJI’s GEO system lets you know where drone flights may raise security concerns, such as near airports or stadiums. This provides the information needed to fly the Spark safely and responsibly.


GALLERY

See below for all of the available imagery of the Spark from DJI – we’ll be updating you with further blogs and images across our social channels as we learn more:

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The Evolution of Drones as Enterprise Solutions

Any nascent technology must go through a number of phases before being widely accepted as an effective solution. In the case of drones, we’ve seen this play out very openly with rapid progress and excitable media coverage shifting the public’s view of them from a niche hobbyist pastime to a viable commercial tool.

Heliguy Insider is taking a look back at the evolution of drones from their earliest days as small RC units to today’s advanced models used for industrial inspection using the ‘Gartner Hype Cycle’ as a model.

Gartner’s Hype Cycle (in their own words) provides a visual representation of the maturity and adoption of technologies and applications, and how they are potentially relevant to solving real business problems and exploiting new opportunities.

There are five stages to this theory:

  • Innovation Trigger: A technology breakthrough gets things started. Early proof-of-concept stories and media interest trigger significant publicity. Often no usable products exist and commercial viability is unproven.
  • Peak of Inflated Expectations: Early publicity produces a number of success stories — often accompanied by scores of failures. Some companies take action; many do not.
  • Trough of Disillusionment: Interest wanes as experiments and implementations fail to deliver. Producers of the technology shake out or fail. Investments continue only if the surviving providers improve their products to the satisfaction of early adopters.
  • Slope of Enlightenment: More instances of how the technology can benefit the enterprise start to crystallise and become more widely understood. Second- and third-generation products appear from technology providers. More enterprises fund pilots; conservative companies remain cautious.
  • Plateau of Productivity: Mainstream adoption starts to take off. Criteria for assessing provider viability are more clearly defined. The technology’s broad market applicability and relevance are clearly paying off.

Now you’re familiar with the concept let’s run through each stage of the cycle and discover which point drones have reached as of mid-2017.


Innovation Trigger – The Birth of Modern Drones

A few years ago, if you were looking to remotely pilot an aircraft you would be looking at RC helicopters. This all changed when companies such as DJI (previously a developer of flight controllers) began to look at the potential of camera-mounted ‘quadcopters’ which rose to prominence in the form of their Phantom series.

The DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ – an early DJI model that inspired many knock-offs and preceded the hugely popular Phantom 3 & 4 series.

Although drones mainly started out as a consumer-facing product, the potential commercial applications were evident from the get-go. Initial drone shots (while by no means as impressive as those possible today) captured peoples’ imagination and the potential of aerial photography without the need for costly manned aircraft (i.e. helicopters) appealed to professional filmmakers.

Initial media coverage was dismissive, still viewing this new generation of unmanned aircraft as more of a fad than a game-changing technological advance. This would soon change as better quality models were released and more commercial applications for drones were dreamed up.


Peak of Inflated Expectations – Partnerships, Investment & Progress

While the mainstream opinion of drones sat somewhere near indifference, investors began to circle drone companies with hopes of getting involved in the next big thing. This led to team-ups such as the ill-fated GoPro-DJI partnership as well as a great deal of money being pumped into companies such as Parrot and 3DR.

This interest and funding allowed rapid progress from the frontrunners, especially DJI whose now famously speedy product turnaround acting as a catalyst for companies to create quality drones of various sizes, power and functionality (quadcopters, hexacopters & even octocopters) with many beginning to aspire towards entering the commercial market.

DJI’s original prosumer drone the Inspire 1 is still popular with numerous industries including emergency services and structural inspections.

There were also companies who took advantage of this time to launch crowdfunded campaigns with lofty promises that they would never have been able to meet. It’s worth mentioning that this has happened again recently with the spectacular failure of the Lily drone. Hopefully, due to the wide coverage of this case, people will learn to be shrewder when supporting suspect projects.

It’s easy to see how people would be drawn in though as this ‘Peak of Inflated Expectations’ was driven to fever pitch by tech journalists fawning over drone technology and making outlandish predictions about the sky being full of UAVs within the next couple of years. The hype machine was well and truly in motion.

While the majority of coverage in this period was fed by rumour and exaggeration it did have the positive effect of leading to more and more industries (Agriculture, Emergency Services, Building Inspection) beginning to show an interest in the cost saving and safety benefits of unmanned aircraft.


Trough of Disillusionment – Near Misses, Layoffs & Lack of Knowledge

Then, inevitably, we reached the ‘Trough of Disillusionment’ With the growing popularity of drones came the inevitable negative press. Near misses with commercial aircraft and inexperienced users made headlines as drones began to be viewed with more scrutiny.

There were also stories about drones being used to smuggle contraband into prisons which did little to salvage their image. Heliguy helped the police solve one of the first cases of its kind in the UK which you can read more about HERE.

Although it was a rocky few months for drones from a PR perspective, this did provide an opportunity for the UK’s CAA and other global aviation authorities to raise awareness of the existing regulations.

Karma1

The GoPro Karma had a widely publicised battery issue which caused models to fall out of the sky. This wasn’t ideal for the manufacturer and raised doubts about the safety of drones.

The problems didn’t stop with irresponsible consumers, operators began to start offering commercial drone services without much of an idea of full workflows meaning subpar results. Just having the kit doesn’t make people an expert.

Then there was the behind-the-scenes struggle of the manufacturers themselves. A massively competitive market took its toll on a few of the initial success stories such as 3DR, Parrot & Yuneec who have suffered heavy layoffs and GoPro whose first attempt at a quadcopter (the Karma) had to be taken off the market due to critical mid-air failures.

While it sounds like a lot of doom and gloom, there was plenty of progress being made by big hitters such as DJI and Freefly Systems who were confident in their ability to crack the commercial market. Thanks in part to their tenacity, this lull didn’t last long and soon things began to look up for drones as a viable technology for business.


Slope of Enlightenment – New Industries, Smart Solutions & Rapid Uptake

To ensure success for their bold move into the enterprise ecosystem, the big players in the drone market (those who hadn’t been forced to shut up shop) began focussing on making their products increasingly durable, feature rich and above all else, useful to a range of industries. It’s becoming increasingly clear that the future of drones lies in the commercial marketplace and with take-up from huge companies such as Intel (Falcon 8), Amazon (drone delivery) and Google (extensive research) displaying the level of untapped potential – it’s little wonder that market leaders like DJI are trying to gain a foothold in this lucrative sector.

Other companies have sprung up to fill the demand for processing drone data with software such as Pix4D & DroneDeploy offering mapping and 3D modelling services, FLIR & Micro-Epsilon offering both hardware and analysis solutions to name but a couple of examples.

DJI’s partnership with FLIR resulted in the Zenmuse XT – a thermal imaging solution aimed at industrial inspection and emergency service usage.

With easy access to these additional services and more comprehensively mapped out workflows, drone imagery is transitioning from just being nice to look at to business critical.

A quick online search for ‘enterprise drones‘ shows how the scale of the industry has grown exponentially over the past couple of years with everyone from estate agents and wedding photographers to offshore companies and construction firms jostling to gain an edge through drone services. Due to an increased awareness of the required permissions, you’re far less likely to encounter a ‘cowboy’ operator.

A DJI Inspire 1 being used on-site for surveying, benefitting the team through a rapid project turnaround and increased safety.

Speaking from experience, Heliguy trains large groups every month to gain their PfCO as well as fielding calls from representatives of vastly differing industries who want to learn all that they can about products and services to provide exemplary drone services to their clients.

This interest is being backed up by professional-grade gear ranging from larger aircraft like DJI’s Matrice 600 hexacopter and Freefly’s ALTA series to more diminutive but manoeuvrable models such as the Inspire 2 and the Phantom 4 Pro. We’ve dealt with customers using all of these models for commercial work range from wind turbine inspections to search and rescue, getting an insider look as the concept of enterprise drones moved from pipe dream to everyday occurrence.


Plateau of Productivity – The Future of Enterprise Drones

With the successful marriage of drones and data software coupled with a growing pool of well-informed drone professionals, the use of unmanned aircraft for business purposes is beginning to enter the final stage of Gartner’s Hype Cycle.

The DJI Matrice 200 series is the most recent example of DJI’s pivot towards enterprise solutions.

Over the next year or so there will be more developments and increasingly innovative use cases (i.e. drone delivery & medical aid provision) but, more importantly, there will be a greater deal of respect for drones as a legitimate solution for enterprise.


Learn More

Heliguy has been involved in the drone industry since the days of RC helicopters as a retailer, trainer, repair centre and thought leader.

Heliguy Enterprise Banner

We offer the support and guidance you need to build and maintain a successful drone business. You can find out more on our ENTERPRISE PAGE.

Our team are available to talk to you about the potential of adding drones to your business model via the following details:

Call 

0191 296 1024

Email

info@heliguy.com

Keep checking back to Heliguy’s Insider Blog for more insights into the drone industry and the professional use of unmanned aircraft in a range of industries.

 

Full post available at – https://www.heliguy.com/blog/2017/05/22/the-evolution-of-drones-as-enterprise-solutions/

Improving the BIM Workflow with Drones

The construction industry has been one of the most vocal supporters of the drone market as it has moved from hobbyist pastime to viable enterprise solution. It’s not hard to see why, the whole process of putting a structure together, from planning to subsequent checks, can be benefitted by having access to a bank of aerial imagery and data.

This article looks at one of the most interesting collaborations between construction companies and drones, BIM (Building Information Modelling), a crucial information management system that oversees projects from inception to completion. Read on to find out more about BIM itself and how unmanned aircraft are changing construction workflows.

 


BIM Explained

If you are involved in construction, the acronym BIM will already be familiar to you. For the uninitiated, it is a process of managing information gathered throughout a construction project. This is to be collated into a common format, from feasibility planning through initial design, onto construction, operation and, if necessary, demolition. This uniformity ensures that those involved in the project are able to efficiently use and interpret all available information.

The BIM process is made up of three elements:

  • Consistent labelling and naming of all documents and collected data: This is crucial for finding relevant data throughout the lifespan of the project, ensuring all those involved in the workflow are following the same procedure.
  • A process in place for storing and extrapolating information: This involves the use of 3D representations of the structure in fit-for-purpose modelling software. Fundamentally, the BIM process offers a shared representation and spatial database for recording the location and attributes of every part of the project.
  • A method for exchanging or issuing information (e.g. construction, operation, performance and maintenance): This part works exactly how it sounds, involving the exchange of drawings, documents and data. When using BIM, this process is streamlined as the information is generated directly from the Business Information Model, rather than numerous separately prepared documents that could lead to confusion and costly mistakes.

An effective use of BIM methodology increases project efficiency and reduces the number of errors. Using the data gathered during initial stages, 3D models are built before any work begins on-site. All the essential attributes of the structure are included in this visualisation and any potential spatial issues can be spotted and ratified in the model before construction as opposed to becoming a problem further into the project.

 


BIM Maturity Levels

BIM isn’t a catchall system, there are different levels of implementation which are known as ‘Maturity Levels’. Here is the outline for each of these levels to give you more of an idea of the scope covered by the BIM method:

  • Level 1: A project team using 2D CAD drafting with paper-based or electronic print information and data exchange are considered to be operating at Level 1.
  • Level 2: When using a mixture of 2D or 3D CAD supported by a common data environment for the sharing of drawings and data with a standardised structure and format, you’ve reached Level 2. However, collaboration is limited amongst the various project teams with each controlling and disseminating its own information.
  • Level 3: Collaborating across all disciplines with all teams using 3D CAD models that are integrated but not shared as a priority. Design info is shared via a common file format such as IFC or COBie to keep everyone on the same page throughout the project.
  • Level 4: The peak of BIM operation, Level 4 is a fully collaborative workforce sharing all information across all disciplines using a single, shared project model which is stored centrally and is accessible by all the stakeholders to allow for essential modifications and data sharing.

An example of the importance of these Maturity Levels has been playing out since 2011 in the UK. Finalised in 2016, the government developed and rolled out a mandate to enforce the use of BIM Level 2 in all major public sector construction projects moving forwards.

This displays confidence in the methodology and a commitment to streamlining workflows during major infrastructure projects which is a win-win situation for both the construction companies and the governmental departments providing the funding.

 


Drones & BIM

As has been the case with a growing number of industries over the past couple of years, those in the construction sector have been quick to embrace the potential of drones. So, it’s no surprise to see an increasing number of companies employing unmanned aircraft to support their BIM methodology.

Proving themselves to be an asset for this type of data-driven approach, drones can undertake the following tasks to aid the BIM workflow:

  • Site inspections and land surveying before construction begins
  • Point cloud scanning to aid Building Information Modelling
  • Aerial photography at different stages of construction for marketing campaigns
  • Monitoring site activity to ensure an accurate, issue free workflow
  • Conducting structural inspections to ensure safety procedures are in place

Before construction begins, as architects and planners are making their initial designs, land survey information is crucial. Drones offer a precise, rapid solution to gathering a comprehensive overview of the site, identifying challenges before they become issues further into the project.

They also have an advantage over traditional point cloud methods which can sometimes overlook uneven topography due to obstructions. This isn’t an issue with an aerial perspective which makes for more consistency and data density for use in the creation of the initial BIM showing how the structure will look after construction.

Once it’s time to start building the structure it’s imperative to make sure that each stage is properly documented and photographed. This is obviously limited when you’re only using feet-on-the-ground team members to capture images which won’t make for the most thorough of reports. The addition of drones to this process gives construction companies the ability to capture a selection of high-quality aerial imagery and video footage to support their documentation.

Also, the addition of light detecting sensors mounted to a drone can offer real-time point cloud data for the accurate creation and updating of BIMs which you can feed into a number of Autodesk programmes including BIM, Inventor, AutoCAD and Revit. With this centralised trove of information, project engineers and external stakeholders can pull up any data they need as and when they require it.

The usefulness of drones doesn’t come to an end once the project has been completed as there are plenty of checks and evaluations to take place to ensure that it’s structurally sound. This can take the form of aerial photography to make sure that everything has been put together properly as well as offering the potential of thermal imagery surveys to ascertain the energy efficiency through identification of hot and cold regions.

Throughout the entire process, drones can also keep people who are off-site up to date with progress via live streams enabling inspections by trained engineers to be carried out from remote locations, in some cases even allowing them control of the camera while an on-site pilot manoeuvres the drone.

 


Which Drones are Suitable for BIM Modelling?

While, if properly customised, a large range of aircraft could be set to work on a construction site. However, speaking from experience and contact with numerous clients, we believe the following drones are best placed to carry out the range of data gathering activities need to successfully meet the requirements laid on in the BIM methodology.


The DJI Inspire 1

DJI’s original workhorse. There’s a reason these versatile aircraft proved so popular with professional operators and it’s mainly down to the wide range of compatible cameras which include the ever-growing X5 series and DJI’s thermal sensor the Zenmuse XT.

Couple this with a robust design, depth of functionality and ease of use and you’ve got yourself one highly sought after bit of kit.

LEARN MORE HERE


The DJI Inspire 2

An upgraded follow-up to DJI’s hugely successful Inspire 1 quadcopter, the Inspire 2 was created based on user suggestions received throughout its predecessor’s lifespan.

Inspire 2

While it’s primarily geared towards professional filmmakers, the Inspire 2’s access to the Zenmuse X4S and X5S cameras make it the perfect tool for capturing high-quality imagery and footage to help create effective BIM data. The aircraft itself has been upgraded while retaining all the features that made the original so popular.

LEARN MORE HERE


The DJI Matrice 600 & M600 Pro

DJI’s Matrice 600 (and it’s ready-built successor the M600 Pro) sets the standard for heavy-lift drones. Designed for use by both industrial professionals and filmmakers, the M600 is compatible with DJI’s Ronin-MX gimbal allowing for a huge variety of camera configurations.

A hexacopter with the ability to carry heavier payloads that the other models on this list, if you’re looking for an all round industrial-grade solution to aerial imagery, you can’t go wrong with the Matrice 600. On top of this, there’s the M600’s multi-battery redundancy meaning it’s not only great to fly on-site, but also very safe.

LEARN MORE HERE


The DJI Matrice 200 Series

The DJI Matrice 200 series displays the Shenzhen manufacturer’s commitment to entering the commercial market as a serious contender. With three models available (200, 210 & 210 RTK) you’re able to decide which best suits your needs.

Matrice 200 Dual Payload

If you opt for the 210 or 210 RTK you’ll be able the dual mount cameras (e.g. a Z30 zoom and XT thermal capturing data simultaneously) or alternatively top-mount a camera for activities such as bridge inspections. The top tier product (the 210 RTK) also comes with Real Time Kinematic GPS positioning for up-to-centimetre accuracy. This also has the added benefit of protecting the aircraft from strong RF / EMF interference such as power lines, radio towers.

LEARN MORE HERE


Get in Touch

If you would like to find out more about how drones can be a real asset on-site with construction companies, you can get in touch with our team by calling 0191 296 1024 or emailing info@heliguy.com.

 

Keep checking back to Heliguy’s Insider Blog for more insights into the commercial applications of unmanned aircraft and, of course, the latest news from the drone industry.

Full post available at – https://www.heliguy.com/blog/2017/05/16/improving-the-bim-workflow-with-drones/

Heliguy’s DJI Zenmuse X5 Series Lens Guide

This guide looks at the various lenses for DJI’s X5 camera series allowing you more control over the shots you’re able to capture from the Inspire 1 and Inspire 2 quadcopters as well as the Matrice 200 & 600.

Before we look at each Olympus lens available from Heliguy, here is a table of specifications which allows you to compare them and begin to think about which one best suits your need.

Olympus 45mm f/1.8 Micro Four Thirds Lens
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 Micro Four Thirds Lens
Olympus EZ 14-42mm Lens
Olympus EZ 14-42mm Lens
Olympus 25mm f/1.8 MFT Lens
Olympus 25mm f/1.8 MFT Lens
Olympus 17mm M.ZUIKO Digital Lens in Black
Olympus 17mm M.ZUIKO Digital Lens in Black
Olympus 9–18mm M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED Lens
Olympus 9-18mm M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED Lens
Olympus 12mm f2 M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED Lens Black
Olympus 12mm f2 M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED Lens Black & Silver
DJI MFT 15mm, F/1.7 ASPH Prime Lens
DJI MFT 15mm, F/1.7 ASPH Prime Lens

Focal Length

Focal length

45mm 14 – 42mm 25 17mm 9mm – 18mm 12mm 15mm

Focal length (equiv. 35mm)

90mm 24 – 84mm N/A 34mm 18mm – 36mm 24mm 30mm

Lens Construction

Lens configuration

9 lenses / 8 groups N/A 9 elements / 7 groups 9 elements / 6 groups 12 lenses / 8 groups 11 lenses / 8 groups 9 elements / 7 groups

E-HR elements

2 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Lens mechanism

Inner focus with screw drive mechanism N/A N/A Inner focus with screw drive mechanism Inner focus Inner focus with screw drive mechanism Electronic zoom

Angle of view

27° 75 – 29° 47° 65° 100 – 62° 84° 72°

Closest focusing distance

0.5m 0.2m 0.25m 0.25m 0.25m 0.2m 0.2m

Maximum image magnification

0.11x (MFT) / 0.22x (35mm format) 0.23x (MFT) / 0.46x (35mm format) 0.12x (MFT) / 0.24x (35mm format) 0.08x (MFT) / 0.16x (35mm format) 0.1x (MFT) / 0.2x (35mm format) 0.08x (MFT) / 0.16x (35mm format) 0.23x (MFT) / 0.46x (35mm format)

Aspherical glass elements

N/A 3 2 2 1 (1 is ED glass) 1 3

Aspherical ED element

N/A 1 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Super HR elements

N/A 1 N/A 1 N/A 1 N/A

DSA lens elements

N/A N/A N/A 1 N/A 1 N/A

ED lens

N/A N/A N/A N/A 1 1 N/A

Aperture

Number of aperture blades

7 Circular aperture diaphragm for natural background blurring 5 Circular aperture diaphragm for natural background blurring 7 Circular aperture diaphragm for natural background blurring 7 Circular aperture diaphragm for natural background blurring 7 Circular aperture diaphragm for natural background blurring 7 Circular aperture diaphragm for natural background blurring 7 diaphragm blades / circular aperture diaphragm

Maximum aperture

1:1.8 1:3.5 (wide) / 1:5.6 (tele) 1:1.8 1:1.8 1:4.0 (wide) / 1:5.6 (tele) 1:2.0 1:1.7

Minimum aperture

1:22 1:22 1:22 1:22 1:22 1:22 1:16

Dimensions

Filter diameter

37mm 37mm 46mm 46mm 52mm 46mm 57.5mm

Dimensions

56mm by 46mm 60.6mm by 22.5mm 57.8mm by 42mm 57.5mm by 35.5mm 56.5mm by 49.5mm 56mm by 43mm 57.5mm by 36mm

Weight

116g 93g 137g 120g 155g 130g 115g

Housing material

N/A N/A Plastic N/A N/A N/A N/A

Compatibility

Camera

DJI Zenmuse X5S, DJI Zenmuse X5R DJI Zenmuse X5R DJI Zenmuse X5S, DJI Zenmuse X5R DJI Zenmuse X5S, DJI Zenmuse X5R DJI Zenmuse X5S DJI Zenmuse X5, DJI Zenmuse X5S, DJI Zenmuse X5R DJI Zenmuse X5, DJI Zenmuse X5S, DJI Zenmuse X5R

Drones

DJI Inspire 1, DJI Inspire 2, DJI Matrice 200, DJI Matrice 600 DJI Inspire 1, DJI Matrice 600 DJI Inspire 1, DJI Inspire 2, DJI Matrice 200, DJI Matrice 600 DJI Inspire 1, DJI Inspire 2, DJI Matrice 200, DJI Matrice 600 DJI Inspire 2, DJI Matrice 200 DJI Inspire 1, DJI Inspire 2, DJI Matrice 200, DJI Matrice 600 DJI Inspire 1, DJI Inspire 2, DJI Matrice 200, DJI Matrice 600


Compatible Cameras: DJI Zenmuse X5S (Balancing Ring), DJI Zenmuse X5R

Compatible Drones: DJI Inspire 1, DJI Inspire 2, DJI Matrice 200, DJI Matrice 600

The Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital 45mm f/1.8 is a telephoto lens designed for use with an MFT system (like the Zenmuse X5 series of cameras from DJI). Featuring the manufacturer’s movie and stills compatible (MSC) autofocus technology for rapid focusing, this lens comprises of nine elements in eight separate groups, including two extra-high refractive index elements.

Weighing just over 115g and measuring up at only 46 by 56mm, the M.ZUIKO Digital 45mm f/1.8 is a lightweight lens that’s built for portability as well as performance.

It’s worth noting that aside from a rapid max aperture of f/1.8, the lens doesn’t really have any other notable features. There’s no depth of focus marks or distance scale, no focus limiter or image stabilisation included, however, DJI’s gimbal technology will ensure that all imagery and footage is stable.

The only control on the barrel is the focus ring, which isn’t mechanically coupled to the lens elements but operates seamlessly. The one exception is that there are no stops at either end of the focus range which makes it tough to gauge when you’re nearing close-focus or the infinity setting. Despite this, users get a smooth action and no noticeable delays.

As the 45mm f/1,8 has an internal focusing mechanism, the length of the barrel remains unchanged and the filter thread doesn’t rotate on focus.

Also worth a mention is that while most of the M.ZUIKO Digital 45mm f/1,8 is plastic, the lens mount is made of metal. On the subject of materials, Olympus hasn’t claimed any weatherproofing on this lens so be careful shooting in more challenging conditions.

One final thing to mention is that focusing isn’t just fast – it’s almost silent, too, courtesy of the inbuilt MSC technology.

You can take a closer look at this lens on our product page HERE.


Compatible Cameras: DJI Zenmuse X5 (Balancing Ring), DJI Zenmuse X5R (Balancing Ring)

Compatible Drones: DJI Inspire 1, DJI Matrice 600

With a 35mm equivalent focal range of 28-84mm, the 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 EZ lens boasts a variable-speed electromagnetic zoom mechanism and rapid near-silent autofocus. This is supported by a formula of eight elements in seven different groups which include one Super HR, one ED and three aspherical elements.

This M.ZUIKO model has the distinction of being (as of writing) the world’s most compact ‘pancake’ zoom lens, at only 22.5mm retracted, which makes it less than half the length of similar alternatives. It also weighs a diminutive 93g, making an impressively lightweight unit.

One caveat to mention is that when shooting in very low-light situations there’s a chance you’ll find yourself focus hunting on long shots, as the f/5.6 maximum aperture doesn’t always let enough light to pass through to the sensor.

The 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 EZ lens has an electronic zoom as well as lens retraction synched to the camera’s power. When you power up the camera, the lens automatically extends to 14mm. When powering down, the lens retracts back to its dormant setting.

The lens comes with a metal MFT mount and communication between the lens and the camera’s body is provided through a series of eleven contact points.

With the Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 EZ lens, focusing is super fast. Capable of rapidly locking its focus onto subjects, even when alternating distance, the lens also has multi-spectral coating making it ideal for shooting video.

The lens uses a ‘focus-by-wire’ system, as the focus ring isn’t mechanically attached to the lens elements. The Olympus M.ZUIKO 14-42mm also features a 37mm filter thread which doesn’t rotate on focus, ideal for anyone looking to use a polariser or ND filters.

You can take a closer look at this lens on our product page HERE.


Compatible Cameras: DJI Zenmuse X5S (Balancing Ring), DJI Zenmuse X5R

Compatible Drones: DJI Inspire 1, DJI Inspire 2, DJI Matrice 200, DJI Matrice 600

The Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital 25mm f/1.8 is a fast standard prime lens for MFT systems. Offering a 25mm focal length, a bright max f/1.8  aperture and an auto-focus motor, this lens is a great all-purpose walk-around lens.

With 9 elements in 7 separate groups including two aspherical elements and an iris diaphragm with 7 round blades for a smooth bokeh effect, the lens also has a ‘ZUIKO Extra-low Reflection Optical’ coating which reduces any adverse effects from flare and ghosting.

Weighing a very manageable 137g and measuring only 42mm by 57mm, the M.ZUIKO Digital 25mm f/1.8 is a lightweight model that is comparatively small when compared to other standard prime lenses.

The lens doesn’t offer a focus limiter or image stabilisation, the latter isn’t a deal breaker, given that this is a fast wide-angle lens that supports photography in lower light conditions without stabilisation (Note: DJI’s gimbals will act as a stabiliser).

The Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital 25mm f/1.8 lens is compatible with 46mm filters and comes with a standard metal MFT mount. This adds sturdiness to a predominantly plastic lens. It’s worth noting that the manufacturer hasn’t claimed this M.ZUIKO is weatherproofed in any way so be careful in more challenging conditions.

 

The focus is very quick and reliable and is possible in a focus-by-wire fashion, although there are no hard stops at either end of the range. It’s also worth mentioning aesthetically that the focus ring is quite large when compared to the overall dimensions of the lens.

You can take a closer look at this lens on our product page HERE.


Compatible Cameras: DJI Zenmuse X5 (Balancing Ring), DJI Zenmuse X5R (Balancing Ring), DJI Zenmuse X5S (Balancing Ring)

Compatible Drones: DJI Inspire 1, DJI Inspire 2, DJI Matrice 200, DJI Matrice 600

The M.ZUIKO Digital ED 17mm f/1.8 is a metal, fast to moderate wide-angle lens for MFT systems. Due to its in-built depth of field and distance indicators, this model is perfect for ‘zone focusing’. Great for getting some beautiful aerial shots, the ED 17mm f/1.8 features the Olympus ZUIKO Extra-Low Reflection Optical coating to minimise flare and ghosting.

The Olympus Digital ED 17mm f/1.8 is a smaller lens with a complex optical formula of 9 elements including three ‘aspherical surfaces’ and one ‘high-refractive index element’. Due to its metallic body, it’s a bit heavier than you would think when looking at its size, however, it’s lightweight enough to act as an ideal companion to a Zenmuse Camera.

This lens doesn’t offer any optical image stabilisation but DJI’s gimbals will pick up the slack.

The lens focuses quickly and quietly with rapid Auto-Focus that borders on instantaneous. Focusing is internalised, which means that the length of the lens barrel doesn’t change and the filter thread doesn’t rotate on focus. This is useful for those looking to add ND filters to the lens.

Pulling back the focus ring enters manual focus mode, regardless of the focus method set on the camera. With this setting, the focus ring stops at infinity / the close-focus point, similar to a tried-and-tested manual-focus lens. Despite this lens operating a focus-by-wire system, in practice, it feels like you’re using a purely manual lens. This offers greater control, especially for complex aerial shots.

Benefitting from the Olympus Snapshot Focus Mechanism, the ED 17mm f/1.8 allows you to effectively utilise zone focusing techniques to get the shots you need.

You can take a closer look at this lens on our product page HERE.


Compatible Cameras: DJI Zenmuse X5S (Balancing Ring)

Compatible Drones: DJI Inspire 2, DJI Matrice 200

Olympus’ Digital ED 9-18mm f/4-5.6 is a wide-angle MFT zoom lens with a collapsible barrel. With an 18-36mm focal range and a 100° angle of view, the 9-18mm lens is an effective addition to any aerial photographer’s kit. Thanks to its collapsible design, the Olympus M.ZUIKO 9-18mm manages to pack its functionality into a very compact unit with high-quality ultra-wide-angle zoom.

This lens is 49.5mm in length when collapsed and weighs 155g. This means that it’s less than half the size and almost half the weight of a regular MFT lens which covers identical focal ranges.

Please note that in its collapsed state, the lens can’t be used to take stills. However, all the user needs to do is adjust the zoom ring to the 9mm setting to activate it. When zooming from 18mm to 9mm the lens reaches a hard stop, preventing you from exceeding its widest point. To fully retract the lens for travel, slide the unlock switch located on the side of the barrel.

The lens has a sturdy metal MFT mount and, just as a note on its construction, it’s worth mentioning that Olympus doesn’t claim that this lens is in any way weatherproofed. This isn’t a major drawback but should be kept in mind on photo/film shoots in more challenging conditions.

At 9mm, the lens has a diagonal angle-of-view of 100° and at 18mm, the angle of view is 62°. Some nifty functionality means that only one compact lens element moves on focus which helped gain this lens a designation of MSC (Movies and Stills Compatible).

To reiterate, the key features of the Digital ED 9-18mm f/4-5.6 are a 100° maximum angle of view, its ultra-compact size and a convenient collapsible design.

You can take a closer look at this lens on our product page HERE.


Compatible Cameras: DJI Zenmuse X5, DJI Zenmuse X5S (Balancing Ring), DJI Zenmuse X5R

Compatible Drones: DJI Inspire 1, DJI Inspire 2, DJI Matrice 200, DJI Matrice 600

The M.ZUIKO Digital ED 12mm f/2 is a robust metallic, wide-angle lens for MFT systems such as the DJI Zenmuse X5 series. Due to its in-built depth of field and distance indicators, this unit is great for use in zone focusing while also offering MSC (Movies and Stills Compatible) calibre autofocus.

The Digital ED 12mm f/2 features a bespoke, layered lens coating which, according to the manufacturer: “Halves the effects of ghosting and flaring compared to conventional comparable coatings.”

This Olympus model is easily portable due to its small size and although it’s heavier than you would expect due to its metallic construction, it’s noticeably lightweight when compared to other SLR (Single Lens Reflex) products.

While the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm f2 isn’t hugely feature-rich, you are able to pull the focus ring back to the mount, exposing an engraved distance scale that – alongside the lens’s Depth of Focus markings – gives you the ability to effectively zone focus. The manufacturer calls this feature the ‘snapshot focus mechanism’.

Autofocus speeds are impressively fast and the lens locks onto your chosen subject almost instantaneously. The focus system is built into the lens, which means that the barrel length doesn’t change and there’s no rotation of the filter thread when focusing. This makes life easier if you’re intending to use polarisers or ND filters regularly.

With the focus ring in its default position, the manual focus works just how you would expect with an MFT lens. In the aforementioned position, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm f2’s focus ring doesn’t have any stops, either hard or soft, at the ends of its focus range (something people familiar with MFT lenses will expect).

If you pull the focus ring back it enables the lens’s manual focus mode, regardless of what you have set on the camera. In this configuration, the focus ring stops at infinity or the close-focus point, similar to a classic manual focus lens, even though you are focusing ‘by wire’ – which is obvious when magnifying into the live feed. You also have access to the Olympus snapshot focus mechanism which helps with zone focusing.

You can take a closer look at this lens on our product page HERE.


Compatible Cameras: DJI Zenmuse X5 (Balancing Ring), DJI Zenmuse X5S (Balancing Ring), DJI Zenmuse X5R (Balancing Ring)

Compatible Drones: DJI Inspire 1, DJI Inspire 2, DJI Matrice 200, DJI Matrice 600

 

The DJI MFT 15mm, F/1.7 ASPH Prime Lens has been specifically designed to work with the Micro Four Thirds Zenmuse X5 series and gimbal systems, allowing users to capture incredible aerial images and video using both the Inspire and Matrice series of drones. This lens is comprised of 9 elements in 7 groups uses 3 aspherical lenses, for maximum sharpness, while maintaining a compact size.

DJI’s custom-built Prime Lens is comprised of 9 elements in 7 groups and uses 3 aspherical lenses for maximum sharpness while maintaining an impressively compact size.

The large F1.7 aperture gives users a great performance in low-lighting conditions and also allows control over the camera’s Depth of Field for precise object separation and smooth bokeh effects.

When used together with the compatible Zenmuse X5 series of camera, you can adjust both the focus and aperture remotely via the DJI GO and GO 4 apps, or by using the DJI Focus wireless lens control system. Intuitive control over the aperture selection is also possible via the manual aperture ring.

With a 30mm equivalent focal length, the DJI MFT 15mm, F/1.7 provides a wider angle of view than comparable lenses but thankfully without straying into any ultra-wide or fisheye territory. The 30mm equivalent focal length provides users with a 72° Field Of View.

You can take a closer look at this lens on our product page HERE.


Get in Touch

If you have any questions about the products featured in this article or would just like to talk to a member of our team about which lens is right for you, we’re available via the following methods:

 

Call

0191 296 1024

Email

info@heliguy.com

Keep checking back to Heliguy’s Insider Blog for more details on lenses for aerial cameras, in-depth product explanations and, of course, the latest news from the drone industry.

Full post available at – https://www.heliguy.com/blog/2017/05/11/heliguys-dji-zenmuse-x5-series-lens-guide/

Tech Training With DJI – A Heliguy Insider Look

We recently sent a member of our technical team, Jack Bishop, to Rotterdam to receive technical training from DJI. Keeping our technicians up to date with the latest DJI products and peripherals is a priority for us here at Heliguy as it benefits our customers, our staff and gains us access to the proprietary components that are required to fully service DJI’s drones.

After an intense weeklong course which covered the repair of three highly popular aircraft: the Inspire 2, the Phantom 4 Pro and the Mavic Pro – he has put together a brief day-to-day run through of his experience.

Read on to find out what he got up to, why our in-house repair centre is the go-to UK DJI experts and also to see some impressive imagery of synchronised drone flights.


DJI Training: Jack Bishop, Heliguy Technician

My name is Jack Bishop, I work as a repair technician as part of Heliguy’s technical team. Recently I was invited to attend a 7-day course at DJI’s European repair centre located just outside of the city of Rotterdam.

Before I get into the specifics I would like to say a big thank you to Jeremy and Cihan for putting together an engaging course and big thank to the other five attendees of the course for making my time in the Netherlands an absolute pleasure.

The 7-day course was broken down into three sections for the three different aircraft we would receive training on, the DJI Inspire 2, the Phantom 4 Pro and the Mavic Pro.


Days 1 and 2

We were tasked with the most challenging aircraft to disassemble, the DJI Inspire 2.

Fortunately, DJI has designed the Inspire 2 to be a completely serviceable aircraft, making every component available to authorised repair centres. The Inspire 2 training took up the majority of the first week, three days in total were spent completely stripping down the aircraft to component form, rebuilding and assessing customer aircraft that had been sent it. We were marked on the quality of our Inspire 2 rebuild and the accuracy of the assessment portion of the exam.


Day 3

We were tasked with assessing three Inspire 2 aircraft that had been sent to DJI for repair.

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DJI Inspire 2 Insider Case Study – DCMI & Halo Vue

 

Heliguy is always looking for feedback from customers on the performance of DJI’s product range. With their increasing movement towards the Enterprise market, DJI’s kit is now being held to a higher standard as it has become an integral part of some people’s business models.

With this in mind, we’ve been provided with an in-depth case study on the Inspire 2 from Darren Miller of DCMI Film, TV and Aerial Imaging who has previously worked on projects ranging from Happy Valley and Sherlock to the upcoming feature film Kingsman: The Golden Circle as a UAV camera operator.

Read on to find out what he makes of DJI’s Inspire 2 quadcopter, how it performs on a job and what you can expect from the camera and subsequent workflow.


DJI Inspire 2 Case Study: Darren Miller

I recently teamed up with professional drone pilot Phil Fearnley of Halo Vue, who had acquired 2x Inspire 2’s supplied by Heliguy which we utilised on an engagement for Costa Coffee’s Roastery in Basildon. The job included both outdoor and indoor flying with some challenging environments which would put the aircraft through their paces.


Sense and Avoid

The Inspire 2 was the aircraft of choice for the indoor filming due to the nature of the visuals, being in and around a production plant under a steel structure. We anticipated using the I2’s sense and avoid system to its full potential, to achieve safe close proximity flying to the machinery and close to the roof to get some epic wide shots that indicate the scale of the plant. Very soon it became clear that the sensors were inhibiting the design of shots I wanted to achieve so Phil had to disengage them and fly in Atti mode.

 

 

This put quite a lot of pressure on the pilot as there was little room for error when executing low tracking or crane shots in and amongst pipework, gantries and huge plant machinery. However, working as a two-man team meant that Phil could concentrate entirely on the flying whilst receiving and reacting to my verbal direction whilst I’m operating the camera.


Visuals

Phil did a sterling job at manoeuvring the aircraft in some particularly tricky and potentially dangerous locations and was able to execute difficult moves both professionally and gracefully. We found sometimes shooting at the slower flight speed in ‘Tripod Mode’ rendered some really smooth shots that looked as good as any Steadicam or dolly on tracks. Being a professional cameraman by trade, I am always looking for new and interesting ways to put the audience in unusual places whilst telling a visual story at the same time.

 

 

To do this requires a dedicated synergy between the pilot and camera operator, much like having a grip work the dolly and jib on a drama production, I apply the same discipline. I doubt any other machine could have rendered the same result in these particular circumstances. With any larger aircraft, the job would have been impossible. Phil is also a professional photographer so having two sets of creative eyes on the screen to determine exposure and composition etc. really was a bonus.


Workflow

We shot at 4K in D-Log, 25fps, 1/50th, various degrees K, between 100 & 400 ISO at H.264 mostly on an Olympus 12mm lens, the client having a 1080p delivery. The 4K res gives the editor freedom to zoom into images in post-production by at least 1x focal length thus supplying more cuts from your data. Having read up on the X5S and its dynamic range, I exposed slightly to the right (ETTR) by about 1 F stop by using the Inspire 2‘s histogram. This yielded better detail in the interior blacks and seemed to preserve all the detail in the highlights when shooting towards large windows from inside the building.

I did a simple grade of some selected rushes that we backed up in Adobe Premiere Pro on my desktop iMac. I applied the Arri Alexa standard LOGC – Rec 709 LUT to the D-Log rushes which gave an overall underexposed and over saturated, contrasty look. I corrected these attributes to yield a flatter desaturated palette which more represented the colours I remembered from the day’s shoot. I couldn’t find a dedicated DJI D-Log/709 LUT in Adobe Premier, however, there are many LUTs in Adobe’s software and I’m sure lots of different pleasing results could be achieved by experiment. Overall, the rushes were good to work with although the 4K ingest took hours. I suggest using the digital encoder program to down res 4K footage to 1080p.


Lightbridge 2

The Inspire 2’s video signal from the upgraded DJI Lightbridge technology was faultless, even under a massive steel structure, pipework, gantries and working machinery. I cannot express enough just how imperative it is for the camera operator to have a sturdy and latency free image to work from. There is nothing more annoying and frustrating to lose the signal or experience noisy breakup which always seems to happen during the most tricky of manoeuvres.

 

Inspire 2 Close Up

 

It’s important to remember that the aircraft is the dolly in the sky, it’s the images that it captures that are most important. Outdoors, the image was the same, zero break up at 500M and I was able to save data by switching the camera on and off even at these distances. Some larger lifters using Connex and Terradek technology cannot always do this at 500M so the editor sometimes sits through endless minutes of taking off and landing that are of no use and fill up the hard drives. My personal preference is to fly up to and frame up the shot, ‘turnover’ and then announce ‘camera set’ to the first AD, It’s much more professional and disciplined. Thank you, DJI, for Lightbridge on the Inspire 2.


Framing and Composition

I would like to have the option of a frame line generator for framing the image from the Inspire 2. With all the telemetry surrounding the image on the iPad or a smaller monitor, I sometimes forgot that the image edges were equal to the full shape of the monitor.

 

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/* The time (in ms) added to/subtracted from the delay total for each new gridlet.*/
var count = (huge_it_transition_duration_gallery_14) / (cols + rows);
/* Gridlet creator (divisions of the image grid, positioned with background-images to replicate the look of an entire slide image when assembled)*/
function huge_it_gridlet(width, height, top, img_top, left, img_left, src, imgWidth, imgHeight, c, r) {
var delay = (c + r) * count;
/* Return a gridlet elem with styles for specific transition.*/
return jQuery(‘