DJI has announced its new Inspire 1 quadcopter that is equipped with a 4K camera on an integrated 3-axis gimbal.
The camera is built around a Sony 1/2.3″ CMOS sensor that captures DCI 4K video (4096 x 2160) at 24p and 25p and UHD 4K video (3840 x 2160) at 24p, 25p and 30p frame rates. It will also capture 1080p at up to 60 fps. The Inspire 1 shoots 12MP still frames in JPEG or DNG formats.
The landing gear is retractable while the Inspire 1 is in flight, which means you get an unobstructed 360° view with the 20mm-equivalent f/2.8 lens. The camera can be controlled separately from the Inspire 1’s flight control, which means you can have dual operators for elaborate pilot and camera operations.
The transmitter to aircraft radio remains in the 2.4GHz band, while the dual operator controls rely on a transmitter to transmitter 5.8GHz band connection. The Inspire 1 offers built-in real-time 720p video feed to the controller, which has its own HDMI port for connecting a monitor – or it can connect to a mobile device for use as a remote and camera settings controller.
What’s very cool about the DJI Inspire 1 is that it has new optical sensors that allows the drone to fly and hover indoors without the need for GPS access. There is so much just amazing new tech in the new Inspire 1. You can see a nice overview from Phillip Bloom in the video below.
DJI Inspire 1 Key Features
- Capture 4K Video and 12MP Stills
- 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizes Camera
- Up to 1.2 Mile Radio Range
- GPS-Based Stabilization System
- Optical Flow Sensor for Indoor Flying
- Works with DJI Lightbridge Ground System
- Live 720p HD Monitoring with Lightbridge
- Retractable Carbon Fiber Arms
- Unobstructed 360° Shooting
- Dual Transmitter Operation Supported
The DJI Inspire 1 runs $2899 and should be available in early December. Check it out here at B&H Photo.
As more and more people get into this we’ll so more and more videos of more and more boring aerial shots. This all reminds me of the headlong rush into 360 degree VR photos that made everyone barf years ago. Thankfully that died a good death and hopefully this will soon follow.