After many series of leaks — and not a lot of surprises about what the DJI Mavic 2 is all about — the DJI Mavic 2 is finally, officially here.
And it addresses one of the biggest challenges with drone photography — shooting aerial images in complicated lighting conditions, including sunrise and sunset. So what’s the biggest new feature of DJI’s latest consumer drone? A Hasselblad camera.
DJI today launched the Mavic 2 Pro and the Mavic 2 Zoom — and it looks to be a photographer’s dream.
Using Enhanced HDR, #DJI #Mavic2Pro and #Mavic2Zoom deliver 14 stops of dynamic range by blending a series of photos taken at different exposure levels pic.twitter.com/ypa9BKoKtO
— DJI (@DJIGlobal) August 23, 2018
The Mavic 2 Pro has a three-axis gimbal with a Hasselblad camera and 1-inch CMOS sensor and F\2.8 EQV 28mm lens, capable of capturing 4K video and 12MP images. It also includes the DJI OcuSync transmission system with a transmission of 1080p and a maximum range of up to five miles.
The big difference between both editions is their respective gimbal cameras. The Mavic 2 Zoom utilizes a two-time optical zoom camera with a 12 MP 1/2.3” CMOS Sensor.
Dolly Zoom, our newest QuickShot for #DJI #Mavic2Zoom, lets you bring an otherworldly warped perspective to your storytelling pic.twitter.com/3KRe6buOgE
— DJI (@DJIGlobal) August 23, 2018
With the Mavic 2 Zoom, you’ll also get more flight modes including “the Dolly Zoom,” which is a mode where the drone lens zooms in while the drone flies back — keeping the subject the same size while the viewer sees a wider landscape. Both Mavic 2 versions are also capable of a new hyperlapse mode.
#DJI #Mavic2Pro and #Mavic2Zoom make producing an aerial hyperlapse as easy as just one tap. We’ve created 4 Hyperlapse modes to give you freedom to capture the perfect shot pic.twitter.com/66nqNDdbkx
— DJI (@DJIGlobal) August 23, 2018
Brace yourselves again folks, 9 out of 10 drone videos for the next 6 months will feature hyperlapse and dolly zoom effects.#Mavic 2 #DJI
— UAVHive (@UAVHive) August 23, 2018
Both versions of the drone follow the unique foldable design of the Mavic Series, first announced by way of the DJI Mavic Pro in September 2016, making them super portable. Both can also reach top speeds of 45 mph with a maximum battery life of 31 minutes.
Previously, ActiveTrack relied on 2D images from the main camera to track a subject. Now with ActiveTrack 2.0, Mavic 2 maps a 3D view for greater recognition and accuracy pic.twitter.com/Szh2yTan3l
— DJI (@DJIGlobal) August 23, 2018
DJI acquired a stake in Hasselblad at the end of 2015. The Swedish company manufactures high-end, highly specialized cameras, including the camera that documented the first landing on the moon. The two companies announced their first joint product in July 2016 — a combination of the M600 drone platform with the A5D medium format camera. A year later, DJI created the first 100-megapixel integrated drone imaging platform using Hasselblad technology.
The Mavic 2 has 10 sensors, creating an unprecedented level of data among DJI’s products. DJI calls it “Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing”, which includes left/right, up/down, and forward/backward obstacle sensing.
DJI is also touting that as a safety feature, as stereo-vision obstacle sensing helps avoid side crashes, and a time of flight sensor on the top will help it from hitting something above.
- Related read: DJI Mavic Pro vs. Autel X-Star Premium: which is better?
- Related read: DJI Mavic Air review: The DJI Mavic Air is a mix between the Mavic Pro and DJI Spark — and it’s absolutely perfect
The drones also improve upon one of the biggest cumbersome aspects of drones — uploading your drone footage to social media, where you want it. New software allows you to instantly share the cached video on social media in Full HD.
The DJI Mavic 2 Pro will launch at $1,450. The Mavic 2 Zoom will go for $1,250. The Mavic 2 is available today and will begin shipping today. Order yours now, right here.