Hot on the heels of the Neo, DJI has released another small drone with autonomous features but with a much better camera. It will cost A$699 for the drone, A$1,159 for the Fly More Combo. The Neo starts at A$299.
When I first saw the DJI Flip at IFA last year I almost laughed. It was weird looking and ungainly with its old-timey bicycle fold-out propeller guards but now it’s blossomed into a fully-fledged consumer drone aimed at vloggers.
“Building on the success of our consumer camera drones, we are introducing DJI Flip to combine the simplicity of the DJI Neo with the stunning photo capabilities of the DJI Mini to make both aerial photography and close-up portraits accessible for everyone,” said Ferdinand Wolf, Product Experience Director at DJI.
“DJI Flip combines creative tools like AI subject tracking1 and intelligent shooting modes1 with safety features like our latest foldable propeller guards and automatic braking, making it easier than ever for people to capture stunning aerial footage no matter their level of photography or drone expertise.”
The Flip has a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor that can record HDR video at 4K/60p, capture in 10-bit D-Log M flat profile and shoot 48MP photos. The ability to record 4K/100p slow motion is a huge bonus as it will help smooth out the bumpy ride in moderate winds.
The DJI Flip starts up when you fold out the props making it quick and easy to launch. Although it’s a palm launch drone, be wary about your fingers when taking off. It’s light at just 249 grams.
Like the DJI Neo, the Flip is able to perform preprogrammed moves including tracking. But the big difference is in the video quality. The biggest weakness of the Neo is the camera. It’s fine for phone videos but you need ideal lighting conditions – nice even light – to produce good results.
The Flip camera features Dual Native ISO Fusion, f/1.7 aperture, and 2.4μm 4-in-1 pixels. It can also capture photos with up to 4x zoom. Intricate details can be preserved with next-gen SmartPhoto, which combines HDR imaging, scene recognition, and more. The 4:3-aspect-ratio results in 2.7k vertical crops.
INTELLIGENT FEATURES
- MasterShots: Allows DJI Flip to automatically perform diverse camera movements, shooting multiple clips and editing them with music, cuts, and effects for fast and simplified cinematic footage.
- Intelligent shooting modes: Dronie, Circle, Rocket, Spotlight, Helix, and Boomerang.
- Hyperlapse: Select from four options, including Free, Circle, Course Lock, and Waypoint to capture time lapse footage at up to 4K horizontally or 2.7K vertically.
- FocusTrack: Find creative ways to follow your subject with FocusTrack. The suite includes ActiveTrack 4.0, Spotlight 2.0, and Point of Interest 3.0
- Panorama: Supports shooting 180°, Wide Angle, Vertical, and Sphere panoramic photos to capture landscapes.
OTHER FEATURES
- 31-minute Max Flight Time: DJI Flip’s Intelligent Flight Battery delivers up to 31 minutes of flight time.
- Automatic Braking: DJI Flip’s 3D Infrared Sensing System supports automatic braking for enhanced safety, even at night.
- Next Level Video Transmission: When paired with the DJI RC-N3 or RC 2 remote controller, DJI O4 video transmission supports up to 13 km of 1080p/60fps video transmission and has excellent anti-interference capabilities, allowing you to explore vast landscapes with clarity.
- Fast Charging and Data Transfers: The DJI Flip Parallel Charging Hub charges two batteries simultaneously, significantly reducing charging time. With the DJI Fly app, footage can be transferred at speeds up to 30MB/s.
- Fly With or Without Remote Controller The DJI Flip can be operated with the DJI RC-N3 or RC 2 remote controllers. It can also operate with the DJI Fly app or Voice Control for hands-free flying. When connected to your phone, it can capture audio and intelligently reduce noise, automatically filtering out propeller noise.
FINAL POINTS
A couple of points on these features. It’s important to note that care should be taken when using the phone app to control the drone. Its range is limited due to its WI-FI connection and that means if you lose contact while over water, the drone will eventually land there when the battery is low. There is no return to home.
The audio recording option is welcomed but the noise cancelling is pretty bad if you care about audio. But for influencers or punters it’s probably good enough.
It’s also bulky when folded. The Neo takes up fare less volume and is much easier to pack. The Flip is a cool product but I’m not sure it’s worth the price, especially when you opt for the Fly More Combo.
Now .. if DJI put the Flip camera in the Neo .. we’d have one helluva drone.
PRICE
DJI Flip is available to order now from store.dji.com/au and authorised retail partners.
- DJI Flip retails for $699 AUD
- DJI Flip (DJI RC 2) retails for $949 AUD
- DJI Flip Fly More Combo (DJI RC 2) retails for $1159 AUD
