The New DJI Osmo Pocket is announced

For full details click here: http://bit.ly/2P823zD

DJI’s latest release is the Oslo Pocket. This tiny, handheld gimbal allows your to instantly have stabilized 4k video in a tiny compact gimbal. This looks like it could be a good alternative if it has accessories options like an external mic jack. The one thing I see missing which would have been really good is 1080 at 120fps. That seems like a big miss because adding slow mo b-roll is a pretty big deal nowadays.

Osmo Pocket uses DJI's smallest 3-axis mechanical handheld gimbal. In real time, it precisely adjusts for your movements, turning your handheld video of a golden sunset or your child’s first steps into a movie-like scene.

Osmo Pocket doesn't just let you shoot smooth, cinematic footage. With access to several intelligent functions like ActiveTrack, Motionlapse, and 3x3 Panorama, Osmo Pocket unleashes your creativity with impressive effects that are impossible with smartphones.

DJI Mavic Air is now here!!!

To view more info and to purchase the Mavic Air: https://goo.gl/HfEg8c

DJI announced a new drone this morning and in DJI fashion, blows everyone away with yet another groundbreaking drone for the masses. I say for the masses because this drone has all the capabilities of the Mavic Pro, but in a compact size of the Spark. They basically merged the two drones together and created an amazing looking drone that looks like it should have a Tesla or BMW logo on it. The new sleek design, fold out arms and compact size os the air gives you no more excuses to not have one of these in your bag. I'm not going to go into to much details about all the features in this write up, but I will talk about some things I like and some things I will need to see once I get one. 

Because I already own the Mavic Pro and Spark, where does the Air fit in my bag and does it replace the Mavic Pro? The Mavic Pro is an all around beast of a drone and I feel will still be in my bag until I get used to trusting two major things in my opinion. Those two things are the ability to withstand wind (how does the gimbal hold up in high winds) and distance with wifi compared to radio.

The one thing I hated about the Spark with the wifi signal. DJI said they now have a new enhanced wifi to give the Mavic Air a flight distance of over two miles. I never really fly that far anyways, but it will take some time to trust wifi signal at a far distance. 

I'm not going to get into to much details about gesture controls because I never use them. It's good to know that it has been enhanced and is a lot more responsive and now offers the user more control over distance of drone.

Because I already own the Spark and Mavic Pro, I get excited about the other little things that didn't get much air time during the announcement. The fact you can remove the sticks is a huge deal. For some it may be a small thing, but anytime you can slim down your carry is a big deal. 

Another feature I really liked is the 1080p at 120fps. This of course will only be good during nice bright days as the faster shutter will struggle significantly in low light because of the small sensor size. But to have 120fps to slow down action will be really nice and dramatic. 

So who is this for? I feel like if you already have a Mavic Pro, this might be one you can pass on (maybe wait for the Mavic 2) and not feel to left out of the cool crowd. But if you have a Spark or don't have a drone, this is a huge upgrade and is a perfect drone for everyone. This is where DJI wants to position this drone. This is the drone that doesn't have any major weak points and is small enough to carry around with you daily. 

To view more info and to purchase the Mavic Air: https://goo.gl/HfEg8c

The New DJI Mavic Pro Platinum is released

So the newly updated DJI Mavic Pro Platinum is announced. Let's get straight to the point with the main differences between the Mavic Pro and Platinum.

Images from the DJI: https://goo.gl/wjtKJL

What are the main differences between the Mavic Pro Platinum and Mavic Pro?

• The maximum flight time of the Mavic Pro Platinum is extended to 30 minutes and the maximum hovering time is 27 minutes.
• The decibel level is reduced by 4 dB (60% reduction) when it is within 1 m from the aircraft.
• The Mavic Pro Platinum inherits all the functions of the Mavic Pro.

So why didn't they upgrade the camera? Well in my opinion, they still want and need to keep the platforms separate. Higher-end prosumer drones like the Phantom 4 Adv / Pro and Inspire 2 offer the 1 inch sensor. The size of the gimbal and camera simply wouldn't fit with the current Mavic design and build. I do think it will head in that direction next year, but this update reminds me of the iPhone and iPhone S versions. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. 

The original Mavic Pro is almost perfect (for the size). It's an absolute beast packed into a small package. I do want to take a closer look to see if they did anything with the gimbal. The flimsiness of the Mavic gimbal is always concerning. So if they didn't update the camera, I would hope they at least reimagined the gimbal but I don't think they did. 

If I already have a Mavic, is it worth upgrading?

I think if you have a Mavic already, you should be able to answer that question. And I say that because everyone's usage is different. I use my Mavic like a work horse and it's my go to drone, so I personally think it could be worth it. But if you aren't too serious and only fly occasionally, this is most likely an update you can skip. Drones are just flying cameras and simply a tool. Just like a DSLR, if you don't bother to use it for it's full potential, then don't bother. 

Wow, it's quieter!!! Is that a big deal?

If you fly a lot, YES!!!! It's a HUGE deal. I recently flew in Cabo San Lucas at the beach and can barely hear my Mavic Pro. At the same time, a Phantom 4 flyer was flying at the same down way down the beach shooting a wedding. I could hear his Phantom from all the way down the beach and I could barely hear my Mavic which was right in front of me. So the quieter, the better in my opinion and it definitely does make a big difference in public. 

My conclusion?

If you were in the market for a Mavic, then you scored with this update. You are now getting a fine tuned machine that has been through the ringer for the past year and this new one most likely address all the small issues the Mavic Pro originally had. 

If you currently have a Mavic and are thinking about upgrading, only you will know if it's worth it. Don't upgrade just to get the new shiny piece of tech. I'd say upgrade if you really understand the benefits and you are a true user of the product and see the benefits of the battery life and noise reduction.

If you are in the market for a Mavic, you can score the original Mavic Pro for a discount. I'm sure lots of people will off load their current Mavics to upgrade so swoop in on these deals. If you can get a Mavic Pro for a couple hundred off, then you've scored a hell of a deal. 

Hope this helps everyone. For more info on the Mavic Pro Platinum, click here. 

Guest speaking at the DJI Grand Opening San Diego, CA

Honored to be the guest speaker at the Grand Opening of the DJI Authorized Retail Store in San Diego this Saturday July 22. If you are new to drones or simply want more information about them, I highly suggest stopping by the opening as all the latest gear will be on hand with experts there to answer all your questions.

I'll be doing a 30 minute talk about what I fly and some shooting techniques I use. The opening is at 10am and I plan to speak around 2-2:30pm so come by and say hi if you are in the area.

Saturday July 22, 2017 at 10 AM - 6 PM

5390 Napa Street, STE B, San Diego, CA 92110

DJI’s San Diego authorized retail store opens Saturday!

Visiting Comic-Con next weekend? Then don't miss out on another big event, as DJI opens its authorized retail store in San Diego! 

In celebration of the grand opening, we'll be offering first-hand experiences to new pilots with our current line of flagship products, including the Inspire 2, Phantom 4 Pro, Mavic Pro, Spark, DJI Goggles, and our range of Osmo handheld gimbals.  

Come early and take advantage of these special offers:

WIN A SPARK MINI DRONE
The first 100 customers who arrive will receive a raffle ticket to win a Spark mini drone. The winner will be announced in the store at 12:00 PM.

ENJOY EARLY BIRD PROMOTIONAL OFFERS
Customers who purchase the first 30 units of the Phantom series, Mavic Pro, and Osmo will get 10% off! 

GIVEAWAYS FOR NEW PILOTS
We'll be handing out free gifts to anyone taking part in the New Pilot Experience training workshops, which start at 2:00 PM.

Stop by and grab yourself some fantastic deals at the Grand Opening of our San Diego Authorized Retail Store!