One of the most popular DJI drones available today is the DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0. When it debuted in 2018, it was a major upgrade over the original Phantom 4 Pro and remains at the top of its class even today.
With version 2, you get a professional-grade quadcopter with flight tech that includes visual sensors at the front, in the rear, and below. Add to that some infrared sensors on the sides and you have the ability to sense obstacles in 5 directions. Only the poorest pilots among you should be able to crash this machine.
Below, we’ll take a look at the advantages (and disadvantages) of owning a Phantom 4 Pro 2, what its major features are, and who should buy one. If you’re in a hurry now though and just want to check the pricing and availability of the Phantom drone at Amazon, you can click the link just below. Otherwise, keep scrolling and reading to discover all the details.
Camera Included for Stills and 4K Video
There is a pretty awesome camera included with the Phantom 4 Pro 2. With a one-inch sensor, you can shoot 20-megapixel stills and 4K video at 60 frames per second. This is pro quality stuff. DJI boasts that the OcuSync feature “ensures stable connectivity and reliability” so your pictures will be sent back home in the condition you are hoping for. “Supporting both 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz, OcuSync 2.0 scans for the frequency band with the lowest interference and switches accordingly to maintain clear transmission.”
Another bragging point is the mechanical shutter that “eliminates rolling shutter distortion”. This is easier to see in practice than it is to describe in words. Basically, you get a clearer shot with a mechanical shutter than you do with an electronic shutter. This camera features both, so you get the best of both worlds.
An Abundance of Flight Modes to Suit Your Needs
Take your pick from the following…you do get them all.
- ActiveTrack modes – Profile, Spotlight, and Circle
- Return to Home / Home Lock
- TapFly – Flying backwards for selfies
- Draw mode – Trace a path to follow
- Sport – For high-performance
- Position – Standard GPS
- Altitude mode
- Gesture mode
- Tripod mode
- Course Lock
- Beginner mode
Most of these modes are self-explanatory, and we won’t go into any more detail about them here. Suffice it to say that DJI has you covered when it comes to automating your flight experience, making common tasks easy to perform.
Tech Specs of the Phantom 4 Pro 2
Here are just some of the technical details you’ll be most interested in relative to the Phantom 4 drone.
- Weight with battery and props – 1375 grams
- Maximum speed, depends on mode
- Sport – 45 mph
- Altitude – 36 mph
- Position – 31 mph
- Maximum flight time – 30 minutes
- Gimbal – 3-axis
- Controllable pitch range – -90° to +30°
- Field of View
- Forward and backward – 60° H, ±27° V
- Downward – 70° (Front and Rear), 50° (Left and Right)
- Maximum microSD card size – 128 GB
- Video output ports – HDMI and USB
DJI provides many more specifications for the drone, camera, battery, remote control, etc., which you can find elsewhere if you really need them. We have provided the basics here just to get you interested.
Pros and Cons of Owning the DJI Phantom 4 Pro 2 Quadcopter
While we have so far mainly emphasized the Phantom’s good points, as with virtually every product you can buy, there are some down sides too. Let’s take a look at the main good and bad points for this drone.
Pros
- Professional grade drone and camera
- High quality obstacle sensing
- Good battery life
- Good speed and stability
- Many flight modes
Cons
- High cost
- Relatively large and heavy
All of those amazing features come at a price. In this case, you pay both in dollars and in bulk. It simply costs more to develop the features, and you can’t pack them all into a teeny, tiny space.
Should I Buy a Phantom 4 Pro V2.0?
This quadcopter is for you if you are a professional videographer who needs top-notch, 4K, 60fps video output. It’s also your “cup of tea” if you have a need for that mechanical shutter we mentioned. You won’t get one with many drone cameras. Finally, that large camera sensor (along with the related specs we mentioned) can give you quality still shots from the air that you might not be able to get elsewhere.
This is not to say that this drone should only be purchased by professional photographers, but it can give you pictures at that level when you need them.
On the other hand, if you don’t have the budget (think, $1000 or more), you prefer a smaller drone, or you’re an absolute beginner to drone flying, you should start looking at other options.
Verdict: The Phantom Is Professional Grade
Yes, the Phantom 4 Pro 2 is a professional grade quadcopter. You don’t have to be a pro photographer or videographer to own one, but it may help. Then again, maybe your career or vocation is headed in that direction and you want to experience a quality device that will assist you in getting there eventually. If so, then the Phantom is an excellent choice.
If you’ve come to the conclusion that this model isn’t for you but still want DJI quality, then you could look to the Mavic drones – Pro, Zoom, or Mini – or perhaps an earlier edition of the Phantom – which should cost less if budget was a deal breaker here.
If you’re not set on a DJI drone, consider the Holy Stone HS720, the Propel Snap, or the 3DR Solo models. Each of these is a worthy machine in its own right, and you would enjoy owning any of them that fits your needs and style.
For those who must continue to search, good luck. You’ll find what you want – probably sooner than later.