If you love taking pictures, we have got some big news for you. Renowned UAV manufacturer DJI has unveiled a mini drone that weighs less than a single pound, fits right in the palm of your hand and lets you take over-the-top pictures and videos with least effort. The drone is being dubbed as Spark, the successor of last year’s folding prop Mavic Pro and is equipped with a plethora of features for seamless photography.
The Spark boasts phenomenal capabilities in a can-sized package and makes the Mavic look downright massive by comparison. It targets mainstream audience rather than professional users and costs just $499, nearly the half of DJI’s premium offerings and a perfect deal for budget buyers. It’s still not cheap, exactly, but with all of the functionality the company has jammed into this thing, the cutesy Spark could well be DJI’s first truly mainstream drone, especially against those cheaply priced units from Parrot, Yuneec, ZeroTech and other players.
DJI Spark Features
The new DJI mini-drone can be controlled with motion gestures, as a single wave of your hand can change its direction or pull it toward or away from you. It works seamlessly and you can even trigger its selfie mode with a quick gesture that resembles you taking a picture.
However, it’s worthy to note that unless you’re using Spark’s companion app, the drone will only go up to 10 feet. Once you’ve got the smartphone app, it’s maximum reach could be as much as 300 feet. The companion app will also let you choose between different drone shooting modes such as QuickShot, Dronie, Circle and Helix. QuickShot, for instance, locks onto a subject, shoots its footage for one minute, and then trims it down to 10 seconds for you to share.
As for other capabilities, the Spark features a 12-MP (1/2.3-inch) shooter, which is supported by a two-axis gimbal and can capture 1080p videos. It also includes mechanical stabilisation, GPS GLONASS sensor, as well as 3D depth-sensing and vision-position systems that can detect objects and environments for up to 16 and 96ft, respectively.
The top speed of Spark maxes out at 31 miles per hour and battery life clocks in at 16 minutes of flight time on a single charge. However, users can charge on-the-go with a microUSB. DJI is also offering a “Fly More” bundle at an additional $200. It will include the Spark itself and essentials such as charging hub, propeller guards, an extra battery, a remote control, and more.
All in all, Spark looks like an appropriate candidate to help DJI in its quest to reach mainstream audiences. It has the potential to be a great little drone, and you can pre-order it starting today in a variety of colours – Alpine White, Sky Blue, Meadow Green, Lava Red, and Sunrise Yellow.