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Phantom 4 or Inspire?
- Thread starter Rob Wettengl
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I have both and you "can't" get an inspire1 through on carry on. My phantom (in it's case) no problem. I've said many times that the phantom is the best travel quad out. I've launched from balconies and boats and to just be able to hand catch it is great.
That being said my inspire goes with me everywhere. I have to check it in and set up isn't as fast but the control and the handling is worth it. I just bought some rails so I can hand catch it now.
My opinion is go with the inspire.
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And if you want to, one could upgrade camera to an x5 or x5r (if you have v1 you have to update a few things)
Can't do that on a P4
I have a v1 P3A definitely grab and go(and not much of a difference from a P4...well...) but my I1, although it's a process to set up, it's a blast to fly and such a fantastic flight experience compared to any of the past drones I've owned.
I guess it would depend on your needs. Do you fly as a hobbyist? Or do you plan to fly commercially?
Can't do that on a P4
I have a v1 P3A definitely grab and go(and not much of a difference from a P4...well...) but my I1, although it's a process to set up, it's a blast to fly and such a fantastic flight experience compared to any of the past drones I've owned.
I guess it would depend on your needs. Do you fly as a hobbyist? Or do you plan to fly commercially?
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Lots has been much said about the camera difference but, my own personal take on this is that it's more of an ego thing than actual factor. Some of the best work I've ever seen is by this guy:
Elia Locardi
He's waiting for his new P4 now and in the past the P3 has been his favorite for the portability factor. Experienced talent makes equipment work, amateurs rely on automation and for the gear to be the expert.
Elia Locardi
He's waiting for his new P4 now and in the past the P3 has been his favorite for the portability factor. Experienced talent makes equipment work, amateurs rely on automation and for the gear to be the expert.
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I would like to touch on a few things in this thread,
Wind - The inspire does a good job in wind however I have found in high winds, 25+ if you are laterally slipping into the it, for a few seconds be careful when you let go of the stick and expect it to hover by GPS keeping it in place. In my case I found it wanting to go with the wind. I was able to reproduce the issue many times. What I feel is happening is that the copter in a cross wind has to counters it by crabbing. As you do this for a duration of time, Lets just say 15 seconds, something goes on internally where its like the IMU recalculates itself and takes what ever the angle of degree needed to counter the wind, it becomes the new level.
So when you let off on the stick expecting it to stay in place by GPS it does not and takes off in the direction of the wind. Now I also found it very quick fix, once you let off on the sticks and it starts going with the wind, as soon as you counter it again and let off on the sticks, the copter will now lock back up. It was something that freaked me out the first time it happened but as it was running away at 30 mph my first instinct was just fly the craft. I look at the monitor pointed it in our direction and flew it back with no issuers. At this point I was to do some testing. This was where I was able to recreate the situation, I also brought it down, did some ground calibrations, and did two more flights to confirm I could recreate it over and over. Just be careful in high winds, with it wanting to fly away, if you are not expecting it, it can cause issues in your thought process. Like I said its an easy fix.
Second when traveling the I1. I have done it a few time with not issues, I purchased a Pelican Case 1640 for about $230, it came with pluck and pull foam, it can work but recently I bought a different type of foam for about $100 and cut it out. What is nice about the case is the I1 can travel in landing mode and camera attached. Also with everything except for batteries loaded, it weighs in at 49lbs and you can check it with out any additional fees. I then carry the batteries on, 4 total and have not had any issues.
My last point about the P4, is this. In my eyes the 333 exemption, even if you have everything in line and you are legal I think to do business by the book while staying in complete compliance, is very hard to do, and I would bet if you studied all the operation that are being preformed under the exemption, over 90% of them are somehow in question of being totally legal. It not because the operator not being safe or in many cases not trying to be in compliance, its more because of how strict and confusing the limits/conditions are imposed under this exemption that to do an actual operation with out skirting (knowing and unknowingly) the system is very hard.
I feel even if the operator has everything in check, if you open up the FAA rule book and look them over you can find a rule in question, with the conditions and limitations, that could impose a infraction.
If the p4 is under 4.4 lbs ?? (it is on specs) and the senate passes the current re-authorization act, with the micro drone amendment in there, like it is. Then to do commercial work will become much easier over night where almost everybody who would like to do aerial/video production will be able to do business with almost no FAA regulation in the mix. It will make over 80% of the 333 exempted entities, dump it and start using a p4, solo, or any aircraft under the 4.4 lbs range. However this is a very good push for why you would consider a 4p over and inspire 1 with a 3x.
best
Wind - The inspire does a good job in wind however I have found in high winds, 25+ if you are laterally slipping into the it, for a few seconds be careful when you let go of the stick and expect it to hover by GPS keeping it in place. In my case I found it wanting to go with the wind. I was able to reproduce the issue many times. What I feel is happening is that the copter in a cross wind has to counters it by crabbing. As you do this for a duration of time, Lets just say 15 seconds, something goes on internally where its like the IMU recalculates itself and takes what ever the angle of degree needed to counter the wind, it becomes the new level.
So when you let off on the stick expecting it to stay in place by GPS it does not and takes off in the direction of the wind. Now I also found it very quick fix, once you let off on the sticks and it starts going with the wind, as soon as you counter it again and let off on the sticks, the copter will now lock back up. It was something that freaked me out the first time it happened but as it was running away at 30 mph my first instinct was just fly the craft. I look at the monitor pointed it in our direction and flew it back with no issuers. At this point I was to do some testing. This was where I was able to recreate the situation, I also brought it down, did some ground calibrations, and did two more flights to confirm I could recreate it over and over. Just be careful in high winds, with it wanting to fly away, if you are not expecting it, it can cause issues in your thought process. Like I said its an easy fix.
Second when traveling the I1. I have done it a few time with not issues, I purchased a Pelican Case 1640 for about $230, it came with pluck and pull foam, it can work but recently I bought a different type of foam for about $100 and cut it out. What is nice about the case is the I1 can travel in landing mode and camera attached. Also with everything except for batteries loaded, it weighs in at 49lbs and you can check it with out any additional fees. I then carry the batteries on, 4 total and have not had any issues.
My last point about the P4, is this. In my eyes the 333 exemption, even if you have everything in line and you are legal I think to do business by the book while staying in complete compliance, is very hard to do, and I would bet if you studied all the operation that are being preformed under the exemption, over 90% of them are somehow in question of being totally legal. It not because the operator not being safe or in many cases not trying to be in compliance, its more because of how strict and confusing the limits/conditions are imposed under this exemption that to do an actual operation with out skirting (knowing and unknowingly) the system is very hard.
I feel even if the operator has everything in check, if you open up the FAA rule book and look them over you can find a rule in question, with the conditions and limitations, that could impose a infraction.
If the p4 is under 4.4 lbs ?? (it is on specs) and the senate passes the current re-authorization act, with the micro drone amendment in there, like it is. Then to do commercial work will become much easier over night where almost everybody who would like to do aerial/video production will be able to do business with almost no FAA regulation in the mix. It will make over 80% of the 333 exempted entities, dump it and start using a p4, solo, or any aircraft under the 4.4 lbs range. However this is a very good push for why you would consider a 4p over and inspire 1 with a 3x.
best
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I have the I1x3. I purchased the Inspire because of its handling in the wind. I live in the Arctic and it's rarely calm; windy pretty much all the time. Have flown in winds gusting over 50km. Easy to take off but not so much fun landing - takes a lot of practice & nerve. Carrying it around, set up, break down etc... is going to be more work than a P4. Also note that the Inspire is more than double the price of the P4.
I agree with all the points above from James. Iv owned and loved my Inspire 1. However, I have fallen in love with the Phantom 4, The portability of having it up in the air in 30 seconds is so much easier. I always took care of my Inspire 1, so I never transported with the camera on the gimbal (I know people do this, but I don't). Also the room/weight of carrying around the Inspire and the case can be awkward. The new styrofoam case is really durable and much more smaller foot print. If you get a backpack its going to fit nicely and easily come in and out.
Also I am really impressed by the image quality, the Inspire 1 gets slightly bury around the edges in 4k (not as crisp as it is in the center). The phantom 4 appears really crisp all the way around the picture, like James said, I am not sure what it is, but there is an improvement.
The Battery life is really great with the Phantom 4! makes it easier to go exploring with out running out of battery, only thing now is I need a bigger SD card for all the extra footage hehehe
The other thing is the cost, the Inspire 1 is really expensive and while all care is taken (and I have taken out insurance) it is a lot of money in the air that could potentially have an issue and crash, being in Australia its going to be a lot harder to get fixed.
While I love the look of the Inspire 1 and think the technology is awesome, the more I fly the Phantom 4, the more I think to myself that i'm not going to be really using the Inspire 1 any more. So I will too probably be selling my Inspire 1 as well, it has been good, but the Phantom 4 fits my needs.
If your a professional camera operator and do it for your job or profession - I would say go for the Inspire. If your a hobbyist, enjoy recreational flying, or want to capture nice moments of yourself, family, friends, etc, then the Phantom4 is more suited to you. Remember the Phantom 4 is also 4K so you could get away with doing professional shots with it as well.
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Own a P3P and an Inspire 1 Pro. The case for both is not much of an issue, IMHO, but the versatility of the Inspire X5 camera is worth any other advantages to the P4. Keep in mind any new aircraft is going to have growing pains and the Inspire 1 has been around a long time.
For me, the only choice is something that has/can use a "normal" lens -- which these days means really 50mm. And for close work I also want something in the telephoto range, ie 90mm. So the Inspire X3 and any of the Phantoms are ruled out. In DJI the economy option is the Inspire X5, or else you must pony up for the S900/S1000 with expensive gimbals, bigger cameras, huge airframes and long set-up times.
I admire what's been achieved in the Phantom range.... and at the price they are are relatively disposable -- having a flyaway Phantom 4 would be a much less sickening feeling than an Inspire 1 Pro.
But considering that before the Inspire Pro came along, pro machines* cost 3 to 30x as much, I'm pretty happy. Constant PITA FW upgrades notwithstanding.
P
*by "pro" what I mean here is rigs with upgradeable changeable payloads. Multi lens capability out of the box. Multiple camera options including now IR.
I disagree with your statement about "growing pains" We are up to the 4th iteration of the Phantom, it has evolved and with each new revision it has got better. The inspire is only just over a year old and the Inspire x5 is only 6 months old. The phantom is well and truly ready for action. Tell me any other drone that has dual compass and dual IMU
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Tastes great! Less filling!I disagree with your statement about "growing pains" We are up to the 4th iteration of the Phantom, it has evolved and with each new revision it has got better. The inspire is only just over a year old and the Inspire x5 is only 6 months old. The phantom is well and truly ready for action. Tell me any other drone that has dual compass and dual IMU
Inspire case fits just fine in the overhead of anything but a small regional jet. 737+ and you're good.
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The Phantom looks like a toy. The Inspire looks and feels like a professional unit.
Enough said!
Enough said!
It's not 'Enough Said!"
There are pros and cons to each, appearance isn't a $2K value.
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