Veteran pilot's suggestion for next drone

Bill Dunnuck · Mar 6, 2021

AVLJMA said:
Thanks!

Mavic Air 2 with Smart Controller. I’ve owned a bucket load of drones and for the money this is the best combination.

tlswift58 · Mar 6, 2021

AVLJMA said:
I work for the United States Courts. I am planning on doing some case related photography. I've used the Mini 2 on two cases so far with great results. In fact I'm not sure I need anything more robust for that type of work.
Money is not an issue. I put $2K aside for the purchase but want to make sure I am spending it wisely.

In Asheville, NC? Not to far west in Macon County.

I have an original Mini and used it to gain some experience before I lost it. I had just bought the Air2 prior to that incident while on a 6 week USA roadtrip. Got a replacement from dJI (I paid for it) and the Mini has not flown since.

The Air2 does everything I need / want as a rec flyer. Should be just as good or bit better than the Mini 2. A Fly More Kit with extra batteries (needed for sure) and other things is right around $1k.

The new DJI FPV is out now, but unless you need acrobatics, then I'd stay away from it for the time being.

Only one issue I have with the Air2 is no side sensors like the Mavic Pro line. That can be a real issue in Western North Carolina when like me you're out waterfalling and such. With so many trees (and no leaves right now) - noticing small branches are a great concern and without side sensors - easier to run into them - yet when I have done that - the Air2 has recovered very nicely.

The camera (up to 48MP) and video up to 4k is nice depending on what you do in your job and recreationally.. It is also a bit easier to keep in VLOS - but would be far better a different color than gray that melds right into sky and such.

If you're ever out Macon County way - look me up and we can do some waterfalls or other cool stuff in the area.

tlswift58 · Mar 6, 2021

Aerial Edge said:
Yes the Mavic Air 2 is hard to beat for the price. Mavic 2 pro is another good one. Does not look like you would need anything for Pro Video like an Inspire series or anything like that.

Inspire and others would be way out of his current budget for sure and a really bulky drone. Air2 is pop in shoulder bag and go.

tlswift58 · Mar 6, 2021

African wildlife said:
Hi AVLJMA. We also have the Mini 2. We also have the Phantom 4 Pro Plus - both solely for work. The P4P+ was the first drone that came out that we considered suitable for our professional requirements; we'd ruled out the Inspire 2, mainly because it's too bulky. We've added the Mini 2 especially for assignments when we need to travel ultra light.

I don't see the point of going for a Mavic Air 2 (although it's a good drone, like of lot of DJI's products) because the output is barely different from the Mini 2 when the latter is used to it's best capacity. (There are plenty of comparisons on YouTube, a well-known one being done by an entertaining gentleman who knows his stuff.)

I'm not sure why you need a different drone to the Mini 2. As you're already finding, it's capable of producing excellent results. And the more experienced you get with the camera - and using that all-important natural light - the results will get even better. If you need video - as different from stills - a good set of ND filters is important; we prefer the ND/PL ones.

If you really want a second drone, I would go for a Phantom 4 Pro - there's now a V2.0. This is rock-solid in wind and it will give you even better results from the camera (which has a mechanical shutter, for example, as well as a bigger sensor). You can easily get a dedicated backpack for it. We carry it overseas, usually in difficult terrain, and it's superb. The money you've put aside would fit the price.

Finally, to repeat, DJI nowadays produce very good drones - and this forum has many passionate and experienced members, but there is bias towards the drone or drones they personally own. For us, it's not a hobby; a drone is solely a work tool. The Mavic Air 2 is an alternative to the Mini 2 - with advantages and disadvantages - but it's not at all different to any noticeable degree. The P4P is very different and yet just as easy (or even easier) to fly than the Mini 2.

As you work for the US Courts, I'll take this opportunity to add that we watched a great (if disturbing) movie last night: Trial by Fire, directed by the always-excellent Edward Zwick (think The Last Samurai and Defiance). It's a true story, currently on Netflix. I'd recommend it to everyone as a "must see" movie. And if anyone wants a good book to read on a very similar subject - originally given to us by our lawyer in South Africa - try The Innocent Man by John Grisham (his only non-fiction work).

Best wishes to you from the UK.

The P4Pro is a great drone - rock solid and steady. Only issue for me when I was looking to buy my first drone was that the P4 was already like 2 years old and DJI did nothing to lower the price. Now, that is their business; but for me even a new 2 yr old drone is not worth the same price as it was 3-6 months after coming out.

Then the mini came out and with a nice low price point and under the 250g weight - it was a match for me to learn more with a less costly drone.

Then the Air2 came out with great specs and just a bit bigger than my Mini. It's great for carrying on hikes to waterfalls and such, where carrying around a P4P would be totally different story. I love the P4P, but at a higher cost and being an older drone - I'll pass unless I can find one that is nearly new and cheaper in price than retail.