DJI Phantom 4 Pro Drone with 4K Camera Review

DJI’s Phantom 4 Pro RC Quadcopter is the newest upgrade on Phantom 4, and it’s included in the list of Top Drones With Long Flight Time and Range. With a completely identical body to its predecessor, it retains much of the size, structure, makes, and features. Just in line with DJI’s tradition of amazing improvements in nearly identical bodies. Suitable for medium to professional level people.

The Phantom 4 Pro too boasts of several upgrades on the previous features and introduces new unique features. In addition to the previously known flying modes of Beginner, Medium and Sports level; we now have AR Route, TapFly Backward, TapFly Free in Tap Fly mode, Profile, Circle, Spotlight, ActiveTrack, Draw and Gesture. The most important considerable improvement is in the onboard camera. With a sensor four times the size of its predecessor, an enhanced lens, and better video Bit rate.

The Phantom 4 Pro Quad copter comes with 5-side obstacle sensing and 4-side obstacle avoidance. Allowing for better quality images and video, without fearing any damage to the drone. Also, It’s 30 Minute Flying Time is awesome.

Stronger and Lighter Structure:

The Phantom 4 Pro uses titanium alloy and magnesium alloy structure. Improving the rigidity of the airframe and reducing its weight. Thus, making the Phantom 4 Pro similar in weight to its previous installation.

Better Camera:

The new 1-inch diameter and 20-megapixel camera sensor can shoot 4K/60fps video and Burst Mode stills at 14 fps. You could make your own drone video and participate in Drone Video Contest

It now offers a powerful video processing, supporting H.264 4K videos at 60fps or H.265 4K at 30fps, both with a 100Mbps bitrate.

Better Obstacle Sensing:

An improved FlightAutonomy system now offers obstacle sensing from 5 sides; front, back, sides and below. All thanks to the dual rear vision sensors and infrared sensing systems. Also, allowing it to avoid the obstacles in 4 directions.

Better Video Transmission:

The P4 Pro controller has an updated Lightbridge HD video transmission system. Letting it transmit 5.8 GHz. Its automatic selection of frequencies with least allows you to get a maximum range of video transmission.

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DJI Phantom Pro 4 Specifications:

High-Resolution Lens:

P4 Pro’s updated camera comes with an equivalent focal length of 24 mm. Offering high resolution and contrast. The lens consists of 8 elements in 7 groups, two of them being aspherical. The quality lens offers much detail in the videos and images captured.

1-inch and 20 MP Camera Sensor:

The image quality depends heavily on the camera’s sensor quality. P4 Pro camera is equipped with a 1-inch 20-megapixel CMOS sensor. With larger pixels, a maximum ISO of 12800 and greater contrast, it produces quality images both for immediate use and post-processing.

It improves on many fronts including the image processing. To eliminate distortion when capturing fast moving objects, it includes a mechanical shutter with a maximum speed of 1/2000s. The electronic shutter has been improved by enhancing the shutter speed to a maximum of 1/8000 seconds. Burst Mode captures the perfect moment in a photograph.

Improvements in the video recording allow the camera to record in cinema and production optimized DCI 4K/60 (4096 x 2160/60fps) at a bitrate of 100Mbps. Allowing users to obtain high-resolution slow-motion shots.

5-Direction of Obstacle Sensing:

Flight Autonomy in the previous version could only detect an obstacle in front of the rc quadcopter. It has dual stereo vision sensors installed at the rear, front, and bottom. Allowing the 6 cameras to see the obstacles and maintain its distance.

The cameras together form a navigation system, constantly engaged in calculating the relative speed and distance from other objects in its path. Pro can fly even in complex environments, avoiding the obstacles and still maintain nearly 31 miles per hour speed.

To detect obstacles at the sides, infrared sensors have been installed on the right and the left side. Using the infrared 3-D scanning to detect and avoid obstacles for a maximum distance of 23 feet. If you do wish to capture something closer than the quadcopters’ sensors would allow, you need to switch to ‘Narrow Sensing’.

Remote Controller with Built-in Screen:

The remote controller comes with the DJI GO 4 app, allowing you to operate freely, without needing a mobile device. Bright enough to be easily operated in the sun. Though it costs an additional $300 besides the original package. It has an integrated HDMI port, Micro SD card slot, microphone, embedded loudspeaker, and Wi-Fi connection. Allowing you to instantly edit and share images.

The Draw function allows you to simply draw a desired route on the screen, select an altitude and let the P4 Pro move in the selected direction. Making it easier to take the complex shots, as you need to focus only on the camera. The ‘Forward’ mode lets you capture imagery as the quadcopter moves in the direction of the flight. The ‘Free’ mode allows you to photograph or cinema in any direction as the P4 Pro moves along the selected track.

DJI Phantom 4 Pros:

• It is easy to fly, particularly if the user has had a previous experience with a drone.
• Calibration improved from the previous generations of rc quadcopters, much easier now than before.
• Improved obstacle sensing, the front sensors can detect at up to 98 feet, while the side sensors can detect up to 23 feet.
• New enhanced camera with a lot of recording options available in the H.264 or the newer H.265 compression.
• Still not low light friendly, but deals the higher ISO settings relatively better.
• The video transmission range has improved to a maximum of up to 4.3 unobstructed miles from the home point.
• A maximum drone flight time of up to 30 minutes under optimum conditions.

DJI Phantom 4 Cons:

• The gimbal might try to adjust itself if the cable behind it touches it, tucking it back into the body would solve it.
• The battery can sometimes get stuck in the compartment and require a lot of effort to take it out.
• The correct way to insert a mini SD card is to insert it logo down, it can get seriously stuck otherwise.
• The P4 Pro is mean to be used between 32° to 104° F (0° to 40° C), going beyond might hurt the machinery or its function.
• The gimbal does not have the required sensitivity to tilt the camera mid-shot. You need a more advanced drone for the purpose.

Conclusion:

The Phantom 4 Pro is a quality drone for capturing images and videos. Comes in a small compact size and a packing you can easily carry around. With a structure and weight identical to its predecessor, it has several improvements.

The new camera is its USP, with better resolution, contrast, better sensor and image quality. The enhancements allow to capture good quality images and videos from different elevations and even for fast moving objects. Some people suggest the software operate the P4 Pro works better on iOS.

The Phantom 4 Pro can be a good investment for medium experienced users. Occasional users with experience can work fine. But the beginners should refrain from spending so much in their early phase. A cheaper version would be better to try your hands at.

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