Coming off the release of the Spark and the Mavic Pro, DJI is back with their brand new consumer drone: the DJI Mavic Air, announced this morning in New York City.
Equipped with a 3-axis gimbal, a 7-camera vision system, a 4k camera (and more), the Mavic Air is the company’s most portable, powerful, and intelligent drone to date, starting at $799.
Coming in three colors (Arctic White, Onyx Black, and Flame Red), the drone is half the size of a Mavic Pro, and weighs roughly 41% less than the Pro.
Here’s what it features:
- 3-axis stabilized gimbal
- 3-directional environment sensing (front, bottom, back)
- 12 MP still images
- 32 MP spherical panorama mode
- 1/2.3 CMOS sensor
- 4K video at 30fps, 100 mbps, and slow-motion
- Video in 1080p at 120fps
- Up to 21 minutes of flight time
- 2.5 mile range
- Speeds up to 42.5 MPH
- 8GB internal storage (with a USB-C export)
- 4 foldable legs
- Remote has removable control sticks
Taking the most popular features of its two predecessors, the Mavic Air features specs similar to the Pro, and uses a 1/2.3-inch sensor that is able to record 4K video at 24 or 30 frames per second. It can take 12 megapixel still images, and includes a wide angle 24mm f2.8 lens. For another option, the drone’s new 3D panorama mode stitches together 25 photos in just eight seconds to create a “Sphere Panorama” for the ultimate easy-to-create shot.
With the Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems (APAS), it can detect obstacles in its path, by moving above or around them. The collision-avoiding system, FlightAutonomy 2.0, uses the 7-camera vision system to build a 3D map of the environment, identifying objects up to 66 feet away for maximum flight safety. It’s also equipped with the ability to withstand 22 mile-per-hour winds, up to 16,404 feet above sea level, and the new antenna lets the drone fly within a 2.5 mile range, within line of sight.
The drone’s ActiveTrack system can detect and follow subjects as they move, making it easier to complete these multiple-subject action shots with a higher precision in tracking. The drone is equipped with algorithms that work to lessen subject loss, especially when speed is changed.
The QuickShots feature (which includes the Dronie, Circle, Helix, and Rocket settings) now also includes the “Asteroid” shot that creates a spherical panorama, and a “Boomerang” that captures a flightpath up and away before returning, giving the user the ability to create even more perspective than before.
An updated gesture system, known as SmartCapture lets you control the drone — up to a range of 19 feet — with the use of your palm, gesturing takeoff by pointing up, tilting the hand in-flight, expanding hands to increase range (and in turn, bringing the hands together to decrease the range), and landing by pointing down. A further range is possible with a smartphone (262 feet) or remote (2.5 miles). Put the drone in “Sport” mode, and you can fly it up to 42.5 miles per hour.
The Mavic Air is available now for pre-order from Adorama in Arctic White, Onyx Black, and Flame Red, and will begin shipping on January 28th.
