Hot on the heels of GoPro’s release of their first drone, DJI is fighting to keep its dominance of the aerial imaging market. DJI’s Mavic Pro emphasizes a small and highly portable form factor (approximately the size of a water bottle when folded), along with autonomous flight control, making it convenient and easy to create high quality aerial videos wherever you go.

DJI’s newly re-designed Vision Positioning System uses five cameras to continuously monitor surroundings.

Priced similarly to the Karma, the Mavic Pro also features a fold-away design and game-system inspired remote control, but its autonomous flight control and advanced sensory systems give the Mavic Pro a decided edge over the GoPro model.

For instance, the Mavic Pro utilizes multiple and redundant GPS and GLONASS sensors to give it incredible stability in flight and greatly increase safety. In addition to its advanced GPS positioning system, the Mavic Pro also features their newly re-designed Vision Positioning System that uses five cameras to continuously monitor surroundings, avoid obstacles, and return to its takeoff point to land with centimeter accuracy.

With a simple wave of the arms, or positioning of the hands, a user can get the Mavic Pro to do things like follow them, or take a selfie, without needing to handle the remote.

The Mavic Pro boasts a 4.3 mile range and offers sophisticated autonomous flight capabilities, allowing you to follow your subject while keeping the shot properly framed, even when changing altitude. That means you should be able to smoothly track a subject hiking up a hill or skiing down a mountain.

Gesture control is another feature that puts distance between the Mavic Pro and GoPro’s Karma. With a simple wave of the arms, or positioning of the hands, a user can get the Mavic Pro to do things like follow them, or take a selfie, without needing to handle the remote.

DJI Mavic ProDJI Mavic Pro's Gesture Control lets you use hand motions to send remote instructions to your drone.

What’s more, DJI has introduced a pair of FPV goggles to accompany the Mavic Pro that feature 1080p streaming video directly from the drone, very low latency, and an 85 degree field of view allowing users to experience the flight as if they were in the cockpit of the drone.

Sometimes, it’s more important to be able to easily keep your camera with you than it is to have the biggest sensor or interchangeable lenses, and that’s where the Mavic Pro shines. I currently own and fly an Inspire Pro and while the Mavic Pro can’t compete with the visual quality of the micro four-thirds sensor and advanced gimbal control of the Inspire Pro, its ease of use and portability make it a must-have kit addition in my book.

Pre-orders are available online today, and shipping will begin in mid-October. Pricing for the unit alone is $749, and you can get professional bundles—with a remote for $999, and the whole kit and caboodle including extra batteries and a carrying case for $1299.

DJI MavicWhen folded, the Mavic's dimensions are H83mm x W83mm x L198mm.

Tech Specs:

  • 4K Ultra HD Video at 30fps
  • 12MP Still Camera on 3-Axis Gimbal
  • Sensor: 1/2.3” (CMOS), Effective pixels:12.35 M (Total pixels:12.71M)
  • Lens: FOV 78.8° 28 mm (35 mm format equivalent) f/2.2 Distortion < 1.5% Focus from 0.5 m to ∞
  • Image Max Size: 4000×3000
  • 4.3 mile range, up to 27 minutes of flight
  • Remote control operating frequency: 2.4 GHz to 2.483 GHz

Key Features:

  • 24 high-performance computing cores
  • Dual-satellite connectivity
  • Small Size & Portability
  • Obstacle Sensing System
  • Vision Positioning
  • Autonomous Subject Tracking
  • Gesture Control
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