DJI drones... I am thinking about getting one...

[SKYLANE]

Now that I have more time on my hands, I want to engage more with some older cameras that I have to learn how to better use the features that are built into them. Currently, I have:

Canon Rebel T3i

GoPro Hero3+ Black Edition
Took this out on the Bike Trail over the last days to experiment with it.

I also want to add to the mix a DJI drone, not just for taking pictures/videos, but to have fun flying it as well. Plan to get my Remote Pilot Certificate also, just because. The two DJI drones I am interested in are:

DJI Air 2S (with Fly More Package) - $1299

DJI Mini 2 (with Fly More Package) - $599

DJI Mini 2 (with Fly More Package) - $479 refurb from DJI

I think I am going to go with the DJI Mini 2 refurb for now just to see how I like it and what it can do, the price point works for now too. However, I do like features in the DJI Air 2S - I have not seen any of those in the refurb section at DJI site over past several weeks since I started looking.

I have seen a few of you folks talking about them here before, feel free to share any experiences drone related.



EDIT 2022-03-22: Ended up buying the following drone from Best Buy! Will pick it up this Saturday the 26th!

DJI MAVIC Air 2 (with Fly More Package) - $790 on sale at Best Buy ($199 off)

See further comments/edits below...

[RAMd®d]

I got the discontinued mini Fly More kit. because B&H had it for $300 no tax and it was half the price of the mini 2 Fly More kit..

Not having any experience with a refurb drone, I'd definitely go with new, and definitely with a Fly More package.

I think both the mini 2 and Air 2S are great drones for most of us, and the difference is whether or not either will end up sitting on a shelf in the back of a closet.

Not knowing if that will be me or not, I went for the lowest cost of admission.

The mini 1 and 2 are under 250g, so it doesn't need to be registered with the FAA.

This is actual lift-off weight, so if a sub-250g drone is tricked out and tips the scales, you need a drone pilot's certificate, part 107.

You'll have to complete a TRUST certificate and keep a copy with you when you fly.

There are still a lot of rules as to where you can fly, how high, etc.


The Air2 is over 249g so it would have to registered with the FAA and labeled.

You'd also need to pass the FAA flight certification test Part 107, and label your drone.

There are two Part 107 certs, I believe, one for commercial and recreational use, and one for recreational use only.

Getting either 107 cert allows certain perks you may or may not need, such as flying at night, and flying over people.

A drone registered for either class can't be moved to the other.

So it comes down to how much money you're willing to spend, invest, or waste, as the case may be.

One more thing — you probably know the Air 2 has position sensors the mini 2 does not.

That means no obstacle avoidance for the mini/mini 2, unlike the Air 2, so that's something worth thinking about.

There's lots more to know, and I'm still in the very shallow end of the knowledge pool.

[cbelt3]

I am watching this thread with anticipation... The last (dirt cheap) quadcopter I purchased got charged up, set up per instructions, launched, and promptly took off for the highway a mile away, and never responded to controls again. For all I know it got adopted by a loving family and is living the good life... (Nah, it's probably up in a tree someplace being used as a nest support by an angry squirrel family)

[GeneH]

cbelt3, LOL! Got adopted by a loving family.... LOL!

[rouderon]

My son, who is also into photography, bought a DJI Mavic Mini 2 last year and has not regretted it. He did a ton of research between the Mini and Mini 2, and the Mini 2 was definitely the best bang for his $ (there are tons of videos on YT, which helped him make his decision). From DJI site Mini 2 has 4k video (Mini only 2.7k), 4x zoom (Mini has no zoom), JPEG & RAW (Mini only has JPEG), longer range, and a few other perks. Of note, the batteries only last for +/- 40 minutes, so range may not be that big of an issue. Also, the drone is *supposed to be in your line of site at all times. YT videos where people sent them for miles allegedly had spotters on the ground at various intervals.

Last fall Dealnews had eBay links for refurb deals on both. His first Mini 2 came in a generic box and one of the propellers wouldn't spin. He sent it back and they sent him one that was sealed in a DJI box (looked new).

He couldn't be happier with it. As RAM stated, he doesn't need a license to fly it since it's below 250g. Beware that if you take it to Canada, you will have to have a license (and I believe some other paperwork/documents) to fly it there - very strict laws!

There are also a couple good apps I recommend: UAV Forecast, which lets you know if it's a good time to fly based on weather/wind conditions, as well as Satellite locks. The other is B4UFLY, which checks airspace and local advisories.

[SKYLANE]

EDIT 2022-03-22: Ended up buying the following drone from Best Buy! Will pick it up this Saturday the 26th!

DJI MAVIC Air 2 (with Fly More Package) - $790 on sale at Best Buy ($199 off)



Some comments to the above:

FAA Part 107 covers drones less than 55 lbs. User only needs the Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC) if they plan to fly it commercially which FAA has a rather broad definition for this - if there is any type of consideration (doesn't always have to be money), then a RPC is needed for that activity.

If the drone has a takeoff weight of less than 0.55 lbs (250 grams) then it does not need to be registered if it is to be recreationally. If this lighter drone will be used for commercial use, then my understanding is it too needs to be registered along with pilot needing a RPC.

Flying recreationally with the drone has a more narrow definition and there are guidelines for recreational use of the drones. If anyone is interested, I can post those here along with the resources.

(As I work towards my RPC, I will post back here with more specifics.)

Some resources:

https://www.aopa.org/Go%20Fly/Aircraft%2...tification Guide To Remote Pilot Certification

https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies..._guide.pdf FAA Remote Pilot Study Guide (pdf)

https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies...ID/1038977 Advisor Circular (AC): AC 107-2A - Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS)

https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_fliers/ Recreational Flyers & Modeler Community-Based Organizations

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title49-section44809&num=0&saved=%7CZ3JhbnVsZWlkOlVTQy1wcmVsaW0tdGl0bGU0OS1zZWN0aW9uNDQ4MDk%3D%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim Exception for limited Recreational Operations of unmanned aircraft

https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators/ Certificated Remote Pilots including Commercial Operators (for sUAS, Part 107)