Posted on 01 June 2018

Early DJI camera drones were (and still are) fantastic machines, able to capture stunning video and images from hundreds of feet in the air.

But products such as the Phantom 4 had two main drawbacks: they were big and they were expensive.

Enter the DJI Mavic Pro - an affordable yet high-end camera drone that can capture amazing footage - and that you can fit comfortably into your airplane hand baggage.

Its size makes it far more practical for those who want to capture video of their next holiday destination. The Mavic Pro brings sweeping, cinematic visuals within the reach of millions.

Modest dimensions also mean that for professional videographers or serious amateurs, it's easy to pack other photographic equipment in your hand luggage and still fit it in the overhead locker.

Indeed, the Mavic Pro is half the size of the first Phantom 4 - but with the same fantastic image quality.

The Phantom's smaller brother features four 'wings' that fold away neatly when not being used. The propellers don't need to be removed (unlike those of the Phantom 4).

The controller, too, is much smaller than preceding DJIs. Yet despite all these down-sizes, the Mavic pro gives you more than 20 minutes of flight time, up to 40mph speeds and a fantastic four mile range.

Alongside 4K video and RAW photo capture, the Mavic boasts sensors which prevent it from crashing into overhead power lines, trees and the like.

Specifications - DJI Mavic Pro

Video Recording: 4K in 24/30p or 1080 in 60/30/24p

Pixels: 12 Megapixels

Max Resolution: 4000 x 3000

Lens: 28mm

Memory Card: Micro SD

ISO Sensitivity: 100 – 3200

Max Speed: 40 mph

Average Flight Time: 21 minutes

Max Distance: 4 miles

Weight: 1.62 lbs (734 g)

The Mavic Pro has been praised for its ease-of-use. If you lay off the controls at any time, the drone hovers in place. And if the battery gets perilously low, the unit will simply return to where it took off and land.

iStock.com/jeremyiswild

Beginner Mode

The Mavic Pro features a beginner mode that limits speed, height and range. If this becomes your first ever drone, you would be wise to use this feature until you get comfortable with the controls. Most crashes happen in the early stages of ownership.

Taking off and landing

It only takes a couple of minutes to get this drone ready for take-off - not least because the propellers are attached (unlike the Phantom 4's, which have to be fitted manually).

Then, simply fire up the DJI GO App on your smartphone, which you then hook up to the controller. Switch on the controller and turn on the drone.

The Mavic Pro maintains stability in the air by locking onto GPS satellites.

If you're in a new location, be sure to reset the compass, which takes a matter of seconds.

Low ground clearance

The Mavic Pro matches up to the original Phantom 4 in most ways - but ground clearance is not one of them. Its undercarriage is very close to the ground, which makes landing in tall grass a little tricky. Find a flat, clear area for take-offs and landings.

Return to Home

As mentioned, this drone, like its predecessors, features a 'Return to Home' setting. The machine takes a photo of the ground when it takes off, which it uses to work out where to return later on. The Return to Home function is great because in almost every situation, your drone will return safely. The main worry is low battery life - but when the cell charge is at a minimum, the drone simply flies back to you.

Image quality

For most users, the Mavic Pro offers amazing video and image quality. However, if you want the very highest quality footage and photos, you might be better opting for the new DJI Phantom 4 Pro or the DJI Inspire 2. These products are fitted with much bigger sensors, so reproduce detail much better, even in low light.

The battery

The boffins at DJI have done a great job of shrinking everything down in the Mavic Pro, while delivering an impressive 21 minutes of flight time. Expect the battery to take an hour to recharge and the controller two hours.

Gimbal Tilt & YAW speed

You can adjust the speed at which the camera moves up, down, left and right. Slower movements tend to produce smoother videos.

iStock.com/nattrass

Intelligent Flight Modes

You can take full manual control of your Mavic Pro, or you can use special flight modes to achieve certain tasks. Here a three of our favourites…

Gesture mode

This flight mode lets you take a selfie by marking out a frame with your hands. When the drone sees this, it locks on and takes a snap.

Active Track mode

This mode locks on to a particular object or person and keeps them in frame at all times. Great for steady cinematic shots of kayakers, people walking or even slow-moving vehicles.

Point of Interest mode

It's possible to move the drone in a circle while using manual mode - but it's not easy. Instead, Point of View moves in a circle while locking on to a person or object. This is fantastic for a static structure or monument, for example.

Photos

You can capture images in DNG RAW or good old-fashioned JPG. Manual mode lets you alter ISO, exposure compensation and shutter speed.

YouTube & Facebook Live

With the Mavic Pro you can also broadcast your footage live to either Facebook or YouTube. Visuals come from the drone, while audio is picked up from your phone - so you can provide commentary for your viewers.

Should I buy one?

The Mavic Pro is small and lightweight, making it easy to take on your next holiday. And at around £700, it's a lot cheaper than the Phantom 4 Pro (around £1500).

It also offers exceptional image quality (on a par with the original Phantom 4).

However, if you want an even smaller drone that costs around half the price, you might opt for the Spark Mini Drone instead.

Insurance

Accidents do happen - and with such a costly piece of kit flying through the air, insurance is a sensible idea. While crashes on land are bad enough, a water landing could be disastrous for the unit's electronics. Learn about starttravel.co.uk's Gadget Insurance for complete peace of mind, while you're on holiday.

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