DJI’s $2,999 Inspire 2 targets professional photographers
DJI on Tuesday launched the Inspire 2, a drone targeted at professional photographers with two cameras — one for the pilot to see what’s in front of the drone, and a second camera on a separate feed that can be controlled by a separate photographer to capture photos or videos from any angle.
The Inspire 2 drone captures 5.2K video and will cost $2,999. It also incorporates features that hadn’t exist when the original Inspire was announced, such as sense and avoid.
Inspire 2 Battery
The drone has a dual-battery system so if one battery fails, the other operates as a fail-safe to return the drone home. The drone has a flight time of up to 27 minutes.
Inspire 2 Cameras
With the Inspire 2, DJI is expanding its lines of interchangeable Zenmuse cameras. The new Zenmuse X4S has a 1-inch, 20-megapixel sensor with 11.6 stops of dynamic range and a 24 mm equivalent focal length. It offers aperture control (f2.8-11) and a mechanical shutter that cancels rolling shutter distortion.
The new Zenmuse X5S has a larger Micro Four Thirds sensor with 20.8 megapixels and 12.8 stops of dynamic range. The Zenmuse X5S camera now supports 8 lenses from wide angles to zooms. It shoots 20fps continuous burst DNG RAW (20.8 MP).
Much like what was touted in the now-recalled GoPro Karma drone, a handheld mount will soon be available for the Zenmuse X4S and X5S cameras, bringing those cameras down to the ground for that smooth, drone-like view from the ground.
With optional high-altitude propellers, Inspire 2 can reach a maximum service ceiling of 16,404 feet above sea level, and the self-heating dual battery redundancy system maintains good performance of the battery to -4 degrees Fahrenheit. Through an optimized mode, Inspire 2 streams smooth video at the widely used 1080i50/720p60 broadcast standard. Enhanced Lightbridge video transmission makes smoother HDMI video possible.
The Inspire 2 will cost $2,999. The Inspire 2 Combo, which includes one Inspire 2 aircraft, one Zenmuse X5S, CinemaDNG and Apple ProRes License Key, is available for $6,198, or $5,999 if ordered before Jan. 1, 2016.
The Inspire 2 Combo will start shipping in early December 2016 while customers who purchase the aircraft and camera separately can expect their orders to start shipping in early January 2017.
I was hunting for this for a while. Now i’m here. Carry
on the good work guys.