DJI Phantom 2 Reviews
DJI Phantom 4(Best Drones For Aerial Video/Photos) catching the eye of many new drone users with its powerful software. And promises of professional level aerial photography and cinematography. The Phantom 2 may not seem like such an appealing option.
It is a much more affordable model, but it is easy to assume that the specification is good. The truth is that various basic specs are not changed and this simple “ready to fly” model has many benefits. With so many similarities and so many keen operators sticking with this model. Is it worth bypassing for the expensive Phantom 4 or the “upgraded” Phantom 3 range?
Design
Firstly, it is important to note that the flight capabilities of the Phantom series haven’t changed. Since the Phantom 2 created because the designers got so much right with this design. That they didn’t need to make too many changes.
If you can fly the DJI Phantom 2 then you can fly the Phantom 3 series, the responses and capabilities remain same. In some ways, this would suggest that there is little reason to switch the Phantom 3.
If you are merely looking for a flying experience, then the only problem with that notion. Is that there is one area where the Phantom 3 has an edge – indoor flying. Now, there is sure to be some debate over whether or not the 3rd generation range should be used indoors at all. But this might be a bit of a deal-breaker for some operators that want the full flying experience.
The Phantom 2 continues to be praised by users for the ease of flight as well. This was the featured hat set the 2nd gen model apart from the original. Like all the best drones, this model does take a lot of practice and has a large 50-page manual to read, but many say that the flight controls come naturally to anyone that plays video games.
The manual controls do have their limits, but they are better than some of the more basic options. One of the features of the Phantom 2 that improved the user experience and still does to this day. The use of the app and the ability to control the drone via a mobile device. These simple controls on the touch screen allow users to move the camera around. Also provides controls for the white balance, shutter and image format, among others.
Later models improved on the battery power, but the Phantom 2 still is relatively effectively.
DJI Phantom 2 Battery-Life
This is another area where the Phantom 2 started to shine like a new and improved model as the changes to the battery were noticeably beneficial to the user. The company made it more streamlined, easy to install and something that users could finally forget about.
The running time of 20 minutes may not have been the longest in the world, but it is worth noting. That other model in the DJI Phantom range hasn’t traveled far beyond this yet. The Phantom 3 Professional lasts around 23 minutes and the shiny new Phantom 4 can last for 28. It should also be noted that this model is the slowest of the bunch, but this comes as no surprise when the new Phantom 4 boasts a Sports Mode for increased speed.
The DJI Phantom 2 still holds up, but the Phantom 3 does surpass it regarding the camera capabilities.
This is where the Phantom 2 begins to show users just how basic it is compared to the more recent models. While it is true that this 2nd model wasn’t designed for much beyond learning to fly. Getting to grips with the world of drone operation, the difference in the abilities of the camera and video capture are notable.
The DJI Phantom 2 has a modest set-up on its basic gimbal – a 1080p video camera that provides 30fps and a simple still camera. The Phantom 3 Professional ramped this up to 4k video and a 12mp camera. This doesn’t mean that you can’t still get some great shots with the camera thanks to the abilities to pan and tilt. The most experienced user will be able to get some great wide, sweeping shots with stability. Success is much about the skill of the operator as the capabilities of the drone
As with the Phantom 3 range, DJI was not content to just have one Phantom 2 model for sale, and there is also the Phantom 2 Vision+. At the time. This minor upgrade helped users that wanted better opportunities for aerial photography. But the arrival of the Phantom 3 quickly made this attractive alternative a little bit obsolete.
The 3rd model changed the lens of these 2nd generation templates, replacing the fisheye with a standard 20mm, and immediately showed budding film-makers what could be achieved with these UAVs. There was some compromise with the field of view, but the shots have a sense of realism and professionalism to them.
Is it worth getting an expensive later model if the Phantom 2 holds up so well?
It is easy to assume that there is little worth to this model now that the 3 and four have come out. But it impressed users when it improved upon the original, and it continues to impress users today. This model to learn to fly with, and it is up to users whether they want to progress up the range or not. Some would say that there is absolutely no need to improve because of the most recent models. Don’t provide enough of an upgrade in-flight capabilities or hardware to warrant paying so much money.
The DJI Phantom 2 has a clear purpose and continues to fulfill that role for many happy drone enthusiasts. There are areas where this older model is understandably weaker. Such as the camera work and battery life – but this is only problematic. If you want long flights to shoot impressive footage. If all you want is to have fun flying a simple, user-friendly drone. This could be one of the best drones out there.