5 Of SA’s Best Drone Videos

Drones are one of the hottest gadgets on the market, with pretty much everyone – including people who are not usually gadget lovers – wanting one.

Available in a range of sizes and costs, drones are most commonly used for aerial photography.

5 Of SA’s Best Drone Videos

If you’re not certain whether or not a drone is worth the expense, then take a look at some of our favourite drone videos taken in South Africa.

5. Johannesburg, The City Of Gold, From The Sky

The most popular name in drones is the DJI Phantom.
This video was shot using the Phantom 2 and Phantom 3:

Mavic Pro is DJI’s first personal drone designed to be taken just about anywhere.

Equipped with a stabilised 4K camera and a visual navigation system, with a 7 km range and 27 minute flight time, Mavic Pro sets the new standard for compact drones.

“DJI has spent a decade making it easier for anyone to fly. And, by rethinking everything about how drones look, we have created an entirely new type of aerial platform for anyone to explore their creativity,” said Frank Wang, DJI’s CEO and founder.

“Mavic Pro is a technological triumph filled with features that, once again, show how DJI leads the industry. Most importantly, Mavic Pro allows you to reach the skies easily. See the world with new eyes and tell your stories like never before.”

The Mavic Pro has four folding arms and propellers that tuck neatly away against its streamlined body. It can be easily carried in a purse or backpack, saving you the trouble of mounting propellers before a flight. It can be operated by the powerful long-range remote controller. Or, simply by your smartphone at shorter range. When controlled by a smartphone, the whole system can be set up and airborne in less than a minute to capture every key moment.

Cost: From R19 993 on Pricecheck.co.za.

2. Parrot Bebop 2

Parrot’s Bebop 2 is compact, robust, stable and very light (500g).

According to the company, it’s equipped with the latest generation sensors and technologies and has up to 25 minutes of flying time.

Piloting can be done via Wi-Fi with either a smartphone or a tablet.

Its embedded fish-eye camera is digitally stabilised on a 3-axis framework and takes Full HD videos.

Bebop 2 is compatible with Skycontroller Black Edition, an optional RC like controller providing an extended flight range (of up to 2km).

Cost: From R9 065 on Pricecheck.co.za.

3. DJI Phantom 4

The Phantom 4 expands on previous generations of DJI’s iconic Phantom line by adding new on-board intelligence. This makes piloting and shooting great shots simple through features like its Obstacle Sensing System, ActiveTrack, and TapFlyfunctionality.

“With the Phantom 4, we are entering an era where even beginners can fly with confidence,” said DJI CEO Frank Wang. “People have dreamed about one day having a drone collaborate creatively with them. That day has arrived.”

The Phantom 4’s Obstacle Sensing System features two forward-facing optical sensors that scan for obstacles and automatically direct the aircraft around the impediment when possible. This reduces the risk of collision, while ensuring flight direction remains constant. If the system determines the craft cannot go around the obstacle, it will slow to a stop and hover until the user redirects it. Obstacle avoidance also engages if the user triggers the drone’s “Return to Home” function to reduce the risk of collision when automatically flying back to its take off point.

With ActiveTrack, the Phantom 4 breaks new ground. It allows users, running the DJI Go app on iOS and Android devices, to follow and keep the camera centered on the subject as it moves. The user can simply tap the subject on their smartphone or tablet. Perfectly-framed shots of moving joggers or cyclists, for example, simply require activating the ActiveTrack mode in the app.

Refinements to motor efficiency, power management, and a new intelligent battery have extended the Phantom 4’s flight time to 28 minute.

Cost: From R23 999 on Pricecheck.co.za.