DJI Phantom 2 Vision Plus: Best Aerial Camera & Ease of Use

At this moment, one of the best drones on the market has to be the amazing DJI phantom 2 vision plus. This drone is pre-assembled, which means that all you need to do when you get the package is recharge the battery, screw a few minor components, and you are ready to fly. Another fact you should know is that this is a professional drone, so you can expect amazing performance. Even more, you can use it with numerous applications.

One of the most important components with this drone is the HD camera. This one is capable of taking amazing aerial photos and videos with a 14 MP resolution – which is more than enough to take sharp and crisp pictures. You can even use it at temperatures between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius.

Sadly, this also means that this drone may be banned in certain locations, so always check with local authorities, before you start using it in a new location.

Product specifications:

Check out the today's DJI Phantom 2 Vision Plus deal on Amazon

Another great fact about this drone is the design, which is modern and makes this device look more expensive than it actually is. It looks amazing, no matter when and where you use it. At the same time, the manufacturer used lightweight, but strong plastics and aluminum, so this drone is resistant to rough landings and minor damages.

On the other side, this also means that repairs and buying new components will be expensive!

Build specifications

Packaging

As we mentioned earlier, this drone is pre-assembled, so you don’t have to assemble it when you get it. All you need to do is to charge the battery and the device will be ready. In any case, in the package you will get:

• 1 x DJI Phantom 2 Vision Plus
• HD camera
• Remote controller
• 5,200-mAh battery
• Propeller pairs
• Manuals
• Spare screws and wrench
• Stickers
• Charger
• Anti-drop kit
• Micro-USB cable, power cables, and other connectivity elements.

Simply said, the package includes everything you are going to need when it comes to using this drone. In 2 hours after you got the package you’ll be able to fly it. It takes 2 hours because you need to charge the battery.

In addition, you can order a package that includes all aforementioned components, but also adds one 32 GB memory card and an additional battery. However, this package is more expensive, and it should be chosen if you are planning to use this drone every day.

Design & durability

The design of this drone is completely different from what other drones have to offer, simply because it looks elegant and way better. The body is white, which makes this unit look stylish and more expensive than it actually is. There are also two red strips on the two prongs and the red DJI logo in the middle which make the drone look stylish and classy.

On the other side, this isn’t a small drone. The standard dimensions are 12.5×8.1×17 inches and it weighs only 2.2 pounds, which is more than great, due to the fact it has a positive effect on the flying time and maneuverability.

From the top down, this aircraft looks like a letter “X” with the bladed rotors on either side. This copter stands on two white square legs so the camera is protected in its undercarriage. All inner components are placed in a well-designed frame that is both nice and strong.

The manufacturer used only the best materials so this unit is lightweight but durable. Even smaller crashes cannot damage the main components, so you don’t have to worry about damaging the unit. But, even if you do damage it, or want to buy some cool accessories, we suggest reading our article about DJI Phantom accessories.

Camera

The camera is the main component of this model and it is one of the main reasons why you should buy this drone. It has a 14 MP resolution (4384×3288 pixels) and it can record videos in 1080p. Thanks to the 3-axis gimbal for camera stabilization and ultra stable flight, you’ll be able to make the super smooth aerial videos.

The camera is supported by the Wi-Fi first person view (FPV) on all Android and iOS devices. There is also a possibility to tilt the camera while flying your drone, which enables you to take a shot from the best angle. All of this means that you will be able to enjoy in amazing crystal clear streaming and high-quality videos.

The camera and gimbal are already mounted, so you will not have the setup headaches with this model. Keep in mind that this is a delicate component, so it shouldn’t be used at temperatures outside the 0 and 40 degrees Celsius range. Besides, connecting the camera to your tablet or a smartphone is an easy task, and by doing this, you will be able to enjoy in amazing videos.

This DJI model is focused on the aerial videography and photography, and therefore, it is ideal for independent filmmakers, extreme sports enthusiasts, journalists, emergency personnel, and aviation hobbyists. What’s more, it is quite suitable for professional purposes such as surveying, surveillance, for monitoring and so on.

Battery & flight time

The battery in this model is a 5,200 mAh, and it is included in the package. Thanks to this component, this unit can fly up to 25 minutes, which is a bit longer than similar models have to offer. However, when you fly it in windy conditions, at high speeds, or when using the camera, the batteries will need more power. Moreover, you should take into account the time to bring your quad back to the ground.

There is the option of getting an additional battery, so your DJI Phantom 2 can stay in the air for 50 minutes (you will have to swap the batteries) which makes this product even better. 25 minutes is pretty good flight time, but if you want to have more fun, you should carry the extra batteries with you.

The Li-Po battery is based on the latest technology, so it requires less than 2 hours to be fully recharged. To charge the battery for the copter, you will use an included wall charger. Also, the range extender should be powered, and you can use for this purpose a Micro USB port which is connected to a wall adapter or computer.

There is also an indicator for battery life in the form of 4 LED lights, which are located on the underside of the drone tail. When all four lights are on, that means that the battery is fully charged. Over time, the battery drains, and you will notice how the lights turn off progressively. This way, you will know how much flying time remains.

It is very important to track the battery life while flying a drone to avoid falling out from the sky. Besides information about the battery life, these LED lights also show other useful things. For instance, they could be either red, green, yellow, or flashing intermittently, depending on what they indicate.

Controller

As you may know, the controller of each drone is a very important component, due to the fact that you will be holding it in your hands for a long time. This new upgraded remote controller is perfectly shaped and it is lightweight.

On the other side, it has 2.000 mAh battery, built in, with LED battery indicators. In addition, it also has a lot of other improvements and it can be combined with almost any smartphone, used today. The remote control is also in white color, and it consists of two 3-position switches, two joysticks, and one power switch.

The DJI Naza-M flight control system offers a lot of great features, such as:

• GPS system
• Anti-static compass
• 3-axis gimbal
• Barometric altimeter
• Inertial sensor
• LED flight indicators.

All these components are well-mounted in the frame to work together. At this moment, this controller is treated as the top of the range device, due to the fact it offers amazing capabilities and using it is very simple. In addition, connecting it with your drone is simple and it takes just a few seconds.

For the beginning, you will probably navigate and control your quad by sight. However, DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ is pretty small, so it is going to be hardly noticeable when you fly it far away from you. Then, you will have to fly it using the screen of your smartphone or iPad. By the way, this product comes with built-in GPS autopilot system, as well as the return-to-home mode that can be of help in some situations.

Flight performance

The Phantom 2 Vision+ is a ready-to-fly professional quadcopter that features a great flight power and amazingly precise flying due to the self-tightening propellers and an advanced control system. Therefore, it has lots of great flying capabilities.

This unmanned aircraft has an impressive maneuverability, as the result of its lightweight constructions. It is very smooth in the air, so making videos and taking photos is pretty easy. All about this drone is focused towards the aerial photography.

Thanks to the DJI Naza-M flight control system, this drone has ultra-stable flight and can hover in the air. This control system is made up of an anti-static compass, GPS, barometric altimeter, LED light indicators, an inertial sensor, and a controller. The GPS auto-pilot system offers stable hovering and altitude lock.

Also, there is a return home option and flight radar that shows a drone position in relation to the pilot at any moment. All of this makes this amazing quadcopter super stable in the sky.

Before flying, you will have to power on your quadcopter – both the wireless range extender (it takes about 30 seconds) and remote control. Once the extender is ready, you will be able to connect it to the Wi-Fi of your phone and use the Vision app while flying the drone.

Of course, you will need an advanced smartphone that is loaded with DJI’s Vision app. In addition, you will have to mount the propellers before flying. Luckily, the props are clearly marked and self-tightening, so they will immediately lock on when your quadcopter start spinning up for takeoff.

The default altitude is 98 feet for each waypoint, however, you can increase it up to 650 feet by tapping the individual waypoints. Bear in mind that the maximum distance from the waypoints to the home point is 1,640 feet.

This drone requires a great RC experience, so it will be a bit difficult to fly such an aircraft for those who have no previous experience in flying drones. If you are a beginner in this craft, it would be better to take your first flight outdoors in an area with no distractions and people.

Actually, this drone is not intended for the beginners, so it is better to gain experience flying some simpler drone for the first time. However, for the experienced RC pilots, this quad is quite easy to use and it is a real pleasure to move this aircraft around in the air.

According to the people who already have this drone and who tested it, the main flight performances are:

• The top flight speed: 15 m/s
• Maximum flying time: 25 minutes
• Maximum camera tiltage angle: 35°
• Maximum ascent speed: 6m/s
• Maximum descent speed: 2m/s.

Value for money & guarantee

Of course, the price is one of the main factors when buying a drone, so you should know the real value for money of this model. If you decide to purchase this product on the Amazon website, the current price is $500 for the new and $400 for the used drones.

That is a fairly reasonable price for such a quad if you take into account how ready-to-fly Vision plus is out of the box. When this model has been launched on the market for the first time, it originally cost around $1000. Later, its price was discounted to around $800 (when the Phantom 3 has been released), and it has been continuing to fall in price.

If you want to add a camera and gimbal yourself, you can buy a brand new Phantom 2 V3 under $500. This model supports both GoPro cameras, but you will also have to buy a 3-axis gimbal that is designed specifically. However, the assembly is quite complicated, so it is just recommended for those who have a great experience in camera mounting. What’s more, you can also buy a complete FPV kit for this model, and reduce the costs under 400 dollars.

Although this great quadcopter is now superseded by the new upgraded models (such as Phantom 3 and Phantom 4), it is still worth purchasing, and it will likely be trendy for many years.

Unfortunately, the guarantee is not mentioned on DJI official website, but you can contact them for this information. If you didn’t receive all components in the package or if your drone gets damaged during the transportation, you need to contact your provider.

Unique features

This aircraft has a lot of great properties so we’ll just mention some of the unique features you will get by purchasing this model.

It enables you to make fully stabilized aerial videos and photos, right out of the box. This drone features a high-quality camera as well as a removable 4GB micro card. Also, there is a built-in three-axis gimbal which brings a brand new experience of aerial recording for a total creative freedom.

Therefore, you will be able to shoot HD videos at 1080p/30fps (or 720p/60fps) and take photos at 14 megapixels. Even better, you can tilt the camera up and down while flying your drone.

Thanks to the GPS auto-pilot system, this quad has an ultra-stable hovering, position holding, and altitude lock. In addition, there is a ground station support, so you can program a flight path in advance, using a smartphone or some other Android device with 16-waypoint Ground Station system. For the easier control, you can use the onscreen real-time flight parameters.

Similar models

DJI Phantom 2

This is a predecessor of Vision Plus model. DJI Phantom 2 is a ready-to-fly multifunctional aircraft with 2.4 GHZ remote control system. This small quadcopter is very suitable for aerial photography because it has a built-in H3-3D and H3-2D gimbal support for camera, as well as very stable hovering and precise flight. And, that’s not all.

There is also an advanced power management, IOC (Intelligent Orientation Control) and auto return-to-home system. Like the Vision+ model, it also has the self-tightening propellers, which enables good flight capabilities.

You can use this cute quad for either flying or aerial recording since it supports cameras. It is ideal to take the photos in extreme sports, but you will have to mount a compatible GoPro camera. There is a video downlink support to save your footage and photos.

This model is very similar to the DJI Vision Plus. It is also white with red stripes and the red DJI logo, and has the same shape, so it’s difficult to distinguish these two drones. The weight is only 1000g and the flight time is 25min while the maximum speed is 15 m/s. Communication distance is 1000m and it also uses 5,200 mAh Li-Po smart batteries. For a much better insight on this model, we suggest checking out our DJI Phantom 2 in-depth review.

DJI Phantom 3 Professional

Phantom 3 professional has a few innovations compared to its DJI predecessors. It comes with built-in 4k UHD video camera, stabilized by 3-axis gimbal, which is intended for the high-quality videos and photos. Another innovation is a brand new Lightbridge technology for 720p HD digital streaming, so you can have a live video directly from your drone.

Consequently, you can see the videos in real time while flying your drone and share them by using the advanced Pilot app’s features. Further, there is a Vision Positioning system with ultra-sensitive optical and ultrasonic sensors, which allows you to use your drone indoors, too.

This superb model also includes GPS navigation with auto landings and auto takeoffs, a mobile app for Android and iOS devices, a safety database of no-fly zones, and an intelligent high-power battery.

As for the design and shape, it is very similar to Phantom 2 and Vision+ models. The size is almost the same (18x13x8 inches), but there is an increase in weight to 1280g. Maximum speed is 16 m/s and the flight range is around 23 minutes. Control distance is very impressive, and it is up to 5km (3.1 miles). This quadcopter requires 4,480 mAh Li-Po batteries. To get more familiar with this model, you can also read our article about the Phantom 3 series.

DJI Phantom 4

This is the latest DJI model when it comes to quadcopters. It can automatically make the seamless tracking shots and fly intelligently around or over obstacles with a tap. There is an obstacle sensing system in its construction, which keeps it clear of hitting objects in its path.

Among others, this aircraft is suitable for visual tracking. Just lock on to the particular subject and track it from the air. Thanks to the improved Vision Positioning System and a new dual satellite positioning system, you will have a more reliable and safer flight. Actually, there are multiple flight modes for intelligent navigation, hovering, cinematic movements, etc.

As far as the camera goes, this model features integrated 3-axis camera stabilization system with 4K camera, so it’s capable of creating crystal-clear footage at 30 frames per second and HD 1080p videos at 120fps for slow motion.

Phantom 4 is made from revolutionary materials with magnesium skeleton that minimize vibration at a maximum. Product dimensions are 15×8.7×12.8 inches, and it weighs 1380g. To work, this device needs one Li-Po 4S 5,350 mAh battery. The flight time is 28 minutes while the control distance is up to 5km (3.1 miles). For more information on this model, you can also read our DJI Phantom 4 in-depth review.

Overview

If you want to buy DJI Phantom 2 Vision Plus quadcopter, it would be good to know its main advantages and disadvantages.

Pros:

• It is a simple-to-pilot and easy-to-set-up aircraft that is so fun to fly and very stable in the air
• Capable of making high-quality videos in 1080p resolution videos and 14MP photos
• There are many great features such as GPS navigation system, Wi-Fi repeater, nd an advanced control system.
• It has a good battery life and can fly so fast up to 25 minutes
• Well-constructed stylish product with a modern appearance
• Affordable price.

Cons:

• Although the flight time is longer than most quadcopters, you will have to add the spare propellers and the extra batteries into the cost
• Setup is pretty unintuitive
• Lag in the video while recording
• For more experienced RC pilots, the ground control features are a little bit limited
• When the battery falls to 8-percent of battery, this drone stops working and can fall out of the sky.

According to the customer reviews, this is one of the most popular quadcopters in its category.

It is an excellent drone for aerial photos and videos that is quite easy to control. Flying this small quad, you can see the world around you in a totally different way!