DJI Inspire 2

amazon DJI Inspire 2 reviews

DJI’s pro-level Inspire 1 drone has enjoyed some upgrades over its life. Its modular Camera design made that possible, with the standard 1/2.3-inch X3 4K Camera giving way to Micro Four Thirds X5 and X5 Raw variants. But now it’s time for a brand new airframe with two new Camera options, dramatically improved speed, and an obstacle avoidance system. The Inspire 2 ($6,198 at review) is sure to be a favorite drone among professional filmmakers, local news stations, and deep-pocketed enthusiasts, as it supports the features that filmmakers love space filming requires, including parallel control and professional-grade video compression.

Design

The Inspire 2 ($3,539.00 at Amazon) is a big Drone. Four Propellers only power it, so it’s smaller than the competing professional Yuneec Tornado H920. The size of the aircraft varies slightly based on the position of the landing gear. When set up for takeoff, about 1.2 feet between each engine. Switching to travel mode, which allows you to stow the Drone in the included carrying case, expands its area while reducing its height. It weighs about 7.3 pounds without a camera, so you’ll have to register with the FAA before you fly outdoors.

The landing gear blocks the Camera’s left and right view when the Inspire is on the ground, but it increases when the Drone is in the air, allowing the Camera to look left, right, back, and any direction in between, with an unobstructed view. Its body is now magnesium alloy, as opposed to the protective plastic inner shell of the Inspire 1. The landing gear remains the same carbon fiber construction.

The Inspire has a fixed, integrated forward-facing camera. A 2-axis gimbal stabilizes it, and its sole purpose is to provide a relay video feed to the pilot at all times. It is located in the front, between the front obstacle sensors. The Camera is used for video recording hanging below the body and stabilized using a 3-axis gimbal.

There are two Camera options. The first is the Zenmuse X4S, a $599 add-on (not included in the $2,999 base price or the $6,198 configuration reviewed here). It has the same 1-inch 20MP image sensor, 24mm f/2.8-11 lens, and mechanical shutter as the Integrated Camera used by the Phantom 4 Pro ($1,499.00 at DJI). Its fixed field covers the same angle as the 24mm lens on a full-frame camera system.

There is support for two remotes, one for the pilot and one for the camera operator. Unlike the Phantom 4 Pro, the Inspire 2’s remote doesn’t have a built-in tablet. All video, both from the front-facing camera and the Zenmuse Camera, is sent through the same stream, so the two operators must be within 328 feet (100 meters) of each other when operating in tandem. Only one remote is included, so you’ll need to buy a second one for $549 if you want to keep the Drone and Camera controls separate.

Aircraft have many backup systems. There are dual inertial measurement units (IMUs) and barometers, and the flight transmission system has a backup line of communication in case the mainline fails in flight. Also, there are two batteries, so you can safely bring the I2 into the land if one battery fails. The included charger can hold up to four chargers at a time, which is useful if you buy an extra or two. The battery is self-heating and can operate in temperatures as low as -4 degrees F (-20 degrees C). The Drone can operate in areas high above sea level – its ceiling is 16,400 feet (5000m).

It also supports TapFly, just like the Phantom 4 and Mavic Pro ($999.00 at DJI). A fixed forward camera is used here, so you can send the Drone flying in a certain direction while capturing footage from a different angle. Active Track also recognizes and tracks moving objects on the ground and in orbit, and Waypoint flight modes, all of which take advantage of an obstacle avoidance system.

Other autopilot options include Spotlight Pro, which allows you to identify and track objects. The Camera is automatically honed to the target while you control the Inspire — like having a virtual camera operator in your hand. Points of interest — orbiting a subject — and Waypoint flight are not yet available but will be updated in the future.

The Inspire 2 uses a different flight application than previous DJI Drones. You need to download DJI Go 4 to your Android or iOS device to control it. The new app can import your flight logs from the cloud, assuming you’ve synced them with the older DJI Go flight app. And it supports several other recent models—including the Phantom 4, Phantom 4 Pro, and Mavic Pro. Interestingly, DJI chose to split the app into a newer version. Aside from some interface tweaks, it’s almost identical to the older DJI Go app I’ve been using.

The app displays a live feed from the camera, lets you control video settings and takes photos, automatically records your flights, and includes a very basic video editor and social media integration. SkyPixel association. You’ll still use the remote to control the aircraft’s movements, use the left stick to measure altitude and yaw, and the right to move I2 through space. You can use TapFly with the I2, allowing you to experiment manually just by tapping a spot on your phone’s screen.

Camera Options

We received the premium Zenmuse X5S for review. The small Micro Four Thirds camera supports interchangeable lenses, records video at up to 5.2K in CinemaDNG, and can capture 20MP stills in DNG and JPG formats. It is much smaller than the similar CGO4 Camera Yuneec, the H920 (at Amazon). Unlike the H920, which has a recessed lens mount, you can use third-party lenses via a mechanical adapter, as long as they’re small and light enough not to put too much strain on the stable gimbal. A 15mm f/1.7 lens is included—it appears to be the DJI-branded version of the Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7.

In addition to the camera and lens, this package includes the software licenses you’ll need to shoot footage in CinemaDNG and Apple ProRes. A 16GB microSD card is included, but not an SSD, required to use professional formats. You can choose to buy one based on your storage needs—120GB for $299, 240GB for $499, or 480GB for $899—and you’ll want to get the CineSSD Station to offload footage in the computer; it is $149.

You can also buy a plane without a camera for $2,999. You will receive a microSD card, but the Camera and license are not included. If you don’t need to shoot in CinemaDNG or ProRes, you’ll want to consider this configuration. You have the option of adding the X5S Camera and Lens for $1,899 or the X4S for $599. You’ll still have access to H.264 and H.265 recording in MP4 or MOV at 100Mbps, as well as DNG and JPG photography.

The video processor is built into the aircraft and not in the camera modules. It supports 5.2K recording at up to 30fps and 4K at up to 60fps when shooting in CinemaDNG. ProRes recording hits 30fps, with both the 422 HQ and 4444 XQ available in different aspect ratios. If you shoot in H.264 or H.265, you can push video up to 60 fps. Supports simultaneous recording to SSD and microSD.

Still, images are supported in Raw DNG format with either Camera. Both have a resolution of about 20MP; it’s just a different physical sensor size. The X4S can be set to ISO 100 to 12800, while the X5S can be pushed further to ISO 25600, a plus for videos and photos in very difficult lighting conditions.

Performance

The Inspire 2 is a premium aircraft, and it delivers on performance. My flight log shows it cruising at around 40mph in standard operating mode, and I get it up to 69mph in Sport configuration. However, you will need to have a wide and open area to fly safely in Sport, as it disables the obstacle avoidance system and requires more room to stop.

I had no transmission issues when flying up to 2,500 feet in testing. After that point, I started getting startled with my video feed and turned around. The Inspire 2 uses the same Lightbridge transmission system we’ve seen in other DJI Drones, so in an area, without Wi-Fi interference, you can expect it to go well over half a mile.

Size and weight, battery life is reliable. In a couple of flights averaging 20 minutes and only about 13,000 feet, I landed with 20% battery left. In a flight with more constant motion, almost 19,000 feet of distance in 14 minutes, I landed with 37% battery left. Depending on the type of flight you’re doing, you can expect about 20 to 25 minutes of flying time with the X5S. DJI claims that flight time is longer with the X4S.

Several built-in safety features include a Return Home function that automatically returns the Inspire to its starting point if communication between the remote control and the aircraft is disrupted. It can also be manually activated, and obstacle avoidance is activated in RtH, minimizing the chance of an accident.

The nose obstacle avoidance sensor prevents the I2 from hitting the object as long as it flies forward. The system can detect objects up to 100 feet away. Since the Camera can rotate in any direction, you should try to fly forward as much as possible if you are in an environment where a collision is likely. There are also upward-facing IR sensors, although they have a much more limited 16-foot detection range. The sensor on the underside detects the terrain, so the altitude adjusts along with the hills when flying low and identifies patterns below the Drone for a stable flight when working indoors without GPS stabilization. The I2 is a large bird, so we weren’t able to test the flight indoors.

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DJI Inspire 2 Drone: Buy it now

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Image and video quality

The aerial shots you get from the Zenmuse X5S are breathtaking, even when shooting in the low H.264 format. The large Micro Four Thirds sensor, combined with the interchangeable lenses, really opens up what you can do with a Drone. The included lens boasts a narrower field of view than you get from most aircraft, but only slightly so – it’s around 30mm in full-frame equivalent.

I’ve flown with a few different lenses aside from the 15mm f/1.7. The Olympus 25mm f/1.8 is small enough to work with the X5S gimbal and covers the traditional standard angular field of view. You won’t get sweeping views from the air, but your sense of depth and movement will be enhanced. I also used the Olympus 12mm f/2, a small wide-angle gem with a manual focus ring. I set it to infinity and didn’t have to worry about autofocus in flight — if you choose AF, you’ll need to touch the screen to set the focus point.

But I have the most fun with non-root lenses. My old Leica 40mm Summicron f/2, a manual focus lens-thin enough to be considered a pancake, the lens offers the flare and lower contrast you don’t get with lenses modern glasses, although I stopped it down to about f/8 for the flight. Its field of view is short telephoto on the Micro Four Thirds sensor, giving depth to the footage you wouldn’t normally see from a Drone. It is also a good choice for getting a tighter view of the ground in areas where you want to remain at higher altitudes.

Its field of view can be mimicked with the more modern Olympus 45mm f/1.8, another compact lens compatible with the X5S, but you won’t get the flare you get with the classic glasses. Not every Leica lens is small and light enough to work with the X5S gimbal.

You don’t have to shoot in CinemaDNG to get great footage from I2. To process 5.2K footage, you need not only a fast computer but an external drive that can read and write fast enough for your editing software to keep up. I shot some scenes with CinemaDNG, and my Retina iMac choked to the point where I didn’t use any of them for this review—it was a pretty simple takedown flight to make sure everything was fine all work, not a weird location shot. There is currently a bug with Adobe Premiere Pro CC that causes CinemaDNG footage from I2 to look rather dark and show highlights as bright red. But video looks fine in other apps, including Photoshop and AfterEffects from Adobe and Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve if you’re working in an environment where CinemaDNG is the preferred workflow.

ProRes footage loads well into Premiere Pro, and while the resolution isn’t 5.2K, it’s still pretty strong at 4K, with plenty of latitudes available for color correction and exposure adjustments. If you choose to purchase the Inspire kit without the SSD or the software license, you will be limited to H.264 or H.265 recording. Such formats did not allow for lengthy adjustment and were opposed by professionals. If you record footage on the Camera and edit it for your purposes, you will also get great video.

A note on our test footage. Occasionally, you will see some flickering changes in exposure. That is my fault — during one of the flights, I left the Drone in Shutter Priority mode instead of Manual. The auto-exposure system adjusted other settings during recording based on changes in the scene. To avoid this, do it right and set the exposure manually.

Images are just as good as you get with a terrestrial Micro Four Thirds Camera. The gimbal keeps the lens steady during exposure, and when switching to still images, you can always use a shorter shutter speed than a slower video shutter speed to ensure sharp images. I choose to shoot in DNG and JPG simultaneously. I appreciate the ability to work with DNG files in Lightroom or Photoshop to adjust shadows, highlights, and colors to get the exact look I want from a photo.

Conclusion

When paired with the X5S Camera and gimbal, the DJI Inspire 2 delivers the best video we’ve ever seen from any Drone. Its price tag is too high for most consumers, but it’s a solid buy for video production companies and news organizations and offers discounts for Hollywood studios. The ability to use different lenses opens up creative options. It delivers footage unlike any other Drone out there, and the large Micro Four Thirds sensor delivers video with a depth you don’t get with a small sensor drone.

The plane itself is a miracle. Its construction is all professional-grade, with redundant flight systems, obstacle avoidance, and parallel control support. In Sport mode, it flies through the air at great speed, and in standard mode, it also flies fast.

If you’re a pro on projects that require CinemaDNG or ProRes video recording, the Inspire 2 is your go-to support.