Comparison DJI Mavic 3E vs DJI Mavic 3

General drone specialization.

This parameter is specified in cases where the device has a clearly defined specialization and is noticeably different in equipment/functionality from conventional quadcopters for entertainment purposes. In our time, the following types of drones are distinguished: mini-drones, racing vehicles(including in the form of racing mini-drones), selfie drones, kits for battles, as well as industrial/commercial solutions. Here are the features of each of these options:

— FPV drones. Quadcopters with a “First Person View” transmit the image visible to the camera in real time. Those. During such a broadcast, the operator will see on the screen the same thing that directly falls into the field of view of the lens. This can be useful for photo and video shooting from the air, more precise control of a drone, and performing a number of specific tasks for reconnaissance or military purposes. Smartphones, tablets or other similar gadgets are used to view images from the camera; there are also remote controls with built-in screens (see “Display for FPV broadcast”) and specialized masks like virtual reality glasses (see “Helmet for FPV broadcast”).

— Mini-drone. Miniature devices with dimensions of no more than 150 mm (length a...nd width) and a weight of no more than 100 g. This allows them to be easily transported from place to place, as well as to fly even in confined spaces - right up to city apartments. At the same time, many mini-drones are intended exclusively for entertainment, but there are also models with quite advanced characteristics. But the communication range of such equipment, as a rule, is quite limited (although, again, exceptions are possible); the same applies to carrying capacity.

- Racing. Devices originally created for drone racing. Such races require not only fast completion of the tracks, but also the ability to accurately fit into a given trajectory; Therefore, racing quadcopters differ not only in speed, but also in control accuracy. In addition, among such machines there may be modifications for complex aerobatics (freestyle, 3D) - in their characteristics the emphasis is even more shifted to accuracy and responsiveness. It should be borne in mind that most racing models are not only expensive, but also quite difficult to operate and are designed for experienced pilots; so it hardly makes sense to buy such a device for initial training or entertainment use.

— Racing mini-drone. A variation of the racing machines described above, characterized by reduced dimensions and having corresponding features. On the one hand, these features include ease of transportation and the ability to be used in confined spaces, on the other hand, relatively low load capacity and communication range.

— Selfie drone. Copters designed primarily for taking selfies. Among the main features of this technology are its small dimensions and the absence of a classic remote control: control is carried out either via a smartphone or using gestures through a special compact controller. This format of work eliminates the need to carry a bulky remote control and allows the operator to look natural in the frame - posing for a photo, rather than being distracted by controlling the drone. And some advanced models provide additional functions that make shooting even more convenient: face detection with autofocus and auto-centering, Follow Me mode (see “Flight Modes”), etc.

— Industrial/commercial. High-quality copters designed for professional use: photographing and video shooting from high altitudes in high resolution, “inspecting” industrial facilities and land plots, spraying fields, etc. In addition to their large dimensions, they are distinguished by a long range and flight altitude (and even and others are usually calculated in kilometers), high carrying capacity and extensive functionality. Thus, many models allow the installation of heavy advanced cameras (some are even initially designed for certain models of professional cameras), others have built-in “optics” with advanced capabilities (for example, with a high magnification factor or support for shooting in the IR range). The design usually includes a large abundance of sensors. And some models may have more specific functions - for example, detecting other aircraft nearby. Of course, such functionality is not cheap.

— Combat (battle kits). Drones designed to organize air battles. As a rule, they are sold in sets of two cars - so that the fight can be organized immediately, without purchasing anything additional; and most models allow you to organize group battles (at least “all against all”) - for this it is enough to buy several identical sets. The role of the “gun” in such a copter is usually played by an IR emitter, and hits are recorded using appropriate sensors. For control, a smartphone or other gadget is usually used, and the control application can provide very interesting and unusual functions - for example, statistics for each player with experience points received for battles, as well as special “skills” (temporary invulnerability, unusual maneuver, etc.) . p.), purchased for these points and activated by clicking on the corresponding icon in the application.

The distance that a quadcopter can travel in the air on one full battery charge. Simply put, this is the drone's range in kilometers. Note that smaller, lighter drones tend to have a more limited flight range compared to larger, more powerful models. In the latter, it can reach 30 km or more. Also, the maximum flight distance is often influenced by weather factors and the load carried by the copter.

Maximum flight time of a quadcopter on one full battery charge. This indicator is quite approximate, since it is most often indicated for ideal conditions - in real use, the flight time may be less than stated. However, by this indicator it is quite possible to evaluate the general capabilities of the copter and compare it with other models - a longer declared flight time in practice usually means higher autonomy.

Note that for modern copters, a flight time of 20 minutes or more is considered a good indicator, and in the most “long-lasting” models it can exceed 40 minutes.

The maximum resolution and frame rate supported by the aircraft camera when shooting in Full HD (1080p).

The traditional resolution of such a video is 1920x1080; this is what is most often used in drones, although occasionally there are more specific options — for example, 1280x1080. In general, this is far from the most advanced, but more than a decent high-definition video standard, such an image gives sufficient detail for most cases and looks good even on a large TV screen — 32 "and more. At the same time, achieve a high frame rate in Full HD It is relatively simple and takes up less space than higher resolution content, so Full HD shooting can be done even on aircraft that support more advanced video formats like 4K.

As for the actual frame rate, the higher it is, the smoother the video turns out, the less motion is blurred in the frame. On the other hand, the shooting speed directly affects the requirements for the power of the hardware and the volume of the finished files. In general, values up to 24 fps can be called minimal, from 24 to 30 fps — medium, from 30 to 60 fps — high, and speeds over 60 fps are used mainly for slow motion Full HD.

Maximum resolution and frame rate supported by the aircraft camera (built-in or bundled) when shooting in Ultra HD (4K)

UHD is a much more advanced video standard than Quad HD and even more so Full HD. Such a frame is approximately 2 times larger than a FullHD frame on each side and, accordingly, 4 times larger in terms of the total number of pixels. In this case, specific resolutions may be different; in copters, 3840x2160 and 4096x2160 are the most popular. Thus, shooting in this standard gives excellent detail; on the other hand, it puts forward rather high demands on the hardware of the camera and the amount of memory. Therefore, 4K support is an unmistakable sign of a high-end built-in camera. At the same time, we note that in modern drones you can also find more solid resolutions — see “Shooting above 4K”.

As for the actual frame rate, the higher it is, the smoother the video turns out, the less motion is blurred in the frame. On the other hand, the shooting speed directly affects the requirements for the power of the hardware and the volume of the finished files. In general, values up to 24 fps can be called minimal, from 24 to 30 fps — average, from 30 to 60 fps — above average, and a speed of 60 fps already allows us to talk about high-speed shooting UltraHD. However for full-fledged high-speed shooting, which allows you to create slow-motion videos, an even higher frame rate...is desirable, which is not yet found in copter cameras; however, modern technologies are developing rapidly, and the situation may change in the near future.

The maximum resolution and frame rate supported by the aircraft camera (built-in or bundled) when shooting at a higher standard than 4K.

Some time ago, the most solid of these standards was UltraHD 5K with resolutions from 5280x2972 to 5472x3078. However, quadcopters with support for even higher resolutions later appeared: for example, as of mid-2021, there were models capable of shooting in 8K (7680x4320). Anyway, these video standards provide a very high degree of detail, but are expensive; in addition, to fully view materials captured in such formats, screens (TVs, monitors, etc.) of the appropriate resolution are required. As for the frame rate, in this case it usually does not exceed 24 fps — this is the minimum figure required for more or less comfortable viewing; a higher shooting speed would require too expensive and “gluttonous” (in terms of power consumption) electronics.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the professional use of drones from this category. In general, high resolutions can be very useful for aerial surveillance, broadcasting of various events, professional filming of documentaries and feature videos, etc. However, in fact, for such tasks it is more convenient and reasonable to use a heavy industrial (see "Type") copter with a gimbal , on which you can install a professional "SLR" or video camera. Such equipment often provides a higher quality of shooting than the compact built-in (or complete)...“peephole” of the copter, and the user’s capabilities are wider — for example, you can use different lenses on the camera, choosing optics for the specifics of a particular situation, and then and even install different cameras on the drone. So nowadays, support for 5K or 8K can only be found in individual devices of small sizes. It makes sense to purchase such models in cases where manoeuvrability and speed are no less important to you than high-resolution video — for example, for filming air races on the same quadrocopters.

The presence of an information display on the quadcopter control panel.

Note that this feature should not be confused with the FPV broadcast screen (see below). The information display is usually a simple segment display capable of displaying numbers, individual letters, and, on some models, a limited set of special icons. However, even such equipment significantly expands the capabilities of the remote control and allows the operator to receive a lot of additional information: battery charge, signal level, range, flight altitude, etc. At the same time, the auxiliary screen is inexpensive and can be used even in low-cost models. And in advanced drones, it may well complement the broadcast display: separating data into different screens contributes to ease of control.

A special display that can display the image from the drone's camera in the live broadcast (FPV) mode.

The display for FPV broadcasting is usually placed on the remote control: this allows you to view the image from the camera without being distracted from the control. At the same time, the specific design of such a screen may be different: in some models it is built directly into the remote control, in others it is placed on a special mount and can be removed (or even work separately from the remote control). However, anyway, this feature means that viewing live broadcasts from the copter is available in the original configuration, for this you do not need to look for additional devices such as smartphones or tablets.

An alternative to the display in some drones is an FPV broadcast helmet. It has its advantages (see below), but the traditional screen is cheaper, moreover, it is easier and more versatile to use: so, it can be viewed without problems even with glasses, and the image can be seen by several people.

The name of the engine installed in the quadcopter. Usually, knowing this name, you can easily find information about the features of the engine — both official manufacturer data and reviews from users — and determine how much you are satisfied with its characteristics. This can be very important when choosing a high-end professional model.