DJI announces compact Mavic Air drone for 4k recording
Chinese drone manufacturer DJI has announced the Mavic Air. The new drone is described by the company as a highly portable, foldable drone that combines the functionality of the Mavic series with a camera that can shoot 4k images.
The Mavic Air has four folding legs and a three-axis gimbal, which is made to reduce shock and vibration. The camera sensor is a 1/2.3″ copy and, according to DJI, can be compared with a 24 mm f/2.8 lens on a full-frame camera. The drone can take photos in twelve-megapixel resolution, where HDR algorithms must ensure that, for example, details can be seen in low-light areas.
The camera is also capable of recording videos in a resolution of 3840×2160 pixels, capturing up to thirty frames per second. That matches the capabilities of the older Mavic Pro. It is, however, a lot heavier than the Air, with a weight of 743 grams compared to the 430 grams of the new drone. In addition, the drone is capable of recording full-HD videos in slow motion at up to 120fps.
Another function of the camera is a panorama mode. Users can automatically take 25 photos that are instantly merged into a 32-megapixel panorama photo. This process will take a minute, with the merging likely to take the most time. Several panorama modes are available to capture horizontal, vertical, and 180-degree images.
The drone is able to follow predefined flight paths, keeping the object in view automatically. Furthermore, the Mavic Air is able to recognize various objects, whereby fast-moving objects should also remain in view. Various commands can be given to the drone via hand gestures.
According to DJI, safety has been increased by collecting data from seven cameras and infrared sensors, which the drone uses to create a 3D map of the environment so that it can maneuver through the air more safely. The front and rear-facing dual cameras are able to detect obstacles at a distance of twenty meters. The device can then bypass it automatically.
The Mavic Air can stay in the air for up to 21 minutes and must be able to continue flying at wind speeds of up to 36 km/h. This speed can be increased to 68 km/h in sport mode. The drone cannot fly higher than 5,000 meters and the antennas on the folding landing gear ensure that the signal range is up to 4 km when using the remote control.
DJI’s latest drone has 8GB of onboard storage to instantly save footage. In addition, the storage capacity can be expanded by means of an SD card. The Mavic Air also has a USB-C port.
The drone will cost 849 euros; it is then supplied with a battery, remote control, carrying bag and two pairs of propeller guards and four pairs of propellers. For EUR 1049, the drone can also be purchased including three batteries, remote control, travel bag, two pairs of propeller guards, six pairs of propellers, a battery to power the adapter and a charging station. The Mavic Air can be pre-ordered from Tuesday through DJI’s website, after which the drone will be delivered from January 28.