DJI Phantom 5 Specifications and Best Features
First of all, without any discussion, the P5 will offer a Zoom and a Pro Version with exchangeable cameras.
- Retractable landing gear
- OcuSyc 2.0
- Low noise quick release propellers
- Take off from being thrown in the air
- Control drone with your hand movement
- Five direction vision system enables the Phantom 5 to detect obstacles up to 16 feet ahead, allowing for a protected flight at up to 38mph
- Ability to follow individuals automatically
- New batteries power system automatically heats batteries when flying in cold temperatures
- Batteries for this drone are 1.4 Lithium Polymer.
- It comes with auto takeoff and auto-returning features.
- Fully equipped with GPS technology which makes controlling the drone all the easier.
- Companion App allows for displaying the image captured by the camera.
- Capable of capturing videos at the 4K quality.
- The lens has 22 Megapixels of capturing resolution.
- Comes with a 360 Gimbals stabilization technology that allows for smoother capturing of photos and other footage.
- Comes with an in-built director software that allows you to edit in music and text to the captured videos.
- Greatly reliable because of the dual compass module that it comes installed with.
- Can take up speeds up to 52 miles per hour.
- Interchangeable lens
The DJI Phantom 5 Design Rumors
Two of the Phantom 5x’s coolest specs are the throw-in-the-air-to-activate option and the follow-me feature, but as Film school points out, these are already on the verge of existing in the consumer space thanks to the Lily drone which is no longer coming to market. The shell of the DJI Phantom 5x will be available in two colors (white and black) this will give it a sporty look and a glossy finish to it. The motors are firmly attached and stand tall while a quick release propeller mounts the top of the drone. These are raised in particular, so that the stators can allow the props to get out of the way and so that the brakes can be applied at high speeds.
Another upgrade that you will immediately notice is that to the Gimbal as well as the camera that has been fitted. This is even more noticeable if you owned and flew the DJI Phantom 4 pro. There are motors for the Gimbal from either side of the camera instead of having a single centrally located one like the previous design, so it will be able to make 360 turns.
Syncing drone cameras with a smartwatch. Want to control your drone with your smartwatch? Now you can, the Phantom 5-x when synchronizing with your smartwatch can be so beautiful. Their sky paint feature makes you control your drone and create a design in the sky. Every single part of the plan feels better for some reason in your hands compared to past models. This camera seems like it is part of a drone as opposed to being just rudely attached to the quad-copter like in the previous model. The safety clip is also designed keeping in mind the necessities for storage and to keep everything steady in one place.
The vision sensors for this drone are also beautifully placed and integrated with the body at the place where the landing gear was once meet. The slots for the SD card and the micro USB’s are located ideally in the center of the drone towards the left of the chassis. The battery of this device has also been completely revamped and redesigned.
The battery charge time for this model takes a little longer than the previous one to get a full charge. However, it lasts a more extended period as well. The charger for this device is also completely different from previous ones with a clean and white model used for it. A good thing about this charger is that it can be used in either orientation.
The flight controller of this device also shares the same white finishing used for the entirety of the model. There are subtle differences between the buttons and switches on this controller and the ones for the DJI Phantom 4 pro most extended flight time drones. The different buttons for this drone are as follows:
- The ‘P’ button which is the flight mode switch has all of the settings like setting waypoints, live tracking, tapping to fly, showing points of interest, etc. In the ‘P’ mode, flight speeds can reach as much as 22 miles per hour.
- The ‘S’ button is the new Sports Mode where you can decide to get a bit aggressive with your DJI Phantom 5. The creative mode options are unavailable in this mode, but you can reach higher speeds with it.
- The ‘A’ button is for the Attitude Mode that functions pretty much similarly as before. It is used for precisely what it sounds like maintaining altitude and keeping all of the manual controls in function.
Another vast improvement made in this model is the inclusion of a case that can be used for carrying and transporting light weighing materials and goods. All in all, for those who were fans of the previous Phantom 3, the newly made Phantom 4 pro is a huge upgrade and provides a complete set of new features and functions.
How about the DJI Phantom 5 flight time?
The flight time of this drone is something which is pretty average, but still more than most of the other drones on the market. On a full charge, you can use this drone for a continued period of 33 minutes. Other models usually have the period between 25-30 minutes.
Phantom 5 Flight Range
As far as the control range is concerned you should already know you will get the best. With the new DJI OcuSync, 2.0 system in place the Phantom 5 will offer a control range which extends up to a maximum of 8 kilometers in total. This is pretty huge and thus allows the user to control and get feedback from the drone from very far distances without experiencing any issues. This makes it suitable for long-distance activities.
Usage
The primary feature of this new model is to increase the comfort with which you could fly this thing around. And it does a lot of things correctly to turn this into reality. One huge improvement is the start-up noise of the motor which was offensive, to say the least in the previous model. The new tone is far more pleasing to the ears.
Calibration of the IMU is also something that must be done when you are using this drone for the first time. As far as the diagnostics of the advanced settings are concerned, there is a readable IMU status installed this time around. So it is easier for you to get this thing adjusted to your liking and get maximum performance from the drone.
Also, there are 2 IMU’s in total along with two different compasses in this drone. This is done for providing extra stability and more control. The feature which is completely new however is known as ‘Visual Navigation’ and it is something which is available only in the ‘P’ mode. It also works alongside all the other intelligence modes.
Because there are tonnes of different limitations that have been imposed due to this new feature, some of the fun is taken out of flying this drone around. Although it is very efficient and allows the drone to follow you pretty much anywhere, the lack of freedom during flight can be felt more often than not. This is precisely where sports mode comes into play.
It acts as a replacement for the old Flight Mode and provides a 10 miles per hour improvement on the latter one. This is possible because of the new motors that have been installed which are undoubtedly far more powerful. This mode allows you to reach speeds as high as 52 miles per hour and with an FPV kit installed, you can try out your luck in drone racing as well.
Another one of the biggest new features that this drone has to provide to its users is the Active Tracking system. You can use this feature for automatically following moving targets and can also have it follow you. However, this feature is far from flawless, and it works only when the vision sensors are turned on. It will evade everything in its way the best it can.
Once the Active Tracking system loses a target, it stops in its tracks and keeps hovering in its place. The Tap to Fly mode allows you to get focus yourself on controlling the camera instead of the drone. You can use a single tap to fly the drone while it will avoid obstacles on its own. It is useful for getting better shots than when you are in manual mode.
The DJI Phantom 5 Update
One of the biggest reasons why the DJI Phantom 5 is capable of competing so well with all the other drones in the market is just because of the huge array of features it provides to users. Here is a brief description of some of them.
- HD Camera (1080p)
A camera is without question one of the most important parts of the drone. And the Phantom 5x has done well to include a 1080p quality camera in it. It is capable of taking high-quality images which can also be streamed to the controller live.
It is ideal for those who want to use it for surveillance purposes or just for appreciating mother nature and clicking still images of birds, sunsets, etc. The high resolution of the camera ensures that the pictures do not get pixelated, thus allowing you to enjoy them full later on.
- Flight Modes
The DJI Phantom 5 is also equipped with multiple different modes of flight which you can choose using your controller. The three most important and fun ones are called the Tap-To-Fly mode, take off from being thrown in the air and the Sports Mode. All of them offer something useful in various situations.
For instance, the Tap-To-Fly mode is something which can be directly compared to the autopilot system of a real-life plane. All you need to do is to tap the controller two times for the drone to set off on the path it is meant to fly. The rest is done automatically.
The sports mode, however, is there to make you feel authentic when controlling the drone. In this mode, all of the work has to be done by you manually. It is excellent if you are still learning how all the operations work and how everything else functions.
- Remote Control with LCD
As you can easily guess, this feature allows you to control the drone and navigate it through different flight paths. You will also be able to receive the video feed from wherever the drone is traveling through. This undoubtedly allows you to analyze the surroundings of the drone better and thus drive more safely.
The remote control is also useful for other purposes as well. For instance, you will be able to change between the different flight modes, control the flight speed and eventually come to terms with the best possible flight experience.
- Obstacle Sensor
Another critical feature of the DJI Phantom 5 is the 360 obstacle sensor that it comes along with. The upward and downward facing infrared sensors scan obstacles 16ft above and below. This feature allows the drone to recognize all the obstacles in its path ahead and avoid them as and when required. The sensor usually comes into play when the drone is kept in the autopilot mode, and it is in need of such navigation techniques.
- Tracking System
This is one of those features which prove the fact that this drone can be used for serious purposes as well instead of just having fun with it. This tracking system is entirely independent of a GPS mechanism and as such it is perfect for being used in surveillance and similar fields.
This system allows the drone to be able to identify any object of the user’s choice and keep following it in a quiet fashion. Beacon signals or anything similar is not required for making use of this system to maintain the target within range.
- Flight Time and Range
The flight time of this drone is something which is pretty average, but still more than most of the other drones on the market. On a full charge, you can use this drone for a continued period of 33 minutes. Other models usually have the period between 25-28 minutes.
As far as the control range is concerned, the DJI Phantom 5 can offer a controlling range which extends up to a maximum of 5 kilometers in total. This is pretty huge and thus allows the user to control and get feedback from the drone from very far distances without experiencing any issues. This makes it suitable for long-distance activities.
- Quad-Copter Model
This drone is in all baseness a quad-copter, meaning it has four propellers on it. This is not only a good thing from a choice design point of view, but it also adds to the aesthetics of the device. It combines flexibility, increases the sensitivity of the changes in direction and also helps stabilize the whole thing during landing.
The Bad
- Crashing
As you can probably guess, the DJI Phantom 5 will be a joy to play around with. It works very efficiently, highly responsive in nature and easily stands out amongst the crowd as the best of the lot for best drones 2019. And for the most part, it is likely to prevent any collisions with any of the obstacles in the front, side or on top of it. You can test it out for yourself sometime in the first half of 2019.
Try ramming it against a car or a fence, and it will stop on its own. But one thing that you must be concerned about when flying it around is trees. Even the slightest of clippings with the branch of a tree can cause it to flow out of control or worse, get stuck. Thus, your drone maneuvering skills will be put to the test if you decide to fly it in an area full of trees.
The main problem lies in the fact that the DJI Drones does not necessarily recognize the small twigs and leaves of a tree as obstacles, thus often crashing into them. While this is not fatal in any way, it can cause a lot of trouble for the user in controlling the device. It may also just stop in its tracks without you realizing it.
The OSS feature is a great thing to have in the drone but it is not flawless, and it will not protect your drone against everything. For people who are new, this often creates a sense of false security which is why they must be aware of it at all times.
- Sports Mode can be dangerous
As you have probably read above, the DJI Phantom 5 will come with a special sports mode installed in it. It only needs a flick of a switch to turn it on and off. However, when turned on, it can make the drone fly at speeds up to 52 miles per hour. Also, the drone can ascend to 6 meters or 20 feet per second in height thus allowing you to get to places extremely quickly.
Attach to the drone an FPV (First Person View), and you will be able to get an immersive racing experience for yourself. But the thing is, the OSS does not work in Sports Mode. This means if you are going at really high speeds, the controls are all up to you. This includes maneuvering around obstacles as well. As such, the drone issues a warning the first time you enter this mode.
By now, you should have realized that although the DJI Phantom 5 will be equipped with something as protective as the 360 Obstacle Sensing System, there is no reason to grow over-reliant of it. There is also no excuse for flying it around recklessly or to not learn how to use it in the first place.
The Good
- Easy to Carry
Just like the previous models, the DJI Phantom 5x will come along with its case for carrying it around. It is a suitcase made of grey colored Styrofoam. This time around, the case is more compact in nature and also far more durable.
Previously, the Phantom 4 pro only consisted of cardboard like structure that had a handle on it. However, that is not the case with the Phantom 5. The fact is hard, durable and also light in weight, making it perfect to be carried around by hand.
- Stability
The new model is also far more stable than any of its predecessors. In fact, it is claimed that it is at least five times more durable than anything that has come before it. And that is pretty true to be fair. In all the hours of using it, you will never have an issue with it standing still in one place, thus allowing you to capture better footage.
And this extra stability in its nature comes from the additional IMU that it has installed in it. There is also double the number of sensors and cameras equipped with the DJI Phantom 5. Auto returning to the set home position is also something which happens very smoothly. The landing also takes place near to the location it is intended to.
- Footage Quality
Although the DJI Phantom 5 makes will use the same remote control as the previous model, the quality of footage that it is capable of recording is well and truly astounding. As mentioned before, it can record in HD 1080p, and the quality of the photos can reach as high as 4K in resolution.
Overall, the quality is more raw and far better and detailed when zoomed in. It is more dynamic and more yielding in comparison to the Phantom 4 pro. There is also a separate mode called Tap-To-Fly which allows you to concentrate more on controlling the camera as opposed to maneuvering the drone.
- Autonomy
There is also a separate autonomy mode for this drone which allows for more safety and easy maneuverability as well. The only limitation here is that you will be moving in a single direction which is forward. You can also turn only at 360 degrees left and right, all while moving forwards.
Auto Tracking is also a pretty big feature for the Phantom 5. It allows the drone to lock onto an object and follow it around silently. You can also make it lock on to yourself and have it follow you around. It is a fun and pretty useful feature to have in your drone.
