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I have a Mavic Mini on order. Costco had a killer Father's day deal and pushed me over the edge. $369 including extra battery and charging dock. I'd been considering going all-in for a Mavic Air2, but I've got all of 2 days previous flying experience. But here's my initial experience and thus my concerns...
2 weeks ago I received less expensive ($250) drone from Banggood. I had watched all the tutorials and read all the manuals, etc and was fully prepared for my first flight. Almost immediately, in GPS mode, just trying to do simple VERY slow manueuvers only a few feet from me, the drone decided to go off on it's own. I did the best I could for emergency landing, only a few feet off the ground. I tried a few more times to reset, recalibrate, etc and I just couldn't control it, in GPS mode or attitude mode. The navigation system just seemed WAY off, even for a beginner. Essentially the thing was prone to run away and crash. The scariest thing was when I hit the RTH button and it shot up in the air (as expected), then took off on its own when I had to go into attitude and try to coax it to the ground. A terrible first experience. No more "cheap drones" and it seemed that DJI was the way to go, at least for now.
I had contemplated a Mavic Air2 and could afford it if I had some confidence that I wasn't goingto destroy a $800 drone right away ($1000 with the flymore as I'd want to purchase it). As i said, the Mini with the extra battery and accessories that I (basically) need at the moment came in around $400. I know the MA2 has obstacle avoidance, but as a beginner would that be my concern as I'm just learning basic maneuvers, not plannning anything fancy at the moment in terms of trying to thread the needle through obstacles. Will a MA2 be that much less prone to get away, or conversely a MM prone to run away? I know that just 100M out the thing will be only a spec in the sky, so for awhile I won't be testing range.
FWIW, I am a retired professional photographer who once upon a lifetime (while we were still in VHS) did some professional video shooting. I'm not sure where this will take me, and I'm aware that in time I might want to pursue a part 107 license... but as of this moment still a raw beginner with some bad luck/experience on my first drone go-around.
Thoughts and advice? TIA
2 weeks ago I received less expensive ($250) drone from Banggood. I had watched all the tutorials and read all the manuals, etc and was fully prepared for my first flight. Almost immediately, in GPS mode, just trying to do simple VERY slow manueuvers only a few feet from me, the drone decided to go off on it's own. I did the best I could for emergency landing, only a few feet off the ground. I tried a few more times to reset, recalibrate, etc and I just couldn't control it, in GPS mode or attitude mode. The navigation system just seemed WAY off, even for a beginner. Essentially the thing was prone to run away and crash. The scariest thing was when I hit the RTH button and it shot up in the air (as expected), then took off on its own when I had to go into attitude and try to coax it to the ground. A terrible first experience. No more "cheap drones" and it seemed that DJI was the way to go, at least for now.
I had contemplated a Mavic Air2 and could afford it if I had some confidence that I wasn't goingto destroy a $800 drone right away ($1000 with the flymore as I'd want to purchase it). As i said, the Mini with the extra battery and accessories that I (basically) need at the moment came in around $400. I know the MA2 has obstacle avoidance, but as a beginner would that be my concern as I'm just learning basic maneuvers, not plannning anything fancy at the moment in terms of trying to thread the needle through obstacles. Will a MA2 be that much less prone to get away, or conversely a MM prone to run away? I know that just 100M out the thing will be only a spec in the sky, so for awhile I won't be testing range.
FWIW, I am a retired professional photographer who once upon a lifetime (while we were still in VHS) did some professional video shooting. I'm not sure where this will take me, and I'm aware that in time I might want to pursue a part 107 license... but as of this moment still a raw beginner with some bad luck/experience on my first drone go-around.
Thoughts and advice? TIA